Topic:  Changes and Challenges in the Organic Food Market
Host: Karol Przybylak – Biokurier.pl

• Presentation of key trends, changes, and statistics in the organic market. Future forecasts.

Topic: Organic Production Rules and the Possibility of Deviations
Host: Magdalena Wolska – FoodFakty

• Organic production is subject to strict rules regarding production methods and permitted substances and additives. However, there are exceptions that can be applied under certain circumstances, both at the European Union level and, in some cases, by national authorities. The presentation aims to discuss the possibility of introducing such exceptions and the conditions under which they can be applied, based on specific examples and regulations.

Topic: New Obligations of Organic Producers Resulting from Regulations Applied Since January 1, 2022
Host: Renata Przegalińska – Agro Bio Test Sp. z o.o. Certification Body

• The presentation covers topics including proceedings to explain pesticide residues (20 minutes).

Topic: Trends and Prospects for the Development of Organic Agriculture in the EU in Light of the European Green Deal Strategy
Host: Wioletta Wrzaszcz – Institute of Agricultural and Food Economics, National Research Institute

• Since the introduction of the European Green Deal in late 2019, European agriculture has been required to take additional actions to improve environmental quality and combat climate change. In this context, research on organic agriculture is particularly important. Research results indicate varying rates and scope of development in organic agriculture in Poland and other EU countries. Achieving strategic goals outlined in the European strategy and national documents will be a significant challenge for both Poland and most European countries in the adopted perspective until 2030.

Topic: The Actions of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development Supporting the Organic Food Industry
Host: Jan Golba – The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development

Topic: EU policy prepared in Brussels affecting organic food processors (wystąpienie w języku angielskim)
Host: Aurora Abad from the OPTA (Organic Processing and Trade Association)

• As the voice of the EU organic processing and trade companies, OPTA’s key mission is to lead and coordinate the dialogue among the combined European and international organic processors and traders and to defend the common interests of members towards the relevant national, European, international authorities and stakeholders in all policy areas affecting theOPTA also works as a networking platform for its members to exchange information, expertise and best practice.Our vision is to contribute to a food and farming system where organic is the norm, in the EU and beyond. The Sustainable food framework -> sustainability labelling, competing with the organic logo; Nutrition labelling; Green Claims and Labels; Revision of the packaging regulation

Discussion Panel

Topic: (Un)ecological Consumer
Host: Agnieszka Plencler – Forum Konsumentów (Consumer Forum)

• In the presentation/panel, we will address the challenges we face in the context of the consumer-environment-business relationship. We will focus on trends as well as discrepancies between consumer declarations and pro-environmental behavior and consider how to work together more effectively for positive change.

Topic: Analysis of Marketing Activities (Trade and Shopper) for Organic Products on the Shelves of Non-specialist Stores
Host: Kamilla Stańczyk – Eco and More Sp. z o.o.

• What’s happening in brand and shopper marketing on store shelves? It is in non-specialist stores that we see a significant change in category building. I will discuss what has happened with the shelf of organic and natural products over the years and show the trends for 2024. Moreover, it is precisely these stores that pose the biggest competition for specialist stores. Unfortunately, there is a strong trend towards non-specialist stores in Europe. Will it last?

Topic: Patronage Stores using Bio Planet as an Example – A New Initiative in the Organic Market
Host: Sylwester Strużyna – Bio Planet S.A.

• In July 2023, we plan to launch a new form of cooperation for stores with Bio Planet, namely Bio Planet patronage stores. This formula is open to both newly established and long-standing specialist stores.

Topic: Soft Skills of Salespeople in Eco-Delis
Host: Przemysław Świercz – Eko-Wital Sp. z o.o.

• Soft skills of personnel are an important pillar of success for the best stores with organic products. What characteristics should an employee have to turn our store visitors into loyal customers? Currently, soft skills – including sales and negotiation skills – are becoming just as important in the trade of organic products as knowledge of dietetics and health care.

Topic: Labeling Rules for Organic Agricultural Products Resulting from New Regulations Applied Since January 1, 2022
Host: Renata Przegalińska – Agro Bio Test Sp. z o.o. Certification Body

• In the presentation, we discuss changes introduced by new regulations and the consequences related to improper labeling resulting from the new Organic Farming and Organic Production Act.

Discussion Panel – Organic Trends

Topic: Nutritional Value of Organic Raw Materials and Products
Host: Urszula Sołtysiak – Polska Izba Żywności Ekologicznej (Polish Chamber of Organic Food)

• Certified organic food is more expensive than conventional products, ranging from 20% to 100%. What is the reason for its higher price? Do organic products have higher nutritional value? Is organic food better for health?

Topic: The Benefits of Organic Food – What Consumers Pay a Higher Price For
Host: Ewelina Hallmann – Instytut Nauk o Żywieniu Człowieka, Katedra Żywności Funkcjonalnej i Ekologicznej (Institute of Human Nutrition Sciences, Department of Functional and Organic Food)

• Does organic food differ in terms of nutritional value from mass-produced conventional food? What is the protein, fat, and carbohydrate content in plant and animal raw materials produced in the organic system? Why do consumers seek and choose organic food?

Topic: Dietary Habits During the Climate Crisis
Host: Justyna Marszałkowska-Jakubik – www.zdrowonajedzeni.pl

• The “planetary” diet in practice

Topic:  Firstly, Eco-Education
Host:  Katarzyna Bosacka

• Shouldn’t children in schools learn more about nutrition rather than green Euglenas? How to utilize EU funds for promoting ecology? How to promote ecological solutions on social media?
• The “planetary” diet in practice.

Temat:  We need a Social Pact for Agriculture
Prowadzenie: dr hab. Zbigniew M. Karaczun, prof. SGGW, Climate Coalition Expert

• Polish agriculture is facing very challenging issues. The increasingly pronounced effects of climate change make agricultural production and farmers’ incomes less predictable. High inflation is particularly dangerous for farmers – they sell their harvests in the fall, but they have to buy production inputs in the spring when prices are higher. Another challenge for producers is the opening of the European market to agricultural products from Ukraine. To meet these challenges, we need a new approach to agriculture, focusing on quality aspects and production, supporting adaptive measures, and enabling greenhouse gas emissions reduction. One of the preferred directions should be organic farming.

Topic: Control System and Certification Program + Labeling – How to Recognize Organic Products
Host: Renata Przegalińska – Agro Bio Test Sp. z o.o. Certification Body

• The presentation will cover the changes introduced by new regulations in the control system and the national catalog of sanctions, provided to certification bodies as guidelines by the supervisory authority.

Topic: Residues of Plant Protection Products Detected in Food and the Environment
Host: Artur Miszczak Instytut Ogrodnictwa – PIB / Zakład Badania Bezpieczeństwa Żywności (Institute of Horticulture – PIB / Food Safety Research Department)

• The presentation will address issues related to basic EU legislation concerning pesticides and the status of plant protection products registered in the EU and in Poland. Sample research results from conventional and organic crops, imported food, soil and surface water (rivers) will be presented. Long-term trends in detecting irregularities in the use of plant protection products will be shown, including exceeding EU standards.

Topic: How Does Organic Production Impact the Environment?
Host: Ewa Rembiałkowska – Warsaw University of Life Sciences

• Organic food production takes place without the use of GMOs and toxic substances such as pesticides, mineral fertilizers, growth regulators, and with a significant reduction in the use of antibiotics. All of this results in plant and animal raw materials having a completely different composition. The level of harmful substance residues is very low, while the level of health-promoting substances, especially polyphenols, is high. Consuming organic food/feed has a positive impact on the health of humans and animals. Organic food production also has a positive impact on the natural environment, increasing biodiversity and improving soil quality, groundwater, water, air, and the landscape. Moreover, several studies have shown that working in organic farms has a positive impact on the physical and mental health of farmers involved. These facts should be widely disseminated to encourage decision-makers to promote organic production and farmers to switch to organic methods.