Pro Luomu organic product promotion programme granted nearly EUR one million in EU funding

The communication programme of the organic product organisation Pro Luomu ry has received significant funding from the EU. The Pro Luomu programme is the first Finnish promotion programme to be approved since the implementation of the renewed EU promotion policy in 2016. The aim of the approved programme is to raise consumer awareness about organic products and increase organic consumption in Finland. The EU funding will cover 70 per cent of the total costs of the programme.

The EU has invested heavily in agri-food communication and promotion activities by increasing the amount of funding available each year. In 2005, a total of EUR 60 million was allocated for promotion campaigns, whereas this year the amount had already increased to around EUR 200 million. Applications for promotion funding can be submitted by organisations from one or more Member States for communication and promotion activities within the internal market or in third countries. The annual work programme specifies the priorities for funding and the target countries more precisely. This year, EUR 100 million was earmarked for programmes carried out by single Member States, EUR 91.6 million for joint programmes of several Member States and EUR 9.5 million for the Commission's own communication measures. 

Pro Luomu received almost EUR one million in funding from the priority area targeted at communications concerning food quality systems. This category, which also finances the promotion of designation of origin and protected geographical indication products, received 28 applications from different EU countries. The eight approved projects were from Spain, Italy, Greece and Belgium, in addition to Finland.

“The funding granted to Pro Luomu is very important, as it will encourage other Finnish organisations to apply for EU promotion funding,” says Anna-Leena Miettinen, Head of Unit from the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.

Applications for EU agri-food promotion funding can be submitted by professional and trade organisations in the agri-food sector, producer organisations, and other industry organisations involved in food-related communication and promotion activities.

Inquiries:

Anna-Leena Miettinen, Head of Unit, tel. +358 40 033 0812, anna-leena.miettinen(at)mmm.fi

Maija Heinonen, Ministerial Adviser, tel. +358 29 516 2082, maija.heinonen(at)mmm.fi