Bund Ökologische Lebensmittelwirtschaft

The Bund Ökologische Lebensmittelwirtschaft (BÖLW) is the leading association of agricultural producers, processors, and traders of organic food in Germany. Founded in 2002, the BÖLW is based in Berlin and represents the interests of its members, which consist of cultivation associations, associations of traders, and processors.

The main mission of the BÖLW is to ensure that the ecological, economic, and social contributions of the Organic Food Industry are adequately recognized in politics and society. The association advocates for the creation of favorable framework conditions for the further development of the Organic Food Industry. The BÖLW sees itself as a vibrant network and open communication platform for its members to promote intensive communication, open discussions, and joint decisions[2][3].

• Advocacy: The BÖLW consolidates the interests of the Organic Food Industry and represents them with one voice to politics and society.
• Knowledge Transfer: The association coordinates numerous measures for knowledge transfer between research and practice in organic and sustainable agriculture and food industry. This includes events, practical handbooks, and research projects, such as the practical handbook 'Organic Products without Genetic Engineering' and the further development of culture-specific strategies for organic plant protection[3].
• Network and Communication: The BÖLW provides its members with a space for intensive communication and open discussions to make joint decisions.
• International Cooperation: The BÖLW is a member of the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM) and coordinates the group of German-speaking IFOAM members there[1].

The BÖLW is engaged in various sustainability initiatives:

• Agricultural Policy and Environmental Protection: The association demands that additional environmental services are adequately rewarded and advocates for the transformation of animal husbandry with organic as the leading standard. Furthermore, the abolition of environmentally harmful subsidies and the strengthening of biodiversity, soil protection, climate protection, and water protection are called for[4].
• Genetic Engineering Regulation: The BÖLW supports the regulation of genetic engineering and the precautionary principle to ensure freedom of choice.
• Organic Research and Education: The association advocates for the strengthening of organic research and the dissemination of organic knowledge from kindergarten to university.
• Organic Kitchens and Community Catering: The BÖLW promotes the introduction of organic community catering to support healthy menus and strengthen local farms[4].

The BÖLW is the national, non-profit organizer of BIOFACH, the world's leading trade fair for organic products, and the patron of the nationwide Organic Field Days. Additionally, the association regularly conducts surveys to analyze the structure of the organic sector in detail and demonstrate the economic strength of the industry. In 2023, 14.3 percent of all farms in Germany were already organic, and sales of organic food grew by 5 percent to €16.08 billion[4].

The Bund Ökologische Lebensmittelwirtschaft (BÖLW) is thus a central actor in promoting and representing the Organic Food Industry in Germany and beyond.

• 1 - https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bund_%C3%96kologische_Lebensmittelwirtschaft
• 2 - https://www.boelw.de/ueber-uns/was-wir-machen/
• 3 - https://www.fisaonline.de/einrichtungen-finden/details/?tx_fisaresearch_institutions%5Baction%5D=institutionDetails&tx_fisaresearch_institutions%5Bcontroller%5D=Institutions&tx_fisaresearch_institutions%5Bi_id%5D=782&cHash=a8c7f453a9706921e5b5194cf67d73a8
• 4 - https://www.boelw.de
• 5 - https://orgprints.org/id/eprint/42876/13/BioKKP_Leitfaden_Landwirtschaft_2021.pdf