EU Organic Award Finalists announced 

The inaugural EU Organic Awards ceremony will take place in Brussels on 23 September 2022, as one of a range of activities and events to mark EU organic day. The awards are intended to recognise excellence in the organic value chain. They aim to reward the best and most innovative organic actors, contributing to the reduction of agriculture’s impact on the environment and climate, and to the achievement of EU Biodiversity and Farm to Fork strategies.

The EU Organic Awards consist of 8 prizes across 7 different categories. They acknowledge different actors along the organic value chain that have developed an excellent, innovative, sustainable and inspiring project producing real added value for organic production and consumption. 

Category 1: Best organic farmer (female) and Best organic farmer (male)

The objective of this award is to recognise a farmer (one female and one male) for the work they are doing in the field of organics. This award is organised by COPA-COGECA and IFOAM Organics Europe.

Finalists (female)

• Katharina Lichtmannsperger (VLG Obervetterbachgut) – Thalgau, Salzburg, Austria
• Nazaret Mateos Álvarez (Entresetas) – Paredes de Nava, Palencia, Spain
• Sara Vezza (Azienda Agricola Sara Vezza) – Localitá Castelletto, Monforte d’Alba, Piemonte, Italy

Finalists (male)

• Gianpaolo Mancini (Il Sentiero del Riccio) – Sicignano degli Alburni, Salerno, Campania, Italy
• David Pejic (Zrno eko imanje) – Dubrava, Zagreb County, Croatia
• Tom Kass (Kass-Haff S.àrl) – Rollingen, Luxembourg

Category 2: Best organic region

This award will recognise an EU region for its actions to promote organic production and consumption. The award is organised by the European Committee of the Regions.

Finalists

• Occitanie, France
• Centre-Val de Loire, France
• Valencia, Spain

Category 3: Best organic city

This award will recognise a city for its actions to promote organic production and consumption. The award is organised by the European Committee of the Regions.

Finalists

• Gemeinde Seeham am Obertrumer See, Salzburg, Austria
• Municipality of Troyan, Bulgaria
• Stadt Wien, Austria

Category 4: Best organic bio-district

This award will recognise a bio-district. A bio-district is a geographical area where farmers, citizens, tourist operators, associations and public authorities come together to sustainably manage local resources, based on organic principles and practices. The award is organised by the European Committee of the Regions.

Finalists

• Associazione Bio-Distretto Cilento – Campania, Italy
• Association Biovallée – Eurre, France
• Centro Municipal Cultura e Desenvolvimento de Ihanha-a-Nova – Centro region, Portugal

Category 5: Best organic small or medium enterprise (SME)

This award will recognise an EU-based SME involved in processing organic products. The award is organised by the European Economic and Social Committee.

Finalists

• Gino Girolomoni Cooperativa Agricola – Isola del Piano, Pesaro and Urbino province, Italy
• Goodvenience.bio GmbH – Magdala, Thuringia, Germany
• Labonca Biohof GmbH – Burgau, Styria, Austria

Category 6: Best organic food retailer

This award will recognise an EU-based food retailer selling organic products. The award is organised by the European Economic and Social Committee.

Finalists

• Ecoveritas SA – Barcelona, Spain
• La ferme à l’arbre de Liège – Lantin, Liège, Belgium
• Bio MERCATO, seiVital GmbH – Kempten, Bavaria, Germany

Category 7: Best organic restaurant

This award will recognise a restaurant either stand-alone or as part of the hotel or catering sector proposing organic certified references in their menu. The award is organised by the European Economic and Social Committee.

Finalists

• Trattino – Lyon, France
• Lilla Bjers HB – Visby, Gotland Island, Sweden
• Kolariks Freizeitsbetriebe GesmbH Restaurant Luftburg – Prater, Wien, Austria

These awards are non-financial and will be handed out on 23 September, which is EU Organic Day.