LODZKIE GO ORGANIC! Organic Action Plan of Lodzkie Region
Table of contents Introduction............................................................................................................................................. 3 General Information ................................................................................................................................ 3 Current situation/status quo ................................................................................................................... 4 Key strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of the organic sector ........................................ 5 Cooperation with regional stakeholders ................................................................................................. 7 Overarching aims and objectives .......................................................................................................... 12 Action Areas and Measures to Support Organic Farming ..................................................................... 13 Action Area: Education and Promotion............................................................................................. 13 Action Area – Production .................................................................................................................. 14 Action Area – Processing ................................................................................................................... 15 Action Area Chain of Value................................................................................................................ 15 Action Area: Public Support .............................................................................................................. 16 Action Area: Environment protection ............................................................................................... 16 Monitoring and evaluation .................................................................................................................... 17 Annex 1 – Financial instruments…………..…………………………………………………………………………………………..19
2
Introduction In the Lodzkie region, the increasing demand for organic food conduces to development of organic farms, while growing demand for organic food is most often conditioned by health, the willingness to provide safe food for children and the need to improve diet. Organic Action Plan is a strategic instrument for achieving organic sector goals in the context of wider policy goals. For policymakers, key consideration for supporting the organic sector through Action Plan will be the contribution of the organic sector to meeting overarching policy goals. This includes biodiversity, soil protection and climate change strategies, health and well-being, clean water, reduction in antibiotic use, green growth and job creation. The organic action plan is linked to a regional overall strategy of diversified development, workplaces creation in rural areas, SME development, environment protection of safe food, etc. Defined goals are clear and achievable. The activities that are properly linked to the plan assumptions have been selected and clearly refer to the policy objectives and the needs of the organic sector in the region. Sufficient financial and human resources will be allocated in order to implement the plan. Activities, those improve efficiency and reinforce competitiveness of the organic food sector are taken into account. Support for stakeholder involvement will be provided throughout whole cycle of analysis, development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation. Also support is provided for the broadening of stakeholder groups, that will be able to support long-term development and implementation. According to the diagnosis of the organic sector in the region the main areas of support should be activities aimed at: integrating neighbours from large urban agglomerations by expanding social cooperatives focusing on high-quality food; organization of associations of entrepreneurs from the organic food sector and organic farmers; marketing of local/traditional ecological products through social campaigns and study visits, especially for kids and youth (showing production, consumers participation in the process of organic food production); support for local farmers in the field of logistics, marketing, as well as modern sales technologies, thus shortening the supply chain (producer – consumer). There is also a need to create an electronic system (platforms) based on sharing data collected by various entities involved in the marketing of organic products, the purpose of which would be to disseminate information about these products and, as a consequence, to expand the group of clients.
General Information Main body responsible: Marshal Office of Lodzkie region Assisting bodies: Lodz University of Technology, Department of Biotechnology and Food Sciences, Agricultural Chamber of the Lodzkie Region, Lodzkie Agricultural Advisory Centre in Bratoszewice,
3
Research Institute of Horticulture in Skierniewice, farmers and enterpreneurs from the region.
Start and expected end dates of Action Plan development: from II quarter of 2018 and to IV quarter of 2022 Expected implementation year: by 2022 Expected running time (years): 4 years
Current situation/status quo The organic food segment in Poland is growing at a very fast rate. In the last seven years, the market value has tripled. In 2018, the value of the organic food market will exceed PLN 1 billion. A share of organic food in Polish food market amounts to 0.3%, while this number in Austria, Switzerland and Denmark is equal to 6.5%, 7.7% and 8.4%, respectively. The EU average is approx. 4%. The size of Polish market is negligible when compared to other highly developed countries, but continuous growth in sales and number of companies producing certified organic food (currently 560) indicates an increasing interest of consumers in this trend. There is small number of organic farms and processing plants in Lodzkie Region. In addition, low awareness of society in the region as regards the importance of organic farming for human, animal and environmental health is noted. Chances for improvement of this situation are provided by public funds, including EU funds, which enable to implement a greater number of activities directed to the organic sector and supporting its development. Common Agricultural Policy remains one of the key instruments that support organic farming mainly within the framework of EU Rural Development Programmes by helping to convert conventional methods into organic ones and afterwards supporting to maintain organic farming. Subsidies for training and consultancy, innovation, market development, investment capital and promotion of organic food are additional support for organic farming under Rural Development Programmes. Such programme may also be used as a context for an action plan, with a section devoted to other instruments, i.e. organic conversion and support in maintaining organic farming. An important element is also the certification process. In Poland, the process of production and processing of organic raw materials is subject to control, not the final product, which is why not all marketed fruit and vegetables and their products are tested for pesticide residues and other contaminants. The control in organic farming is carried out by certification units employing people entered in the register in the field of specialization to conduct such inspections, that are called "ecological agriculture inspectors". They are people who passed the exam before the selection board. They receive a certificate of entry in the register and a personal stamp they use during inspection
4
during the preparation of inspection reports. Such legal solutions give their activities an official character. This solution is unique in the scale of the European Union.
Key regional facts and figures for the organic sector Area
Number
Agricultural organic producers in Lodzkie
373
Region Organic
producers
in Lodzkie Region
55
trading organic products Organic processors in Lodzkie Region
33
Source: Agricultural and Food Quality Inspection 2016
Key strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of the organic sector Strengths
Large workforce
Specialization of the region in fruit and vegetable cultivation and animal husbandry
A large number of organic farms with a livestock-friendly structure
The structure of farms supports the protection of biodiversity
High quality organic products
A large number of warehouses and logistic infrastructure
Advanced IT services
Weaknesses
Low increase rate of the organic sector and small share of this category in the local market and in export of processed organic products
Surface water pollution
Insufficient level of surface waters and desertification in the north and northwest parts of the region, poor soil quality, high proportion of acidified soil
Low availability of subsidies for the marketing of organic food
5
Few funds for training farmers about agriculture and organic food
Low availability of products, high prices
Opportunities
caring for the environment
growing interest in organic food
increase of organic processing plants number
vogue for healthy lifestyle and health protection
increasing environmental awareness of society
Threats
insufficient budget for organic actions
competition in the form of imported food
difficulties in conducting of organic production due to numerous inspections and restrictive requirements
change in agricultural policy to the detriment of ecological farms
6
Cooperation with regional stakeholders Lodzkie Region Executive Board plays a crucial role in sharing regional policy by preparing the most important strategic documents for the region, i.e.: Development Strategy of Lodzkie Region for 2020 and Regional Innovation Strategy for Lodzkie Region LORIS 2030. In addition, Lodzkie Region Executive Board for the Regional Operational Programme for Lodzkie Region for the period 20072013 and 2014-2020. ROP 2014-2020 for the Lodzkie Region contains 12 priority axes that correspond to the challenges faced by the region that were identified in key strategic documents, including Development Strategy of Lodzkie Region for 2020 and Regional Innovation Strategy for Lodzkie Region LORIS 2030, and provide for areas of intervention the support of which will end with most visible effects. The Priority Axis II. Innovative and Competitive Economy of the ROP for Lodzkie Region 2014-2020 involves supporting the creation of new products and services. SMEs are direct support recipients – the goal of which is to increase companies’ competitiveness and place high-quality services and products on the market. The Development Strategy of Lodzkie Region 2020 described the Area of Agriculture Development in the Region along with the challenges identified:
development of higher agricultural education with the integration of the academic communities of Łódź, Skierniewice and Warsaw;
development of cooperation networks between the R&D sphere and agricultural producers;
establishing producer groups;
creation of wholesale markets for agricultural products, development of regional and local markets promoting regional products and organic food;
increase in retention and development of drainage systems for agricultural land;
the process of agricultural and forest lands consolidation;
improvement of internal and external transport accessibility.
The strategy i.a. assumes that by 2020 access to EU funds will speed up the implementation of innovative solutions, which will contribute to the development of the organic farming sector.
7
Innovative agriculture and agri-food processing constitute one of the greatest potential identified in the Regional Intelligent Specialisations provided in LORIS 2030. RIS3 describes structures at strategic and operational level in order to carry out activities among entities that usually do not cooperate with each other.
Lodzkie Region Executive Board in the framework of project actions started to cooperate with: 1.
National Support Centre for Agriculture
The Agency carries out the following activities as part of the mechanisms undertaken:
It provides agricultural producers, processors and exporters with financial resources for participation in mechanisms of EU agricultural police administered by the Agency and national activities (RDP 2014-2020 Measure 11 Organic farming - Campaign 2017);
It issues administrative decisions related to the participation of these entities in the mechanisms of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and national policies;
It informs about the conditions to be met in order to use the EU mechanisms managed by the Agency;
It administers registers maintained on the basis of national and EU law;
It monitors the volume of quota and out-of-quota production within the allocated production quotas;
It collects and pays financial resources for the promotion of food from EU and national budgets, as well as from funds for the promotion of agri-food products.
It carries out controls to determine whether entrepreneurs who receive financial resources granted by the Agency or the right to produce specific products, operate in accordance with the regulations;
It provides the European Commission (EC) with information on CAP activities implemented by the Agricultural Market Agency;
It participates in making decisions by the EU institutions that are related to administered CAP mechanisms and provides beneficiaries and all interested persons with information about these decisions;
It draws up periodic and ad hoc analyses, forecasts, information and studies on the current and predicted situation on basic agricultural markets;
It carries out information activities aimed at increasing the knowledge on the EU agricultural policy programmes managed by the Agricultural Market Agency and the conditions for participation in these programmes.
8
2.
Chamber of Agriculture of Lodzkie Region
As a unit of agricultural local government that brings together farmers who pay the agricultural tax, the Chamber of Agriculture of Lodzkie Region was operating pursuant to the Act on Agricultural Chambers of 14 December 1995. The agricultural local government acts on numerous levels. Article 5 of the Act on Agricultural Chambers sets forth its statutory activities that are implemented by: providing farmers with advice on all matters related to agriculture, including organic farming; free legal advice; activities carried out by committees appraising damages to mitigate the effects of losses suffered by farmers that are caused by adverse weather conditions and damages caused by wild game and forest animals; conducting training activities related to agriculture; organisation of conferences (for example “Organic farming in Lodzkie Region – development perspectives”). The Chamber participates in initiatives carried out by local communities, Olympiads and competitions the goal of which is to improve conditions and safety of living in rural regions. Another initiative undertaken by the Agricultural Chamber of Lodzkie Region was to implement the project “Farming as a driving factor of the Lodzkie Region” during which two cultural, educational and exhibition events were organised. They took place on 1 June 2014 in Nowe Zduny and on 7 September 2014 in Szadek. Farmers and producers of organic food were promoted there and during these events they could exhibit their organic products and promote ecologic activities.
Thanks to the Chamber, farmers from Lodzkie Region could participate in the TECH & BIO organic technique fairs in Valence that took place in France on 23-24 September 2015. During the fairs, the farmers could broaden their knowledge and improve their skills in the field of organic farming techniques, and visit organic farms.
We hope that thanks to activities undertaken by the Agricultural Chamber of Lodzkie Region the farmers from our region will decide to switch to organic farming and quickly catch up with farmers from other Member States.
3.
Research Institute of Horticulture in Skierniewice
The Institute has been conducting research in the field of organic horticultural production since 2004, namely since it has received first financial resources for this purpose. The aim of these studies is to develop and improve organic technology used to grow fruits and vegetables. For the purposes related to studies on organic fruit growing, the team of workers organised under supervision of dr hab. Elżbieta Rozpara the first in Poland Organic Experimental Orchard in Nowy Dwór-Parcela (commune of Nowy Kawęczyn, Lodzkie Region) at the Institute of Horticulture. This research facility is annually certified in organic farming. Multidimensional experimental works are conducted there as part of the Multi-annual Institute of Horticulture Programme and other projects financed on the basis
9
of regulations of the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development and EU projects. These works include: assessment of suitability of different species and varieties of horticultural plants for organic farming, innovative methods of soil and plant maintenance at organic plantations. Experiments concerning methods of preventing and combating diseases, pests and weeds in organic farming of horticultural plants are also an important part of these works. Studies on organic nursery and seed production are also carried out. The Institute of Horticulture successively notifies the producers of the results of studies on organic horticultural production during Organic Workshops, during thematic conferences, with the help of specialist studies, lectures and horticultural journals. In the final phase, the first edition of “Organic Fruit Production Technology� will be developed.
4.
Lodz University of Technology, Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Science
As a public university, Lodz University of Technology, Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Science participates in research on the food sector, including organic food and food having good impact on health. It conducts training sessions and offers consultancy in the field of creating technological processes in the above-mentioned area and innovation of food production with regard to sustainable development. The Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Science offers four modern studies (biotechnology, food technology and human nutrition, environmental biotechnology, cosmetics technology) and numerous majors making it possible to become an engineer or M.Sc. degree, including studies in English. While studying food technology and human nutrition, students learn how to conduct technological and biotechnological processes in food production, including methods of preservation and storage of food. They are taught how to implement and supervise food production and become familiar with the requirements of proper human nutrition. They develop their skills studying majors, such as food technology, food analysis and assessment. Studies in the field of environmental biotechnology shape skills related to the prediction, prevention and determination of ecosystem pollution. Graduates acquire skills expected by enterprises and institutions that deal with municipal services management and in industrial plants generating waste, as well as in local government units that protect and monitor the environment.
5.
Lodzkie Agricultural Advisory Centre with its office in Bratoszewice
The Department of Organic Agriculture and Environmental Protection provides advice on the development and promotion of organic farming and environmental protection; improvement of the quality of agri-food goods; agricultural, environmental and climate programmes; renewable energy sources; preservation of rural natural heritage: biodiversity, increasing the rural forest cover, water and sewage management, and waste management. The Department of Organic Agriculture and Environmental Protection provides advice on the development and promotion of organic farming and environmental protection; improvement of the quality of agri-food goods; agricultural, environmental
10
and climate programmes; renewable energy sources; preservation of rural natural heritage: biodiversity, increasing the rural forest cover, water and sewage management, and waste management. The Department disseminates environment-friendly agricultural production methods and lifestyle, i.a. by means of the following activities:
disseminating knowledge and providing assistance in the field of agricultural production using ecological and integrated methods, including development of plans for farms to switch to organic production;
promoting organic food manufactured using integrated methods on the consumer market by presenting farms and their products during promotional events, fairs and exhibitions;
cooperating in the implementation of tasks resulting from agri-environmental programmes and action programmes aimed at reducing outflow of nitrogen from agricultural sources in particularly exposed areas.
Other stakeholders: 6.
Łódzki Rynek Hurtowy “Zjazdowa” – a wholesale market with a supra-regional scope, at which agricultural producers sell vegetables and fruits;
7.
University of Life Sciences in Lublin;
8.
Polska Witalna – a society promoting healthy, balanced lifestyle in harmony with nature;
9.
Zielony Lis s.c. – online shop offering high-quality food products;
10. Waldemar Fortuna – owner of a farm; 11. Lokalny rolnik [Local farmer] – a purchasing platform that allows for buying products directly from farmers; 12. Wiatrowy Sad – a company that produces fruit juices from its own fruit farm; 13. Organic Farm “MROWISKO” 14. Organic Farm “Eko-Marchaty” and others.
The stakeholders group had the regular meetings to talk about problems and challenges for consumers, farmers, entrepreneurs and producers, as well as institutions involved in the issues of agro-food industry. A couple of challenges have been identified in the domain of development of the ecological industry and the healthy lifestyle: •
The need to expand and educate a group of consumers interested in organic food;
•
Insufficient local marketing of organic products;
•
The need to develop agriculture supported by society, i.e. agriculture producing safe,
healthy food (direct consumer-producer contact, shorter supply chain, lowered product prices, the producer manufactures its goods for specific group of recipients – cooperatives);
11
•
The need for social campaigns combined with visits to organic farms and companies
processing organic food (showing how production looks like, visitors participating in the process of organic food development – educational aspect) in order to broaden the group of consumers interested in high quality food, in particular among children, teenagers and students; •
Model of organic fairs in housing estates;
•
Promoting the importance of food cooperatives and community in the production and
distribution of organic food; •
Creating a community of producers and consumers;
•
Integration of neighbours from large cities by expanding social cooperatives focusing
on high-quality food. The stakeholders group stated that:
the lack of awareness of the recipient of “Euro-leaf” product logo is observed;
farmers from small farms do not see the need to certify their products, because they sell them to neighbours and people referred to them. Nevertheless, organic management methods are a good solution for such farms, because they could sell certified products at higher price to specialist shops, etc.;
there is an insufficient support at the local level in the field of environmental education;
we should limit imported organic food and focus on innovative processing of local organic products.
Overarching aims and objectives
Growth of organic food production in the region
Growth of demand for organic food in the region resulting from promotional activities
Increased consumer awareness of food and farmers regarding the impact of organic food on health and the environment
Selling larger batches of organic raw materials and processed organic food and possibility of funds receiving for promotion by organic producer groups
Increasing number of environmentally friendly organic processing plants
Increase in sales of local organic food in supermarkets and online platforms
Improving the health of the society and thus reducing the costs of health care
Environment protection
12
Action Areas and Measures to Support Organic Farming Action Area: Education and Promotion Proposed activities: 1. A broad educational and promotion campaign for consumers and farmers (organization of workshops, seminars, conferences, promotion of organic food at local fairs, harvest festivals and other organic –oriented events, organizing of school events on organic food production and its importance for health. Study visits for children and youth to organic farms demonstration farms (support by local authorities and schools) Justification for the action: - this action should be implemented, because of low awareness of consumers about the impact of organic food on health and environment and also of need to increase demand for organic food Indicator: increase in sales of organic food on the local market Support area: Rural Development Program Support: -
Action "Systems of agricultural products and foodstuffs", Subaction 3.2 "Support for information and promotion activities carried out by producer groups in the internal market, support for producer group at least two producers (PROW 2014-2020) "; Cooperation Action (PROW 2014-2020)
-
Priority Axis X: Employee and SMEs Adaptability in the region Under European Social Fund support is directed to realistic, reported needs of SMEs within the subaction X.2.1 Competiveness of SMEs and their employees. An entrepreneur decides independently about the range of support – chooses the most effective (from the point of view of SMEs) training and advisory services. The realization of the subaction is supported by Development Service Base https://uslugirozwojowe.parp.gov.pl/ Funding can be given to actions in the area of competences development, comprehensive services (advisory, diagnostic), strategic management implementation (including human resources management) as well as modern company management methods, including company development management (such as crisis situations). The above-mentioned funding opportunities regard also those actions that aim at improving competitiveness of organic SMEs as long as they result from determined needs of SMEs.
13
Overriding goals: Increased consumer awareness of food and farmers regarding the impact of organic food on health and the environment
2. Specific objectives of the proposed research project: The overall objective of this project is to explore and analyse organic farming potential as a management option targeted to the environmentally sensitive area of the Natura 2000 in area the Landscape Park of Lodzkie Hills and Bolimowski Landscape Park. This achievement of this overall objective is embedded in a sustainable learning and innovation network which will be initiated by this project in two communities Brzeziny and Bolimów. The partners of the network are farmers applying agri-ecological principles, community stakeholders (administration), managers of marketing and tourist agencies, managers of the Landscape Parks, agricultural advisors and researchers. The detailed objectives are as follows:
to initiate a sustainable learning and innovation network in few villages of the two communities in area Landscape Parks
to develop and implement on 50 farms a farm management concept based on organic farming principles targeted to the Landscape Parks
to conduct participative on-farm trials to improve crop production in the region
to improve livestock health and animal welfare by on-farm trials
to investigate the targeted enrichment of biodiversity and landscape quality on 50 farms
to analyse the project’s impact on sustainable farm development by conducting three sustainability assessment on 50 farms in the Landscape Parks (prior to farm management concept implementation, mid-term and end of the project)
to analyse the project’s impact to regional sustainable development
to synthesise the project results.
Action Area – Production Proposed activities:
Establishment of producer groups (producers of apples and soft fruits such as chokeberry and currants)
Establishment of the orchard region in the Lodzkie region – organic orchard farm Arek Kartus in Biała Rawska as a good practice
Creation of an organic vegetable growing region (Monika Mrowińska's farm "Mrowisko" as a good practice)
14
Justification for the action: There are many small farms scattered across the region, lack of power to break of single producers, lack of organic producer groups in the Lodz region, Indicator: establishment producer groups Overriding goals: selling larger batches of organic raw materials and processed organic food and possibility of funds receiving for promotion by organic producer groups
Action Area – Processing Proposed activities:
Ensure native protein feed production;
Increasing the number of organic processing plants in the Lodzkie Region;
Make it easier for small processing plants to comply with hygiene requirements;
Support for organic farming in the field of fruit and vegetable processing at the farm level.
Justification of the action: lack of native production of organic protein feed and other organic processing plants result in the need for import of these products Indicator: an increase of processing plants number and increase of organic protein feed production Overriding goals: Increasing number of environmentally friendly organic processing plants
Action Area Chain of Value Proposed activities:
Increased number of online selling platforms;
Increased number of producers groups.
There is a problem of small organic shops being eliminated due to unequal competition from supermarkets (large-scale stores increase their offer of organic products, but organic farmers from small farms are not able to deliver goods according to the needs of a large-scale store – motivation for association of producers and farmers to provide more goods – there’s no existing groups of organic producers in the Lodzkie region) • Use of online platforms to shorten the supply chain (reducing intermediaries and thus the price of goods). Examples of free platforms in Lodzkie region: www.lokalnazywnosc.pl Łódzkie Warzywko (https://www.facebook.com/LodzkieWarzywko/) www.dograne.pl
15
www.lokalnyrolnik.pl Justification for action: producer groups will be able to deliver large quantities of organic products to large-scale stores. Use of online platforms should eliminate intermediaries whose involvement results in increase in commodity prices Indicator: Increase in sales of local organic food in supermarkets and online platforms Overriding goals: Increase in sales of local organic food in supermarkets and online platforms
Action Area: Public Support Proposed activities:
Green public procurement – catering in schools and healthcare settings – providing local organic products, that have significant influence on health
Support from local authorities for communities (award for the community, where the share of organic food in public catering is highest)
Realisation of the project “Green public procurement for resource-efficient regional growth” under Interreg Europe (2017-2021)
Justification for action: Consumption of organic food will improve the health of the society and thus reduce the cost of health care Indicator: Increased share of consumed organic food in schools and health settings Overriding goals: Improving the health of the society and thus reducing the costs of health care
Action Area: Environment protection Proposed activities:
Support for already existing organic farms and conversion of conventional farms into organic in environmentally sensitive area of the Natura 2000 in area of Landscape Park of Lodzkie Hills, Bolimowski Landscape Park, Warta-Widawka Landscape Park and in the areas of water intakes.
Organizing a meeting of entrepreneurs with farmers interested in converting of own farms into organic - defining needs and possibilities (participation about 100 entrepreneurs from all over Poland in the meeting with farmers in Lodzkie region – the entrepreneurs should secure demand for products of organic farmers)
Subsidy: "Investments in farms located in Natura 2000 area under the "Support for investments in agricultural farms" sub-program covered by the Rural Development Program 2014-2020
16

Conversion of conventional farms into organic near of water intakes (improvement of water quality for Lodzkie region)
Justification for action: Organic farming provides biological self-regulation, uses methods of soil, water and landscape protection resulting in high quality biological products Indicator: improvement of soil, water and landscape quality on areas covered by Action Area: Environment protection Overriding goals: environment protection, influence on citizens health and life . In summary, we should focus on a broad educational campaign for consumers and farmers (organize workshops, seminars and conferences concerning the promotion of organic food at local markets, harvest festivals and other events focused on organic food, organize school events on organic food production and its importance to health). Support should be directed to the establishment of producer groups, associations of organic producers and other organizational forms with the participation of producers of organic apples, soft fruits and vegetables to obtain funds for promotion and sales. There should be a support for creation of ecological apple orchards with an area of 500 ha in the Lodzkie Region. Since 2017, the existing orchards in this area are being transformed and this should be continued as well as the increase in the area of organic vegetable crops by 300 ha. It is also important to support local organic food markets and take actions to shorten the supply chain of organic products, which will result in lower products prices. Using the model of green public procurement, the support should be directed to the organization of organic gastronomy in schools and hospitals, as well as to help to convert the conventional farms into organic ones, especially near water intakes located in the Lodz Region.
Monitoring and evaluation To assess the successful implementation of the organic action plan, data collection (monitoring) and periodic evaluation of the measures are necessary, as well as the regular surveys of organic sector through interviews with farmers, producers and consumers. The evaluation should answer the following questions: 
Have the overarching and strategic objectives of increasing the value added of the organic sector in Lodzkie Region been achieved effectively?

What short- and long-term effects on the sector and society have been, or can be, achieved through the organic action plan?
17
What adjustments need to be made to the current action plan to realise the planned actions and to have influence on the real measures?
According to this the monitoring of the plan and its evaluation will be kept up to date together with the stakeholders group and with all the units that can have influence on plan implementation and collecting of data. Overarching aims and measures:
To increase the regional citizens awareness in the domain of ecology and healthy lifestyle;
To increase the farmers awareness in the domain of using the organic plant protection products;
To increase the number of organic farms;
To increase the number of organic processing plants;
To increase the number of projects realised from EU funds in the domain of organic actions.
18
Annex 1 – Financial instruments Action Areas and Measures to Support Organic Farming
Target group
Indicator
Beneficiaries
Financial instruments
Citizens of the Lodzkie Region, including preschool and schoolaged children and youth, Farmers, Producers of organic food, SME, Tourists
Increasing the number of organic food consumers
Producer groups, Farmers, Forest owners, entities providing advisory services, Entrepreneurs, Local Government Units, unions and associations of LGU, LGU with local legal personality, Government administration bodies and their subordinate or supervised entities, NGOs, Research units, Universities, State forests and their organizational units, Local Action Groups.
Rural Development Programme 2014 -2020: Action 3 „Quality systems for agricultural products and foodstuffs”, sub-action 3.2 „Support for information and promotion activities carried out by producer groups on the internal market”. Action 16 „Cooperation”. Regional Operational Programme for Łódzkie Voivodship 2014-2020: Priority Axis X Adaptability of employees and enterprises in the region Action X.2 Development of employees and enterprises. Priority Axis V Environmental protection Action V.4 Nature conservation. Sub-action V.4.1 Nature conservation. Priority Axis V Environmental protection Action V.4 Nature conservation. Sub-action V.4.2 Counteracting environmental degradation. Budget of Local Government Units. Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management in Lodz: Grant. „Ecological education of the inhabitants of the Lodzkie Region” and ,,Ekopracownia pod chmurką".
1. Education and Promotion 1.1. A broad educational and promotion campaign for consumers and farmers (organization of workshops, seminars, conferences, promotion of organic food at local fairs, harvest festivals and other organic–oriented events, organizing of school events on organic food production and its importance for health. Study visits for children and youth to organic farms demonstration farms (support by local authorities and schools)
2. Production
Target group
Indicator
2.1. Establishment of producer groups (producers of apples and soft fruits such as chokeberry and currants) 2.2. Establishment of the orchard region in the Lodzkie Region 2.3. Creation of an organic vegetable growing region
Citizens of the Lodzkie Region, Farmers
Establishment of producer groups
3. Processing
Target group
Indicator
3.1. Ensure native protein feed production 3.2. Increasing the number of organic processing plants in the Lodzkie Region 3.3. Make it easier for small processing plants to comply with hygiene requirements 3.4. Support for organic farming in the field of fruit and vegetable processing at the farm level
SME, Citizens of the Lodzkie Region, Farmers, Stakeholders from the organic farming sector, scientific institutions and agricultural advisory services
Increasing the number of processing plants, Increasing the protein feed production
20
Beneficiaries
Farmers, including organic products producers
the
Beneficiaries SME, Farmers
Financial instruments Rural Development Programme 2014 -2020: Sub-action 4.1.3 Modernization of farms. Action 9 Creating producer groups and producer organizations. Action 11 Organic farming. Financial instruments Rural Development Programme 2014 -2020: Sub-action 3.1. Support for joining quality systems. Sub-action 4.1.3 Modernization of farms. Sub-action 4.2 Investment support in the processing of agricultural products, trade in them or their development. Regional Operational Programme for Łódzkie Voivodship 2014-2020: Priority Axis II Innovative and competitive economy Action II.3 Increasing competitiveness of SME: Sub-action II.3.1 Innovations in SME Sub-action II.3.2 Financial instruments for SME. Smart Growth Operational Programme 2014-2020: Priority Axis II: Support for the environment and the potential of enterprises to conduct R&D actions Action 2.3: Pro-innovative services for enterprises Sub-action 2.3.2 Vouchers for innovations for SME.
4. Chain of Value 4.1. Increased number of online selling platforms 4.2. Increased number of producers groups
5. Public Support 5.1. Green public procurement – catering in schools and healthcare settings – providing local organic products, that have significant influence on health 5.2. Support from local authorities for communities (award for the community, where the share of organic food in public catering is highest) 5.3. Realisation of the project “Green public procurement for resourceefficient regional growth” under Interreg Europe (2017-2021)
Target group Farmers, Producer groups, Entrepreneurs including SME
Target group Citizens of the Lodzkie Region, tourists, patients
Indicator Increasing sales of local organic food in supermarkets and online stores
Indicator Increased consumption of organic food in schools and healthcare institutions
21
Beneficiaries
Financial instruments
Farmers, Producer groups, SME
Rural Development Programme 2014 -2020: Action 9 Creating producer groups and producer organizations. Regional Operational Programme for Łódzkie Voivodship 2014-2020: Priority Axis II Innovative and competitive economy Action II.3 Increasing competitiveness of SME, Sub-action II.3.1 Innovations in SME. Smart Growth Operational Programme 2014-2020: Priority Axis II: Support for the environment and the potential of enterprises to conduct R&D actions Action 2.3: Pro-innovative services for enterprises Sub-action 2.3.2 Vouchers for innovations for SME.
Beneficiaries
Financial instruments
Entrepreneurs, Local Government Units, unions and associations of LGU, Partnership projects created by a local government unit with public entities, NGOs, cultural institutions
Budget of Local Government Units. Regional Operational Programme for Łódzkie Voivodship 2014-2020: Priority Axis VI Revitalization and endogenous potential of the region Action VI.2 Development of the tourism economy. Green public procurement for resource-efficient regional growth” – GPP4Growth in the frameworks of INTERREG EUROPE, Priority Axis IV: Environment
and resource efficiency.
National Forests, Local Action Groups etc. 6. Environment protection
Target group
Indicator
Beneficiaries
Financial instruments
6.1. Support for already existing organic farms and conversion of conventional farms into organic in environmentally sensitive area of the Natura 2000 in area of Landscape Park of Lodzkie Hills, Bolimowski Landscape Park, WartaWidawka Landscape Park and in the areas of water intakes. 6.2. Organizing a meeting of entrepreneurs with farmers interested in converting of own farms into organic - defining needs and possibilities (participation about 100 entrepreneurs from all over Poland in the meeting with farmers in Lodzkie Region – the entrepreneurs should secure demand for products of organic farmers)
Farmers, SME, Citizens of the Lodzkie Region
Improving the quality of soil, water and landscape in the Lodzkie Region.
Government administration bodies a natural person, a legal person, a partnership, partners in a civil law partnership, Entrepreneurs.
Rural Development Programme 2014 -2020: Action: M02 - Advisory services, farm management services and substitute services 2.1 - Support for the use of consulting services. 2.3 Support for advisors' training. Action 4.1.1 Investments in farms located in Natura 2000 areas. Support. Investment in farms. Budget of Local Government Units.
22