Winners announced at fourth EU Organic Awards

This year's awardees uphold the high standards set by previous winners, showcasing innovative and sustainable projects across Europe's organic value chain. Their work demonstrates how organic farming and production can deliver added value, create communities and jobs in rural areas, turn ambitious sustainability goals into reality, and strengthen resilient, future-oriented food systems. In the new CAP proposal , the EU will maintain strong policy support for organic farming, ensuring the sector can continue to grow and thrive.

The winners of the edition 2025 of the EU Organic Awards are:

• Best organic farmer (female) to Ms Albina Yasinskaya in Bulgaria. Ms Yasinskaya runs Rozino Organic Farm in the Rose Valley, Bulgaria's first ESG-certified farm, operating a closed production cycle from dairy and meat to processing. The farm applies permaculture, a seasonal production strategy and zero-waste principles, supports the local community, and is seen as a national trendsetter in sustainable organic farming.
• Best organic farmer (male) to Mr Lieven Devreese in Belgium. Mr Devreese runs Het Polderveld Farm, a community-supported agriculture model supplying 150 families and a local hospital with organic food, while integrating ecological, social and economic sustainability. The farm champions fair wages, therapeutic activities for psychiatric patients to engage in monthly farming activities, offering therapeutic and social benefits, and consumer participation, serving as a replicable model of community-centred organic farming across the EU.
• Best organic food processing SME to Joseph Brotmanufaktur GmbH in Austria. Founded by Josef Weghaupt 15 years ago, Joseph Brot is the world's largest artisan bakery, processing over 1,000 tonnes of organic flour entirely by hand. Working with 24 smallholder families to cultivate 14 rare grain varieties, the bakery leads in preserving original grain culture while promoting biodiversity, fair value chains and sustainable food systems across Austria.
• Best organic restaurant/food caterer to Peskesi restaurant in Greece. Based in Heraklion, Crete, Peskesi combines its own organic farm with partnerships from 98% local producers, embracing a "Farm to Table" and "Table to Farm" philosophy since 2014. Celebrated internationally, the restaurant revives Cretan gastronomy through sustainable farming, zero-waste practices, and cultural initiatives that preserve traditional recipes, native varieties, and local identity.
• Best organic food retailer to Radis&Bona eG in Germany. Based in Regensburg, Bavaria, this cooperative farm shop has been offering 100% organic products since 2021, sourced directly from local producers within an 80 km radius. With its cooperative model, Radis&Bona strengthens regional farming, ensures fair prices, and promotes sustainable practices through short supply chains, low ecological impact, and strong community participation.
• Best organic city to Valpaços in Portugal. This rural municipality in northern Portugal, now leads the country in organic farming, growing from 41 certified producers in 2019 to 516 today. Valpaços combines tradition and innovation through PDO and PGI products like wine, olive oil, and honey, while advancing sustainability with school gardens, municipal composting, climate action measures, and strong biodiversity policies-offering a transferable model for resilient, organic food systems in Europe.
• Best organic region & biodistrict to Võru County in Estonia. Since 2018, this southeastern region has pioneered a sustainable organic food system, achieving its goal of ensuring 20% organic food in all schools and kindergartens by 2024 through strong cooperation between local authorities, producers, and the community. With eco-labelled catering in every school, a planned valorisation centre for organic garden products, and broad engagement across sectors, Võru County offers a replicable model for integrating organic food into public catering while boosting rural economies and protecting biodiversity.

More than 100 applications were received from across the EU for this year's edition, with 21 candidates shortlisted from 13 countries. The EU Organic Awards feature 6 categories and 7 individual awards, recognising innovative, sustainable, and inspiring projects that add significant value to organic production and consumption. The awards are organised by the European Commission, the European Economic and Social Committee, the European Committee of the Regions, COPA-COGECA, and IFOAM Organics Europe, with support from the European Parliament and the Council.

Quotes

Christophe Hansen, Commissioner for Agriculture and Food:

The winners of the EU Organic Awards are shining examples of what the organic movement in Europe can achieve: they combine the highest environmental standards with economic resilience and social engagement. Their work proves that organic farming not only produces sustainably, but also builds community and shapes the future. Today we honour their achievements - and celebrate the strength and potential of the entire organic sector in Europe.

Mr. Stoyan Tchoukanov, member of the European Economic and Social Committee:

This fourth edition of the organic awards showed again the potential of the organic community to grow and develop further through cooperation! From large scale organic bakeries to regional organic cooperative shops and farm restaurants, these year winners again showcased excellent and innovative organic businesses in the EU. But in order to reach the 25% target by 2030, we need to step up further the consumption of organic products and integrate organic farming and other quality schemes into environmental, health, climate and rural development strategies.

Ms. Kirstine Bille, Representative of the European Committee of the Regions in the organic awards jury:

Committing to organic means investing in the future of our territories. By applying for the European Organic Awards, your city or region affirms its leadership for sustainable agriculture, healthy food and a resilient local economy.

Mr. Jan Plagge, IFOAM Organics Europe's President:

It gives me great pride to congratulate this year's winners of the EU Organic Awards. Their accomplishments are tangible proof that sustainable food and farming systems within our planetary boundaries are not a distant ideal but an unfolding reality. By pushing boundaries - whether in farming practice, food processing, retail, or community engagement - these projects light a path toward a more resilient, equitable, and vibrant organic sector. May they inspire many more across Europe to join in this movement, advancing rural livelihoods, climate action, biodiversity, and consumer confidence in organic agriculture.

Mr. Søren Søndergaard, Vice-president of Copa:

The EU Organic Awards are a chance to share inspiring stories of innovation, creativity, and success. They celebrate the achievements of EU organic farmers while providing the perfect platform to highlight how the sector can continue to improve and evolve. As Copa-Cogeca, we commend the winners on their efforts and hard work. And, as always, we're proud to be a partner on these awards and to contribute to the conversation about the future of organic farming in Europe; one that ensures the financial sustainability of organic farmers by building robust demand for organic products, simplifying and reviewing rules that are no longer fit for purpose, and championing innovation.

Background

EU Organic Day was launched in 2021 by the European Parliament, Council, and Commission as a joint initiative to celebrate and promote organic farming. By producing high-quality food with a low environmental impact, organic farming plays an essential role in building a sustainable food system for Europe. The EU remains fully committed to the continuous development of its organic sector, with actions such as the EU Organic Day, the EU Organic Awards, and substantial support through the CAP Strategic Plans - providing €14.7 billion from 2023 to 2027 to help farmers convert to and maintain organic production. As a result, we have today 30% more organic farmers than in 2018. Nearly all Member States now have comprehensive organic production strategies in place, and the organic market continues to grow, with the EU now the world's second-largest market for organic products. More examples of the actions taken under the EU action plan to develop organic production are available in this factsheet (PDF).