To date, binding specifications on the use of processing methods for the production of organic food are largely lacking in the EU. For this reason, the transnational ProOrg project funded through the ERA-net CORE Organic Cofund - based on the European Union's Organic Regulation - has undertaken an assessment of processing technologies and developed applicable criteria. The discussion paper, which was developed in a multi-stage process, presents the criteria for processing methods that reflect the objectives, principles and detailed requirements of the EU Organic Regulation.
The developed criteria will support organic food processors in choosing technologies and innovations that pay particular attention to sensory quality, nutritional quality, and environmental and social sustainability in processing. The assessment framework will help to guarantee even higher quality organic food.
In autumn 2021, the internet-based tool for evaluating the organic suitability of processing methods will be published on the ProOrg website as a supplement. This tool was also developed as part of the ProOrg project.