Food production is facing serious challenges in the 21 century – it needs to adapt to climate change and  contribute to halt the loss of biodiversity, while the world population has a growing demand for food. On the other hand, many current agricultural practices have a negative impact on the climate.

Organic agriculture offers solutions to face these challenges. Organic farming has high potential for mitigation of climate change, and as it usually implies higher diversity and high level of knowledge of the functioning of the farm ecosystem, it is also likely to be more resilient to climate change. Several studies have proven its benefits to maintain the different ecosystem services. Furthermore, the organic food chain can serve as forerunner and laboratory for sustainable practices, new relationships between producers, industry and customers and for new economic concepts.

The 2nd European Organic congress will offer space to discuss the contribution of organic food systems to face these challenges and will lead to conclusions on how the Common agricultural Policy as well as other European policies have to be changed in order to make European farming fit for facing the future challenges. About 200 participants representing the organic sector as well as European Institutions, the Civil society and national authorities are attended to join the congress.