Activities of Mara BIZZOTTO related to 2021/2239(INI)
Shadow reports (1)
REPORT on an EU action plan for organic agriculture
Amendments (18)
Amendment 28 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas in 2019, the EU’s total agricultural area under organic farming grew to 13.8 million hectares; whereas it currently accounts for 8.5 % of the EU’s total utilised agricultural area; whereas between 2010 and 2019 the value of the EU’s organic market has more than doubled; whereas the increase of organic production outpaces the development of the organic market in parts of the EU; whereas production exceeds demand in various agricultural sectors in some countries;
Amendment 34 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. whereas the OAP includes 23 actions, providing a solid basis for developing the organic sector in a sustainable manner; whereas a mid-term review of the OAP in 2024 is envisaged and an annual ‘EU Organic Day’ has been established;
Amendment 41 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F a (new)
Recital F a (new)
Fa. whereas European funds should promote organic products produced in Europe, from the raw material through to its processing;
Amendment 43 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F b (new)
Recital F b (new)
Fb. whereas it is necessary to avoid creating an opposition between conventional and organic farming;
Amendment 53 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. WelcomNotes the Commission’s recognition ofwish to make organic farming as one of the important components on the EU’s path towards more sustainable food systems and the ambition of increasing the EU’s agricultural area under organic farming by 2030; recognises, at the same time, the potential for other sustainable farming methods to contribute to the Green Deal’s objectivesat development of the supply of organic products on the market must take account of the market’s capacity to absorb this supply, so as to a void sharp deterioration in the outlook for the sector;
Amendment 70 #
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 measures to stimulate further demand for organic food and ensure consumer trust, in order to safeguard the future profitability of the organic market and organic farming in the EU; recalls that in some cases there is no market for organic agricultural products, forcing farmers to sell them as conventional agricultural products at a lower price;
Amendment 77 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Stresses that the obligation to increase the share of organic food in total food sales will cause market chains to push for lower food prices; notes that this could in turn lead to financial difficulties and increase the risk of bankruptcy among organic farmers;
Amendment 79 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 b (new)
Paragraph 2 b (new)
2b. Highlights the risk of financial difficulties and/or bankruptcy among organic farmers, caused by market chain pressure to lower food prices, which is itself caused by the increase in the volume of organic food on the market, dictated by the obligation to expand the amount of land used for organic farming, as laid down in the rules for the strategic plans;
Amendment 121 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Recognises the importance of speeding up the development of organic aquaculture in the EU; underlines that access to organic juveniles is problematic in the case of some species;
Amendment 178 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11a. Stresses that it is necessary to step up control and certification activities for organic products entering from non-EU countries, including greater involvement of the customs authorities, so as to ensure both the quality and the safety of products for final consumers and fair competition between EU and non-EU producers;
Amendment 192 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12a. Emphasises the need to improve the quality and quantity of organic sector reporting by providing clear, complete and concrete data;
Amendment 194 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 b (new)
Paragraph 12 b (new)
12b. Considers that European funds must promote only organic products produced in Europe, from the raw material through to its processing, in order to avoid unfair competition;
Amendment 204 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Considers that an adequate common agricultural policy (CAP) budget should be provided, where possible, to create incentives for farmers to convert to and maintain organic farming practices at national level, through rural development measures or newly introduced eco- schemes, or a combination of the two and sources of funding other than the CAP; calls on the Member States to support generational renewal in organic farming;
Amendment 243 #
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, farmers’ associations 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 253 #
17a. Considers that products imported as organic into Europe should comply with the same rules imposed on our farmers; stresses, to this end, the importance of supporting and coordinating control structures and bodies to ensure effective verification of the conformity of products with single market requirements;
Amendment 270 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Stresses the need for research and innovation to overcome restrictions in organic agriculture, such as the availability of organic protein feed in sufficient quantities, 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 288 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Highlights the importance of sufficiently available, high-quality organic seeds with material in organic-certified conditions, heterogeneous material and high- yielding plant varieties; points out their potential in strengthening resilience against plant diseases and the impact of climate change; encourages the Commission and the Member States to step up efforts to improve the functioning of the organic seed market and believes that transitional periods would be helpful in achieving this;
Amendment 305 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)
Paragraph 20 a (new)
20a. Stresses that legislation must be able to provide organic producers with organic plant health solutions; calls, further, for adequate resources to be allocated to EFSA and related EU agencies to allow approval of low-risk substances in time for their use at EU level;