Dóra Drexler elected President of IFOAM Organics Europe

14 July 2026, EU: Dóra Drexler will head IFOAM Organics Europe in future. The director of the Hungarian Research Institute for Organic Agriculture (ÖMKi), which was established in collaboration with FiBL, was elected President of the European organic farming umbrella organisation by the General Assembly. She will thus represent the European organic movement at a time when important agricultural policy decisions are being made for the period after 2027.

Dóra Drexler takes over from Jan Plagge, President of the German organic farming association Bioland, who was ineligible to stand for re-election after serving three terms. Marian Blom of Bionext in the Netherlands was re-elected as Vice-President. Jérôme Cinel of Interbio Nouvelle-Aquitaine in France was also newly elected as Vice-President.

For Dóra Drexler, this new role marks the continuation of a long-standing commitment to the organic sector. She has served as Vice-President of IFOAM Organics Europe since 2023 and has, in recent years, been particularly committed to bridging the gap between research, practice and policy. As Director of the ÖMKi, she has been shaping the establishment and further development of organic farming in Hungary since 2011.

“It is an honour for me to take on the role of President of IFOAM Organics Europe and to represent the European organic movement at this crucial moment for agricultural and food systems,” said Dóra Drexler in a statement from IFOAM Organics Europe. “Organic farming is part of the solution to many of the challenges facing Europe today. Together with my fellow board members, I will work to ensure that organic farming is recognised and promoted as a strategic asset for Europe.”

During the General Assembly, IFOAM Organics Europe presented EU Agriculture Commissioner Christophe Hansen with a position paper on the future Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). In it, the organisation calls for a clear and long-term commitment to organic farming.

Long-standing partnership with FiBL

With the election of Dora Drexler as President, a long-standing partner of FiBL gains an important voice at European level. Her professional career is closely linked to the establishment of ÖMKi. In the early 2010s, as part of the project ‘Promoting Organic Agricultural Research in Hungary’, FiBL supported the establishment of an independent research institute for organic farming in Hungary. Dóra Drexler took over as director of the newly founded ÖMKi and, in the years that followed, developed the institute into an internationally recognised centre of excellence for organic farming. ÖMKi and FiBL collaborate on numerous EU projects, such as the Agroecology Partnership.

Swiss representation at IFOAM Organics Europe

The members of IFOAM Organics Europe are represented at the General Assembly by delegates from the various countries. Switzerland is represented by Bio Suisse, the umbrella organisation for Swiss organic farmers, as well as FiBL. This year saw the first participation of Rennie Eppenstein, who took over the role from Barbara Früh on behalf of FiBL at the start of 2026.

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