Bioland turns 50
What began in 1971 with four farming families has developed into Germany's largest organic farming association: Bioland. This year, the association, which now includes around 10.000 companies, is celebrating its 50th birthday. "Bioland is a strong, effective community of values," says Bioland President Jan Plagge at the start of the anniversary year. “We have achieved a lot in 50 years. Above all, organic farming and organic food production have been firmly established as an alternative for farmers, processors and traders. However, we still have our most important goal ahead of us: securing our livelihoods for future generations. Unfortunately, the threat to our future and our planet is even greater today than it was 50 years ago.” Bioland is therefore committed as the political mouthpiece of its members and market partners for the entire ecological conversion of the agricultural and food industry - regionally, nationally and internationally.
Since it was founded on April 25, 1971, Bioland has been working with a holistic approach from field to plate. Bioland was the first association to establish guidelines and control procedures long before there was an EU-wide regulation for a legal minimum standard for organic food - and thus paved the way for the EU organic regulation. "Bioland took many things into its own hands at an early stage and as a pioneer," says Jan Plagge. “It still is because we want to remain the driving force in agriculture. We do research on our farms, share our experiences and develop our guidelines further. This year, for example, the first comprehensive biodiversity guideline from a farming association will come into force. With our work, we want to motivate the organic industry and people beyond that to rethink and act. It is about nothing less than the future of our planet.”
The Bioland farmers and their partners from food crafts and production manage along the entire value chain according to the strict Bioland specifications. They are all committed to the concerns of organic farming and the preservation of our livelihoods on many levels: from services for the climate to the preservation of biodiversity to animal welfare. By linking organic and regional products, the association, which operates in Germany and South Tyrol, stands like no other for real change right on the doorstep.
Image source: Sonja Herpich/Bioland
