Naturland e.V., one of the world's leading international associations for organic agriculture recently launched "European Organic: Nurturing Every Juan."
The launch coincided with EU Organic Day, is an awareness campaign that spans three years and aims to make organic food more accessible to Filipinos.
During the launch, guests were treated to a curated meal at Grace Park Dining which is known for being a staunch supporter of organic food in the Philippines. Each dish featured an EU organic product, highlighting the quality and care that went into every meal and the high standards behind every EU-certified organic product.
The launch comes at a time when demand for healthier and more sustainable food choices is growing in the Philippines, but options and support remain limited. According to the PwC 2025 Voice of the Consumer report, 67% of Filipinos consider nutritional value a key factor in food purchases. Similarly, a study by Food Industry Asia revealed that 99% of Filipino consumers want to adopt mindful eating habits, with many calling on the food industry to help make these choices more attainable.
"Organic is not just a label- it's a promise of integrity, transparency and sustainability that creates value for people, businesses and the planet," said Marco Schlutter, Managing Director for Strategy and International Affairs at Naturland e.V. "By choosing organic, we are working with nature, not against it."
Tom van der Meulen, Managing Director of Control Union Philippines, talked about how organic products in the market earn their organic certification label.
Under EU regulations, organic food production is guided by principles that protect both people and the planet. These include the prohibition of genetically modified organisms (GMOs), limited use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides and 100% organic feed for animals. Farmers are also required to maintain soil and plant health through natural methods- reducing environmental impact while supporting food security.
Products that meet these requirements earn the EU organic logo, which indicates the code number of the certifying inspection body and the origin of ingredients.
"Certifications like the EU organic logo and the Naturland seal indicate that products have been independently verified by third parties to meet strict standards of transparency, sustainability and quality. When customers see these on the products on the shelves, they are assured that these products were produced with care and with high quality standards of organic practices," added Meulen.
Naturland upholds stricter social responsibility and fair employment practices. Its social standards cover working conditions, social benefits and the protection of human rights, applying not only to farmers but also to producers and retailers.
"Our mission is to drive the shift to organic forward in the Philippines. As we share further knowledge about organic practices and engage with more stakeholders in the local food sector, we hope to make organic more accessible to every Juan, aim to empower every Juan to embrace EU organic products with confidence. We invite Filipino consumers and businesses to join us in this movement," said Schutter.
For the next three years, Naturland will roll out consumer education programs and work with trade commissions and other stakeholders from the B2B sector to deepen Filipinos' understanding of what organic truly means and embrace organic options as part of a healthy life.
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