Finalists announced for the 2025 EU Organic Awards

The names of the finalists for the 2025 EU Organic Awards have been revealed today. For each category, the top three projects have been selected, representing 21 finalists from 13 EU countries. The winners of the seven awards will be unveiled at the official ceremony in Brussels on 23 September, as part of a series of events and activities celebrating the annual EU Organic Day.

The EU Organic Awards were launched in 2022 as a commitment under the Action Plan for the Development of Organic Production. The Awards’ goal is to recognise excellence across the organic value chain, from farmers and restaurants to SMEs (Small and Medium Enterprises) and cities. They also enhance the overall visibility of the organic value chain and develop the knowledge of the organic logo. This year marks the fourth edition of the Awards, featuring seven individual awards. The Awards aim to honour projects that are outstanding, innovative, sustainable, and inspiring, adding real value to organic production and consumption. Winners have the chance to present their projects to a wider audience, showing best practices.

The Awards are jointly organised by the European Commission, the European Economic and Social Committee, the European Committee of the Regions, COPA-COGECA and IFOAM Organics Europe. The jury for the awards consists of representatives from these organisations, as well as representatives from the European Parliament and the Council of the EU. The jury selects the winners in each category by judging their projects against horizontal award criteria.

This year’s finalists in each category are:

Best organic farmer (female)

• Ms Sonia Meirhaeghe, SEP Terobio, Fauges, Aube, France
• Ms Kaisa Rautakannel, Kuorttisen Luomukanala (organic poultry farm), Lappeenranta, South Karelia, Finland
• Ms Albina Yasinskaya, Rozino organic farm , Rozino, Haskovo province, Bulgaria

Best organic farmer (male)

• Mr Lieven Devreese, Het Polderved, Knokke-Heist, Flanders, Belgium
• Mr József Büki, Velence-Bio Kft., Velence, Fejér county, Hungary
• Mr Stefan Romstorfer, Neuland.bio, Raggendorf, Lower Austria, Austria

Best organic region/“bio-district”

• Võru Country, Estonia
• Bamberger Land Eco model, Bamberg, Bavaria, Germany
• Region of Murcia, Spain

Best organic city

• Chaves, Alto Tâmega, Vila Real, Portugal
• Valpaços, Alto Tâmega, Vila Real, Portugal
• Bio-Stadt Bonn, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

Best organic food processing SME (Small and Medium Enterprises)

• Joseph Brotmanufaktur GmbH, Burgschleinitz, Lower Austria, Austria
• Herta Bio Apicole SRL, Galeș, Sibiu, Transilvania, Romania
• Cantero de Letur, S.A, Albacete province, Castilla-La Mancha, Spain

Best organic food retailer

• Din drag de Bucovina Flying Market, Suceava county, Romania
• Radis&Bona eG, Regensburg, Bavaria, Germany
• Kornblume Brinker GmbH, Lingen, Lower Saxony, Germany

Best organic restaurant/food service

• Biohotel St. Daniel, Štanjel, Primórska region, Slovenia
• Zotter Schokolade GmbH, Riegersburg, Styria, Austria
• Peskesi restaurant, Heraklion, Crete, Greece

Further information about the candidates, the selection criteria, and the awards in general can be found on the on the EU Organic Awards webpage.

Background

Organic farming and aquaculture contribute to reducing chemical fertilisers, pesticides, and anti-microbials, positively impacting climate, environment, biodiversity, animal welfare, and fair farmer incomes. The area of land farmed organically in the EU has grown to 17,7 million hectares, making up 10.9% of the total in 2023. Increased public awareness of organics is crucial for boosting consumer demand and achieving the European Green Deal objective of 25% of EU agricultural land under organic farming by 2030 and a significant increase in organic aquaculture. In the current common agricultural policy (CAP), all 28 CAP Strategic Plans include funding for organic farming.