Food & Beverages 中的 Brussels 事件
Organic Innovation Days
Organic Innovation Days: Shaping the Future of Organic and Agroecological Food Systems
Every year, Organic Innovation Days brings together researchers, policymakers, industry leaders, and changemakers in the heart of Europe to explore the latest advancements in organic and agroecological innovation. Held in Brussels at the prestigious WSBI - World Savings and Retail Banking Institute, the event is more than just a meeting it’s a strategic crossroads for the future of sustainable agriculture in Europe.
As the only EU-wide annual event fully dedicated to organic and agroecological research, this gathering plays a critical role in guiding food systems toward more resilient, fair, and environmentally friendly models.
Launching a Vision: The Strategic Research & Innovation Agenda (SRIA)
This year’s edition of Organic Innovation Days is particularly significant, as it marks the official launch of the new Strategic Research & Innovation Agenda (SRIA) for Organics and Agroecology. This agenda is expected to define priorities for research and development across the organic sector, providing a roadmap that supports systemic change in how food is produced, processed, and consumed in Europe.
The SRIA isn’t just an internal document for researchers it’s a tool to align stakeholders, shape funding priorities, and inform EU-level policies on sustainable food production. Importantly, the SRIA is closely linked to two of the European Union’s flagship frameworks:
The Farm to Fork Strategy, which seeks to ensure healthier and more sustainable food systems
The EU Biodiversity Strategy, aimed at restoring ecosystems and improving resilience through nature-friendly practices
By aligning with these strategies, the SRIA ensures that the organic movement contributes actively and measurably to Europe’s Green Deal objectives.
A Platform for Collaboration and Exchange
Organic Innovation Days offers a unique space where science meets practice, and where innovation is grounded in real-world challenges. Participants include:
Organic farmers and producers
Academic researchers and institutions
Policy advisors and EU representatives
NGOs and civil society organisations
Agri-tech developers and startups
This diverse representation makes the event a truly cross-sectoral platform, encouraging meaningful dialogue and collaboration that extends far beyond the conference room.
Discussions during the event often focus on:
Scaling agroecological practices without compromising principles
Bridging the gap between science and farm-level application
Co-creation of innovation with farmers and consumers
Developing policy tools that support organic transitions
The Role of Research in Building Sustainable Food Systems
One of the most vital themes at Organic Innovation Days is the central role of research and innovation in transitioning to sustainable food systems. While organic and agroecological farming have long demonstrated environmental and health benefits, scaling these practices requires continuous innovation, both in technology and knowledge systems.
Examples of such innovation include:
Improved crop rotation techniques to reduce dependence on external inputs
Innovations in organic pest control and soil fertility
Digital tools tailored for small-scale and organic farmers
Participatory research models that involve farmers in trial design and testing
By spotlighting these developments, the event inspires stakeholders to rethink the relationship between science, policy, and practice and to invest in models that prioritize ecosystem health and social equity.
Supporting the Farm to Fork Vision
The European Union’s Farm to Fork Strategy has set ambitious goals: to reduce pesticide use by 50%, increase organic farming to 25% of all EU farmland, and improve overall sustainability in food production and consumption. These targets are bold and they require coordinated, strategic efforts to become reality.
Organic Innovation Days plays a crucial role in supporting this vision by:
Bringing stakeholders into a shared dialogue about implementation
Identifying bottlenecks in research funding and policy frameworks
Sharing success stories and lessons learned from across Europe
Encouraging open science and inclusive innovation approaches
The event thus acts as a catalyst for action, connecting on-the-ground realities with high-level policy direction.
Looking Ahead: The Future of Organic and Agroecological Innovation
The organic and agroecological sectors are evolving rapidly, and events like Organic Innovation Days help shape that evolution. By giving a platform to innovative thinkers and doers, the event helps define what the next generation of organic farming will look like smarter, more inclusive, and more connected to the broader sustainability goals of our time.
As climate change, biodiversity loss, and soil degradation continue to challenge global food systems, the importance of agroecology and organic approaches becomes even clearer. The SRIA is a milestone in this movement, but it's also a starting point. It will guide the sector toward:
Greater policy recognition
Increased research investment
Scalable solutions rooted in agroecological principles
Stronger farmer–scientist–consumer networks
Innovation Rooted in Values
At its core, Organic Innovation Days is not just about innovation for innovation’s sake. It’s about rethinking systems, realigning priorities, and rooting progress in values like fairness, health, biodiversity, and community.
In a world searching for answers to the food challenges of tomorrow, this event is proof that solutions already exist they just need the right support, collaboration, and visibility to grow.
Whether you’re a policymaker, a researcher, a farmer, or simply someone who believes in the power of sustainable food, Organic Innovation Days is where your voice matters and the future begins.
AGRIFOODPLAST Conference
AGRIFOODPLAST是一项创新的研究计划，汇集了全球专家、企业和决策者，以应对我们这个时代最紧迫的挑战之一：塑料与食品系统的交汇。尽管塑料在现代农业、水产养殖和渔业中起着至关重要的作用，有助于食品的储存、包装和运输，但其环境影响仍令人严重担忧。塑料在食品生产中的使用导致了污染，微塑料和化学物质渗入生态系统，可能对生物群和人类构成风险。科学界目前正在研究塑料如何在农业环境中积累，以及它们对人类健康和环境可能产生的长期影响。
AGRIFOODPLAST计划为科学家、农民、企业和决策者提供了一个平台，让他们能够介绍和辩论有关这些关键问题的最新研究。它强调了塑料在食品储存和包装中的作用，同时也认可了正在进行的有关这些做法安全性的讨论。由于塑料以其耐久性和抗降解性而闻名，随着时间的推移，它们往往会在环境中积聚，这引起了人们对它们在土壤、植物和食物链中的持久性的严重担忧。这种积累可能导致微塑料浓度升高，微塑料可能携带有害的化学添加剂，构成严重的毒理学和生态毒理学风险。
AGRIFOODPLAST活动的关键主题之一是食品生产和包装中纳米和微塑料及其相关化学物质的新问题。科学家们正在深入研究这些微小颗粒如何与农业生态系统和我们食用的食物相互作用。当这些塑料在陆地环境中分解时，它们会破坏土壤健康和微生物功能，从而可能导致作物污染。这种污染不仅威胁到环境可持续性，还引发了人们对食品安全的担忧，因为塑料颗粒可能会进入食物链，带来许多未知的风险。
尽管对水生环境中的塑料污染的研究已有数十年，但直到最近，科学界才将注意力转向陆地污染。塑料对土壤健康、作物生产和食品供应链的影响正成为一个越来越紧迫的话题。随着塑料越来越多地融入农业，应对风险并找到可行的解决方案来减轻这些影响至关重要。AGRIFOODPLAST提供了一个论坛，来自各个领域的利益相关者可以在该论坛上进行合作，分享想法，并努力制定更安全、更可持续的食品生产实践。通过参与最新研究和讨论必要的政策变革，该计划旨在促进解决方案，减少塑料污染，确保农业和食品行业更可持续的未来。
通过这些讨论，AGRIFOODPLAST为在食品系统中使用塑料的更可持续、更负责任的方式铺平了道路。它强调了在塑料的好处与保护环境和人类健康的迫切需求之间取得平衡的重要性。随着与塑料相关的风险变得更加明显，该计划为制定减轻其影响的战略提供了急需的空间，推动了促进农业食品行业循环和可持续性的政策
