On 26 May 2026, InnOFoodLabs hosted the second webinar of its Community of Practice series, focusing on the role of food processing in shaping local organic food systems. The session brought together experts and stakeholders from across Europe to discuss how processing can support more sustainable, resilient, and locally rooted value chains.
The webinar featured contributions from Bernard Lignon (SYNABIO) and Rodolphe Vidal (ITAB) and was moderated by Alexander Beck (AöL e.V.). Their insights highlighted the crucial role of processing in maintaining organic principles, ensuring product quality, and strengthening connections along the food value chain.
A central message of the discussion was that organic processing goes beyond technical transformation. It is part of a broader, holistic approach that integrates environmental sustainability, consumer health, and fair economic relationships. In this context, processing plays a key role in supporting short supply chains, local production, and transparent practices.
A particular highlight of the webinar was the active engagement of participants during the interactive workshop sessions. These exchanges created space for dialogue and reflection, allowing participants to share perspectives on organic food quality, identify key considerations in processing, and explore both the opportunities and challenges faced by actors in local organic systems. This lively interaction fostered valuable peer-to-peer learning and brought diverse viewpoints into the conversation.
The session concluded with a shared understanding that processing is a strategic lever for advancing local organic food systems, contributing not only to product quality but also to the overall sustainability and resilience of the sector.
This second webinar further reinforces the role of the InnOFoodLabs Community of Practice as a platform for knowledge exchange, co-learning, and collaboration across Europe.
The presentations from the session are now available for further consultation.
The third webinar will take place on 17 September 2026, focusing on “Connecting farmers, communities, and markets in organic agriculture,” and will continue to deepen exchange within the Community of Practice.
