Denmark Invites to International Organic Summit in Copenhagen
"Climate, biodiversity, and water environments are under severe pressure worldwide. Organic farming principles offer a wide range of answers and solutions to these interconnected crises, while also pointing to a path for a sufficient global food supply. These solutions will be at the top of the agenda at Organic Summit 25 (OS25)," says Rikke Lundsgaard, agronomist and project manager for OS25.
OS25 will be held concurrently with Denmark's assumption of the EU Presidency in the second half of 2025, marking the EU's goal of achieving 25% organic farming by 2030. What knowledge and policies need to be mobilized, and how should the market develop to reach this goal? Using Denmark as a case study, along with good examples from the EU and the rest of the world, this will be discussed and concretized at OS25.
Økologisk Landsforening/ Organic Denmark has initiated OS25, while the summit itself is organized in collaboration with Danish Agriculture & Food Council Organic and several other organizations. The project is supported by the Novo Nordisk Foundation, the Organic Farming Fund, the Ministry for Green Tripartite, the City of Copenhagen, the Merkur Foundation, COOP, Lidl, Dagrofa, Thise Dairy, and Naturmælk.
The goal of the summit is a statement and a charter that will be presented to the responsible Danish minister, serving as inspiration to place organic farming as a central tool for solving major global environmental and food crises.
Four Tracks from Farm to Fork
The summit will feature four tracks: political, research, business, and practitioner. These tracks ensure that the entire value chain within organic farming is represented. Ambassador for the political track is Connie Hedegaard, former Danish Minister for the Environment, Minister for Climate and Energy, and the EU’s first Climate Commissioner. Ambassador for the practitioner track is Peter Sisseck, a Danish winemaker and forest owner.
In addition to the summit program, which takes place at the Royal Library, The Black Diamond in Copenhagen, OS25 invites a broader audience to events covering organic farming from farm to fork. For example, through a collaboration with Copenhagen Cooking, which highlights organic farming as a concrete tool in the transition to a sustainable and flavorful food system.
OS25 will take place on August 18-19, 2025, at the Royal Library, The Black Diamond in Copenhagen.
Climate and other sustainability issues have been relevant for a long time, but it is only in recent years that they have really gained traction, even among those who were previously skeptical. The EU has set several targets for organic farming by 2030, so it could not be more timely to bring together stakeholders across political, sectoral, and research boundaries to debate how we ensure sustainable management of our global resources going forward. Connie Hedegaard, author and debater, former EU Climate Commissioner and Danish Minister, ambassador for OS25
As food producers, we have a great responsibility to think and develop sustainable solutions. Instead of seeing sustainability as a hindrance, we should view it as a new opportunity to develop even better products of high quality. OS25 is a unique opportunity to bring together businesses and other stakeholders both within and outside the organic sector for dialogue and action on how we can take the next step forward. I see it as an investment in the future for all of us. Peter Sisseck, winemaker and forest owner, ambassador for OS25
In Copenhagen, we must lead the way when it comes to food and meals. As Mayor for Children and Youth, I am pleased to see that our efforts with food for children and young people are already being recognized worldwide, and that we are leading with a food supply that actively implements political goals such as organic farming. However, we can always improve as a municipality, which is why I welcome a European summit on organic farming in Copenhagen. Jakob Næsager, Mayor for Children and Youth in Copenhagen
Økologisk Landsforening/ Organic Denmark is collaborating with the following on OS25: the City of Copenhagen, the Ministry for Green Tripartite, The Danish Agriculture & Food Council Organic, DI Food, the Royal Library, ICROFS, FOOD Organization of Denmark, the Innovation Center for Organic Farming, Food Nation, the Danish Vegetarian Association, Animal Protection Denmark, DM, and Business Lolland-Falster.
All press inquiries should be directed to:
Rikke Lundsgaard, Project Manager, Organic Association
Tel. +45 2320 3007
Email: rlu@okologi.dk
Vivienne Kallmeyer, Communications Consultant, Organic Association
Tel. +45 2542 9302
Email: vk@okologi.dk
You can follow the program on the website www.os25.org