When discussing organic tea labels or AB certificates in France, mentioning the French Agence Bio for the development & promotion of organic farming is unavoidable! This agency is one of the public interest stakeholders that promotes the consumption of organic products.
Essential to the development of French organic farming, this organisation's missions are numerous.
Information, development and promotion of organic farming: the missions of the French Agence Bio
Created in November 2001, the French Agency for the Development & Promotion of Organic Farming, also known as the "Agence Bio", is a public interest group.
This national information and action platform's mission is the promotion, development and structuring of organic farming on French territory. It is through this agency that the steps to obtain AB certification are carried out.
This agency is organised around 5 divisions:
- Communication
- Observatory and information systems
- Organic future and sector structuring
- Out-of-home catering
- Environment and territories
Making figures, news and all other data available at the national level
Based in Montreuil, the French Agency for the Development & Promotion of Organic Farming is the national equivalent of the IFOAM (International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements).
You will find equivalent organisations all over the world.
Each year, these agencies carry out an enormous amount of work:
- they collect thousands of data points on consumption related to the organic sector;
- they connect millions of partners;
- they support new organic farms in the creation or development of their activity;
- they help producers convert their agricultural land to organic farming.
Bringing together millions of representatives and connecting partners in organic farming
The Agence Bio counts among its members several major national organisations:
- the Ministry of Agriculture and Food;
- the Ministry of Ecological Transition;
- the federation of Chambers of Agriculture of France;
- the Federation of Agricultural Cooperatives;
- the FNAB;
- the SYNABIO.
This agency works closely with partners who contribute to the development of organic farming: environmental protection and consumer advocacy organisations, researchers, distribution networks, and public, professional and inter-professional organisations.
In addition to managing the official directory of notified organic farming professionals and the latest news from this sector, the Agence Bio brings together:
- producers (farmers, livestock farmers, agricultural holdings and cooperatives);
- processors (preparers);
- distributors or importers of organic products.
It is notably through events that this agency brings together and facilitates dialogue among the stakeholders of the organic food sector. The purpose of these meetings is to ensure that the enthusiasm for organic products (such as organic tea) benefits French farming.