Campaign's partners

• The Agricultural Cooperative of Bioproducers of West Hellas, known as “Bio Net West Hellas,” stands as Greece’s largest and most influential collective of organic producers. Situated within the Natural Park of Greece, over 200 organic farmers within this cooperative engage in farming and animal breeding while upholding a deep ecological consciousness. Their products are processed and packaged in state-of-the-art facilities, adhering to quality standards ISO 22000, BRC & IFS. 

The cooperative focuses on expanding organic citrus fruit production in Western Greece and exports these products to northern and central European countries. They prioritize quality improvement and innovation, which includes creating new products like freeze-dried fruits and employing eco-friendly packaging. Bio Net West Hellas aims to penetrate European markets further, increase its number of partners, and continually promote its organic citrus products, often through participation in major trade fairs and targeted promotional activities. The cooperative holds various quality certificates, demonstrating its commitment to excellence in organic production and ethical trade practices.

Bio Net West Hellas is deeply committed to sustainable and organic agricultural practices, and they employ various techniques to ensure the quality and environmental friendliness of their products:

Organic Farming: All of the cooperative’s members engage in organic farming, which means they avoid synthetic pesticides and fertilizers, genetically modified organisms (GMOs), and focus on crop rotation and natural pest control methods.

Integrated Pest Management (IPM): Bio Net West Hellas likely employs IPM strategies to minimize the impact of pests and diseases on their crops. This approach combines biological, physical, and chemical methods to manage pests while reducing the use of harmful chemicals.

Crop Diversity: The cooperative’s focus on a diverse range of organic products, including fruits, vegetables, and olives, demonstrates their commitment to crop diversity. Crop rotation and diversity help maintain soil health and reduce the risk of soil-borne diseases.

Composting: Organic residues are appropriately composted and utilized to fertilize farms. This promotes soil fertility and enriches the soil with organic matter, enhancing its capacity to retain water and nutrients.

Renewable Energy: Reduction to a minimum of energy needs and the use of renewable energy sources reflects their commitment to renewable energy and reducing their carbon footprint.

Quality Standards: All processing plants operate according to stringent quality standards such as ISO 22000, BRC, and IFS, ensuring the safety and quality of their products.

Ethical and Social Practices: Bio Net West Hellas also demonstrates its commitment to ethical trade and social practices on the farm. They hold certifications like SMETA and GRASP, which address workers’ health, safety, and welfare.

Innovative Products: The cooperative’s strategy includes the creation of innovative products like freeze-dried fruits, which can help reduce food waste and provide consumers with convenient, healthy options.

Eco-Friendly Packaging: Bio Net West Hellas plans to use innovative packaging with recyclable materials, promoting sustainable packaging practices.

These techniques and practices align with the cooperative’s mission to produce high-quality organic products while prioritizing environmental sustainability, worker well-being, and innovation in the agricultural sector.

• The Bulgarian Organic Products Association (BOPA) is a prominent organization that unites over 800 certified organic producers, processors, and traders in Bulgaria. Established in 2009, it holds official recognition from the Ministry of Agriculture and represents the country’s organic farming sector. BOPA’s primary objectives include promoting organic products, protecting the interests of farmers, fostering trade partnerships, ensuring fair competition with conventional agriculture, and participating in the development of organic production legislation in Bulgaria.

BOPA plays a pivotal role in advocating for the organic sector in Bulgaria and supports its members’ interests. It has also been a member of the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM EU) since 2011, participating in exhibitions and seminars to promote organic farming and facilitate international connections.

Furthermore, BOPA aligns with the European Union’s objectives to enhance the competitiveness of its agricultural sector, address climate change, and promote sustainable agriculture. The organization contributes to the EU’s goal of increasing organic farming and achieving 25% of total farmland under organic cultivation by 2030, promoting environmentally friendly practices. This action helps raise awareness about EU quality schemes and expand the market for EU agricultural products, especially in third countries, and advances the CAP’s environmental and climate ambitions.