Debate over EU farm subsidies pits organic and regenerative growers

A draft amendment seeks to revoke a regulation that streamlines the verification process for organic farmers' soil and water protection practices, prompting a dispute between organic and regenerative agriculture circles. Kateřina Urbánková of the PRO-BIO Union of Organic Farmers contends that the rule, secured after years of lobbying the European Commission, was essential for recognizing the holistic care inherent in organic farming and that its removal would unfairly favor regenerative methods.

Vrecionová counters that safeguarding soil and water must be a universal priority, urging that standards be as similar as possible for organic, conventional and regenerative farms. The article notes that organic agriculture already operates under clear EU and Czech legislation monitored by independent bodies, whereas regenerative farming lacks unified definitions and certification. Initiatives like the Rege index aim to assess regenerative practices on farms, but no formal certification exists yet. Ongoing discussions about future agricultural policy are intensified by planned cuts to the overall farm budget, which could heighten competition for limited subsidies.