Sustainable public food procurement without Sustainable Food System law, what to expect?

2023 and 2024 were marked with increasing polarisation of agricultural issues, causing the watering down of progressive environmental legislations in the EU institutions. It is in this picture that the Commission postponed the publication of its legislative framework for sustainable food systems (SFS law), a flagship initiative related to the Farm to Fork strategy.

Despite NGOs and some political groups still calling for this law, there are no signs that this postponement will not be definitive. If the SFS law would not come to be, this would be a step back for the work on Sustainable Food Systems.

Sustainable public food procurement (SPP), a low-hanging fruit

In her political guidelines as candidate for the Presidency of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyenannounced a revision of the Public Procurement Directive (last revised in 2014). Now that she is reelected, it is important that the incoming Commission continues this work, as including a mandatory minimum criteria for organic food on the public plate has many benefits – from support to the local economy and (organic) producers to increased job satisfaction for the kitchen staff and from improved school health & performances to saving money while saving the planet.

As IFOAM Organics Europe, we have been working intensely on SPP and published a manifesto for establishing minimum requirements for public canteens, together with a coalition of NGOs.

Our members who are interested in this topic are invited to join the Strategic Meeting on Sustainable Public Procurement – fill out the doodle on our member extranet or contact [email protected].

For more information on this issue, have a look at:

• The EU Food Policy Coalition’s Sustainable Public Procurement of food: A goal within reach,
• Our leaflet Making organic products in sustainable public procurement happen,
• Our infographics (available in multiple languages):
  • Overall benefits: Benefits of Sustainable Public Procurement,
  • Why policymakers should consider investing in sustainable public procurement,
• The work of the Buy Better Food coalition, campaigning for sustainable food on the public plate, and
• The SchoolFood4Change project that will provide innovative solutions and tailored, locally adaptable good practices for schools, school meal providers, public authorities, and policymakers, in line with the EU’s Farm to Fork Strategy.

Could not find what you were looking for? Visit our food policy webpage and scroll down to “Food policy: Sustainable Public Procurement” or contact [email protected]. Do note that we prioritise our members’ requests.

We invite our members to translate the infographics we have created. The source materials for this are available on our member extranet > hot topics > Sustainable Food Systems > Sustainable Public Procurement. For information about what you can gain from being a member, read our membership page and contact [email protected].