All the BIOFACH Congress topics and forums

Main congress theme for BIOFACH 2020: "Organic delivers!"

• Organic agriculture, foodstuff production and trade: Globally committed to the common good!
• Organic answers key future questions right now

Organic works – on many levels. It protects our water, improves soil fertility, and boosts biodiversity. Organic protects the climate, is holistically healthy, and ensures the basic preconditions for life. Organic agriculture, foodstuff production and trade benefit the common good all around the world.

Organic delivers! Under this heading the sector discusses key challenges for the future. What answers and solutions does the organic system provide? The main congress theme every year is jointly shaped by IFOAM - Organics International, the international patron of BIOFACH, BÖLW (Bund Ökologische Lebensmittelwirtschaft), the national supporting organization and BIOFACH.

Read the main congress theme press release "Organic delivers!” here.

Save the date: Friday 14, 3-4:30 pm: Congress Digest with a wrap up of all the congress presentations focusing on the main congress theme “Organic delivers!”. The presentation is public and open to all visitors.

The Forum BIOFACH addresses the future and development issues of the organic food industry and reflects the dynamics and diversity of the industry and its stakeholders, with farmers, manufacturers and traders to the end consumer. The forum addresses innovation and quality awareness, sheds light on the industry environment, developments and tendencies and does not stop at critical questions.

The market for organic food is growing and remains contested. Almost a quarter of the population regularly buys organic food. Things are moving…

The Generation Z, the "Digital Natives", show it to us. They are committed to their future. Climate protection and responsible consumption are cool. The Fridays-for-Future movement sends greetings. To use this momentum of changing attitudes and lifestyles … Isn’t this exactly the opportunity health food stores, organic supermarkets and manufactures must take now?

• Which offers does the specialized organic health food shops and organic supermarkets make?
• How can we convey that organic is good for all of us, good for climate and biodiversity?
• How do organic health food shops and supermarkets manage to position themselves as ambassadors for a qualitative development for more sustainability and still be "attractively priced" for their customers?

Consistency, transparency and credibility in action; professionalism and a modern customer approach, these are the requirements organic shops and supermarkets must meet. Nothing new, but the “seriousness” is more important than ever, if it is to succeed, to use the momentum of the “Fridays for Future” Movement.

The Forum Fachhandel in hall 9 will pick up on future-relevant themes of the organic industry and discuss how specialist stores can incorporate them. The aim is to bring the players together, create a platform for dialogue and the sharing of experiences, have practitioners produce themes for practitioners and also ask for ideas from outside the industry.

Sustainability has many facets. Reducing CO2 emissions, conserving resources such as soil, water and fossil energy, climate protection and biodiversity, and dealing with employees and suppliers fairly are all examples that have to be taken into consideration if there is to be a consistent focus on sustainability.

• What innovative power does organic farming have for sustainable food production that respects the boundaries of our planet and secures it for future generations?
• Where are the shortcomings; where is it necessary to further develop today's organic system to finally establish organic as the future model for sustainable agriculture in the society and politics?

This year’s focal topic “Organic delivers!” is putting an extra spotlight on the Sustainability Forum.

The Politics Forum will draw attention to topics that have a direct effect on the framework conditions created for the organic food industry. Industry players, politicians and representatives from state organizers are invited to express and discuss their points of view – because it’s clear to us that regardless of whether you’re a famer, a manufacturer, an importer, a regular retailer, a trade or a specialist store, you need stable and reliable framework conditions to face the challenges of the future.

The relevant laws (e.g. national and EU organic legislation) and organic action plans and programmes as well as international bilateral agreements play a crucial role here. You can expect critical, controversial and constructive discussions on current political topics affecting the organic industry at the Politics Forum.

The Science Forum offers a platform for dialogue between scientists, practitioners and advisors. Research projects have to be adapted to practice, and research findings have to be communicated and discussed with the industry. What actually results from research findings and how can they be incorporated in practice. Discussions on problems and research findings, especially findings from the areas of processing, trade, food quality and marketing, are what we require here.