A pool of close to 100 applications from all over Europe were submitted to the awards organisers, with 24 shortlisted candidates selected from 11 EU countries. The EU Organic Awards comprise seven categories and eight individual awards. They acknowledge excellent, innovative, sustainable and inspiring projects producing real added value for organic production and consumption.
The Merry Mill was successful in the ‘best organic food processing SME’ and picked up the award at a special ceremony in Brussels on September 25, EU Organic Day
The organic farm produces a range of organic gluten-free foods in a closed-loop system on their farm. In order to manage the whole process from start to finish to ensure no cross contamination of other grains occurs, they have built Ireland's first organic gluten-free oat mill.
The awards are jointly organised by the European Commission, the European Economic and Social Committee, the European Committee of the Regions, COPA-COGECA and IFOAM Organics Europe, with the support of the European Parliament and the Council.
Commenting, EU Commissioner for Agriculture, Janusz Wojciechowski said: “In cultivating our land with the principles of organic farming, they not only nourish our soil but also provide healthy and quality products. Today’s EU Organic Awards winners are the prime examples on how the production and availability of more organic food can bring benefits to farmers, consumers, and society at large.”
Leonardo Pofferi, COGECA vice-president added: “Being an active partner of the second edition of the EU Organic Awards it is an absolute honor for Copa-Cogeca. The rewarding of these extraordinary realities underlines the active role that European agriculture has been playing towards a more sustainable Europe. It is inspiring and motivating to see all these great businesses and I wish you to congratulate and thank all of them for their role and contribution to the development and promotion of the European Organic farming.” To learn all about The Merry Mill, read our interview in the current issue of Irish Farmers Monthly.