INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF ORGANIC AGRICULTURE MOVEMENTS EUROPEAN UNION REGIONAL GROUP

Their core work

IFOAM Organics Europe is the umbrella organization for the organic food and farming movement in Europe, representing over 200 member organizations. Within H2020, they serve as a knowledge broker and policy voice — coordinating organic agriculture knowledge networks (OK-Net Arable, OK-Net EcoFeed), driving organic seed and breeding improvements (LIVESEED), and connecting farmers, advisors, and researchers across demonstration and innovation networks. Their core value lies in translating research into practical farm-level guidance and ensuring organic sector interests are represented in EU-wide agricultural innovation initiatives.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In their early H2020 period (2015-2018), IFOAM Organics Europe focused on building agricultural innovation systems — connecting farmers to advisors, establishing thematic knowledge groups (AGRISPIN, EIP), and addressing specific crop threats like Xylella. From 2019 onward, their focus shifted toward food system transformation, climate-neutral farming, digital agriculture adoption, and school food reform — reflecting the EU's broader Green Deal and Farm to Fork agenda. The trend shows a move from inward-facing organic sector knowledge exchange to outward-facing systemic food transition work.

IFOAM Organics Europe is expanding from pure organic agriculture advocacy into broader food system transformation, climate neutrality, and digital farming — making them increasingly relevant for cross-cutting agri-food projects aligned with the EU Green Deal.

How they like to work

Predominantly a participant (15 of 18 projects) but a capable coordinator when it comes to organic-specific knowledge networks — they led their three largest thematic projects (LIVESEED, OK-Net Arable, OK-Net EcoFeed). With 506 unique consortium partners across 37 countries, they operate as a connector hub, bringing the organic sector's voice and farmer networks into large, multi-actor consortia. Their consistent presence across CSA and IA projects (14 of 18) shows they are valued for dissemination, network facilitation, and practice-level engagement rather than deep technical research.

An exceptionally well-connected organization with 506 unique consortium partners across 37 countries, giving them one of the broadest networks in the organic agriculture space. Their reach spans nearly all EU member states plus associated countries, with no strong geographic bias — reflecting their role as a pan-European umbrella body.

What sets them apart

IFOAM Organics Europe is the single most recognized advocacy and coordination body for organic agriculture in the EU, giving any consortium instant credibility and access to a continent-wide network of organic farmers, processors, and certifiers. Unlike research institutes, they bring direct links to practitioners and policy-makers — they don't just study organic farming, they represent the people who do it. For consortium builders, partnering with them signals genuine multi-actor engagement and provides ready-made dissemination channels to the organic sector.

Highlights from their portfolio

• LIVESEED
  Their largest coordinated project (EUR 837K) — a flagship effort to strengthen organic seed and plant breeding across Europe, demonstrating their leadership capacity on sector-critical issues.
• RELACS
  Their highest-funded participation (EUR 801K) — focused on replacing controversial inputs in organic farming, a politically sensitive and practically important topic for the sector they represent.
• SchoolFood4Change
  Their most recent large participation (EUR 385K, 2022-2026) — shows their expansion beyond farm-level work into public food procurement and health, a strategic diversification.