For the third consecutive year the OIKOPOLIS-Group in Luxembourg has sought to reduce CO2 emissions by donating money to institutions that promote organic farming.

In total, three donations were made, each for €8,780, to the “Institut fir Biologësch Landwirtschaft an Agrarkultur Luxemburg asbl” (IBLA), the Verein Bio-Lëtzebuerg and the Agricultural department of Goetheanums in Switzerland, for their particular efforts and dedication in international promotion of biodynamic farming.

Organic farming protects groundwater from pesticides and synthetic fertilisers, and also contributes to climate protection by retaining carbon dioxide in the top layer of earth.

Soil that has been farmed organically or using biodynamical methods has a higher capacity for capturing CO2 particles. The organisation therefore believes that institutions for the promotion of organic farming are at least as suitable for being recipients of compensation payments for CO2 emissions as initiatives for the reforestation of the rainforest. With this in mind, the management of the OIKOPOLIS-Group decided a few years ago to compensate the "ecological footprint" of its Luxembourg operations by supporting local climate-friendly action.

The Bio-Lëtzebuerg – Vereenegung fir Bio-Landwirtschaft Lëtzebuerg asbl association offers a platform for organic agriculture in Luxembourg. It works internationally to ensure that the objectives of organic agriculture as a sustainable and environmentally friendly land management system, are heard regarding nutrition, politics and socially. It also monitors compliance with Luxembourg organic criteria, by commissioning control and certification of the legally protected Bio Lëtzebuerg and Demeter brands.

Since no one had specialised in biological agriculture in Luxembourg, the IBLA was established to bring relevant information in from other countries and advice local farmers in order to spread interest.

Photo by Bio-Lëtzebuerg.