Felix Prinz zu Löwenstein-Wertheim-Rosenberg, Chairman of the BÖLW (Bund Ökologische Lebensmittelwirtschaft), reflects on changes in the organic cities movement:
“In January 2013, the BÖLW was able to invite participants to the first “Stadt Land Bio” congress in Berlin. The mayors of Copenhagen, Turin and Nuremberg told us about their projects that have changed food in the city as well as agricultural production in their surroundings.
The small municipality of Correns in the south of France and the Local Action Group on local food supply on the island of Hiiumaa in Estonia showed us how things can be set in motion even in rural areas far away from the metropolises.
These examples were encouraging and helped many local politicians to overcome fearful resistance in their political bodies and administrations.
In the following years, when the city of Nuremberg made the congress on the occasion of BIOFACH a permanent institution, we were all able to experience how more and more municipalities all over Europe followed the example of the pioneers.
For us as the organic movement, the power of cities and villages to bring about change is a lever whose impact cannot be overestimated. It acts as an impulse in public procurement for the organic market. Especially in the still far from sufficient segment of out-of-home catering, this is indispensable.”
Dr. Felix Prinz zu Löwenstein
Chairman of the Board of BÖLW
About
Felix Prinz zu Löwenstein-Wertheim-Rosenberg is a German agricultural scientist and farmer. He is known as a critic of industrial agriculture. As chairman of the BÖLW (Bund Ökologische Lebensmittelwirtschaft) he helps to promote the development of the organic food industry and to create sustainable framework conditions.
