Activities of Paolo DE CASTRO related to 2021/2239(INI)
Plenary speeches (1)
EU action plan for organic agriculture (debate)
Amendments (17)
Amendment 19 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
Ca. whereas organic farming has the potential of ensuring an ambitious balance between the three levels of sustainability; whereas this potential must be supported through actions aimed at improving the quality and availability of production inputs, as well as through increased research and technological development, capable of strengthening EU organic farming and production;
Amendment 60 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Welcomes organic farming’s systemic approach to sustainability which delivers many positive externalities; recognises that organic farming is based on a stronger synergy between animals and land with benefits for climate change mitigation and adaptation and for soil protection; considers that the prohibition of synthetic pesticides and synthetic fertilizers for organic farming enhances water and air quality as well as biodiversity (30% more); recognises that animal welfare standards for organic farming are the highest ones;
Amendment 69 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Underlines that the development and growth of the organic sector must be accompanied by market-driven and holistic supply chain developments as well as policy driven measures to stimulate further supply and demand for organic food and to ensure consumer trust, and the combination of the two approaches should allow a balanced development in order to safeguard the future profitability of the organic market and organic farming in the EU; stresses that the environmental benefits of organic farming should not be supported only by consumers of organic products willing to pay a higher price, but the CAP budget should properly reward organic farmers for the public goods that they deliver, through the protection of the environment and of natural resources, through the reduction of inputs and higher animal welfare standards;
Amendment 98 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Stresses that Member States should engage all stakeholders, especially organic farmers and associations, local and regional authorities, consumer and private sector representatives and the hospitality industry, in a consultative process when adopting and reviewing their national OAPs to achieve the best possible synergies and to reach the objective of increased area under organic farming as settled in the their National Strategic Plan;
Amendment 107 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Acknowledges that organic production often involves higher production costs and, therefore, needs higherrequires that market prices to recover those costand direct supports to be sufficient to recover those costs in order to allow fair earnings for farmers; points out that higher prices for consumers may represent a barrier to expansion but that they are necessary to ensure the continuation of organic farming and its further uptakee development of the organic sector will allow economies of scale in processing and logistics that could decrease the margins of those intermediary operators; considers that some retailers have excessively high margins on organic products and keeps in mind that the EU action plan for organic farming proposes to use the Directive on Unfair Commercial Practices; considers that the transfer of the Fund for European Aid to the Most Deprived (FEAD) to the European Social Fund PLUS (ESF+) should allow to develop food aid programs in response to the social consequences of the sanitary crisis, and that organic products should have their place inside this programs;
Amendment 152 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Believes that increasingthe review of the green public procurement (GPP) in 2019 should be publicised in the Member States canin order to serve as a strong stimulus for action towards the organic target; believes that the EU institutions should lead by example; calls on the Commission to researchcontinue investigations on current structural and logistical barriers and to promote the use of GPP criteria in the Member States;
Amendment 157 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Points out that local and regional authorities play an important role in supporting the structuring of the organic sector in terms of production, logistics and trade, easing the access to land for organic farmers facilitating the creation of organised cooperation between producers and consumers, raising awareness at local level, and particularly by supplying organic food in canteens and developing educational programmes for preschools and schools;
Amendment 168 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Highlights the importance of improving transparency in the organic food supply chain and of better traceability of all production and distribution processes in accordance with the right of European consumers to have more information on the origin and production methods of the foodstuffs they consume; notes that innovative digital tools such as blockchain and mandatory labelling on the origin of all EU food products have the potential to significantly increase transparency and traceability, thereby combatting fraud and illegal production methods, as well as improving consumer confidence;
Amendment 173 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Underlines that it is essential for the Commission, the Member States and stakeholders to engage actively in identifying ways in which the existing certification and control mechanisms can be made more robust to prevent fraud in organic production and trade, both in the EU and in non-EU countries, as well as to prevent additional administrative burdens and costs for farmers, including by using IT solutions; calls on the Commission to create a special funds to cover costs of certification;
Amendment 177 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11a. Urges the Commission to strengthen customs checks by means of direct, unified control mechanisms in coordination with the Member States and in full compliance with the principle of subsidiarity in order to prevent food fraud, adulteration and imports of products not complying with EU organic production standards, as well as to avoid the risk of putting the EU organic sector at a competitive disadvantage owing to a lack of global convergence of standards and increased costs for consumers;
Amendment 221 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Notes the potential of short, local and seasonal food supply chains and direct marketing opportunities for organic producers and rural economies to deliver economic and environmental benefits by securing incomes and creating employment, while contributing to animal welfare, as well as environmental, biodiversity and climate protection; calls on the Member States to allocate sufficient resources to support for investments allowing the development of short food chains in particular to increase the number of mobile slaughterhouses or on-farm processing facilities;
Amendment 226 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Notes the potential of short, local and seasonal food supply chains and, farmers' markets and other direct marketing opportunities for organic producers and rural economies to bridge the gap between EU producers and consumers, deliver economic and environmental benefits by, securinge incomes and creatinge employment, while contributing to animal welfare, as well as environmental, biodiversity and climate protection;
Amendment 242 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Stresses the fundamental importance of expanding the structured exchange of knowledge and best practices on organic farming among Member States and farmers; believes in the benefits of growing collaboration between scientists, advisory services, the education sector, farmers and their associations and organizations, and society in this respect; highlights the important role to be played by farm advisory services, which Member States must include in their CAP strategic plans, in the development of the organic sector;
Amendment 252 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Considers that the use of digital technologies, including precision farming and blockchain, as well as scientific innovations such as plant breeding innovations capable of improving the resistance of varieties and fostering the diversity of genetic resources and food production systems, can play a role in the development of organic farming;
Amendment 268 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Stresses the need for research and innovation to overcome restrictions in organic agriculture and livestock production, such as the availability of organic protein feed, vitamins, plant protection products, fertilisers and genetic resources and to encourage meeting societal expectations on animal welfare and efficient resource use; welcomes the Commission’s intention to earmark Horizon Europe funding in this respect; calls on the Commission to stimulate and foster cooperation between research communities working on organic and conventional food and farming;
Amendment 272 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18a. Calls on the Commission while reviewing the Directive on sustainable use of pesticides to define the biocontrol products and their four categories (microorganisms, invertebrates biocontrol agents, semiochemicals and natural substances) as well as to lighten the approval procedure for basic substances according their level of risk in particular for substances authorised for a food use, and the procedure for extension of use to approved basic substances; considers that biocontrol products could ever replace 40% of synthetic pesticide uses that the many companies involved in the biocontrol sector continue to innovate to reduce the consumption of synthetic pesticides;
Amendment 301 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Supports the Commission’s intention to extend the EU Market Observatories’ analysis to organic products; stresses the importance of intensifying collection and improving availability of accurate and timely data on the organic sector, particularly on production, consumption, trade within the EU and with non-EU countries and delivery on sustainability, including farm gate and retail prices, consumer preferences, supply chain structures, added value and farmers’ share in supply chains, in order to shape and monitortake action to remedy supply and demand imbalances and to drive the EU’s policy on organic production, evaluate consumption and production trends and increase transparency and confidence in the organic sector through determining environmental, economic and social effects;