03.05.20122nd African Organic Agriculture Conference is mainstreaming organic agriculture into African policies and agricultural development agenda
With 300 participants from 35 countries around the world, the Second African Organic Conference (AOC2) started today with a vibrant opening ceremony. Key personalities in the opening ceremony include:
His Excellency Kenneth Kaunda, Former President of Zambia and OPPAZ Patron
Mr André Leu, IFOAM President
Mr Petko Draganov, Deputy Secretary-General of UNCTAD
Mr. Yemi Akinbamijo on behalf of H.E. Ms Tumusiime Rhoda Peace, African Union Commission
Mr. Ad Spijkers, Country representative, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Mr. Munshimbwe Chitalu, OPPAZ
The conference was officially opened by Hon. Emmanuel Chenda, Minister of Agriculture and Livestock of Zambia.
02.05.2012Panel Discussion 'Reflections on the outcome of the 2nd African Organic Conference' Friday, May 4, 2012 - from 18:00 to 18:30 (GMT +1)
Five speakers from the civil society and governments will reflect on the conclusions of and summarize the main achievements and challenges presented at the 2nd African Organic Conference. Moderator: Manjo Smith, IFOAM and Namibian Organic Association Speakers:
Andre Leu, IFOAM President
Sarah Olembo, African Union Commission, Ethiopia
Heinrich Schultz, South African Organic Sector Organization, South Africa
Munschibwe Chitalu, Organic Producers and Processors Association of Zambia, Zambia
Sue Edwards, Institute for Sustainable Development, Ethiopia
Join our remote session easily by going to https://ifoam.netucate.net/join/ybsmpj and registering with your name and e-mail address. If you have any technical problems or questions regarding the two sessions, please contact events@ifoam.org.
28.03.2012 IFOAM at BioFach 2012: Another great success!
BioFach Germany took place in Nuremberg, February 15-18, 2012, confirming its all-round approach and international image with 2.420 exhibitors, of which 70% came from outside of Germany, displaying great variety of organic products and natural cosmetics. The fair was attended by around 40.000 visitors. The proportion of international visitors was 41 % and they came to BioFach from 130 countries across the globe. The BioFach Congress, showcasing 150 events - 13 of which were organized by IFOAM, also proved to be a real highlight, providing a knowledge and interaction platform on a wide range of topics. Here are some of the main messages:
22.03.2012 IFOAM and Partners Launch New Best
Practice Program
IFOAM has taken the lead in establishing the Sustainable Organic Agriculture Action Network (SOAAN) - a new initiative aimed at re-positioning organic principles and practices as the most logical, practical approach to worldwide sustainability. SOAAN will define and illustrate best practices for agricultural production and value chains, encompassing the full scope of sustainability issues facing the world today. More
15.03.2012 Zambia to host the Second African Organic Conference
Following the great success of the IFOAM international conference Ecological Organic Agriculture: The Alternative for Africa held in November 2011 in Nairobi, Kenya, IFOAM continues to work with the African Union, the African organic sector and other agencies within the framework of its “Organic for Africa! Initiative” to create a united front to push for the recognition of the potential of organic agriculture for Africa and to accelerate the uptake of organic agricultural practices on the continent.
The conference is organized by the Organic Producers and Processors Association of Zambia (OPPAZ) in cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock of Zambia, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and Grow Organic Africa under the auspices of IFOAM and the African Union.
21.02.2012Organic Farmers Organizations Take the Stage in Rome
Leaders from IFOAM’s Intercontinental Network of Organic Farmers Organizations (INOFO) are in Rome for the IFAD Farmers Forum (20-21 February). The voices of organic farmers will be heard during IFOAM’s official IFAD side event on "The role of organic farmers’ organizations on poverty reduction, access to markets, rural development & farmers’ empowerment" organized by IFOAM’s Chief Food Security Campaigner, Cristina Grandi. The Forum is followed by the IFAD Governing Council (22-23 February) where IFOAM President, Andre Leu, will be part of the High Level Panel on; "Environmentally Sustainable Approaches to Smallholder Agriculture” focused on “Sustainable Smallholder Agriculture: Feeding The World, Protecting The Planet".
14.02.2012'The World of Organic Agriculture 2012' launched Statistics reveal growth in markets and stability in the areas of production
The market for organic products continues to grow. In 2010, the global organic market increased to 59 billion US$. The sector grew considerably in the USA and many European countries. 37 million hectares of agricultural area - stable in comparison to the previous year - was certified organically. There is continued need for action to utilize the potentials of organic agriculture to the service of a sustainable planet.
Order The World of Organic Agriculture on IFOAM's bookshop HERE.
10.02.12 Global. Sustainable. Organic. IFOAM and the City of Bonn launch their partnership for 2012
Andre Leu, an Australian organic farmer and President of IFOAM, the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements and the Mayor of Bonn, Jürgen Nimptsch started today a symbolic virtual world journey just outside of IFAM’s head office. Together with the IFOAM Vice-Presidents Roberto Ugas (Peru) and Gabriela Soto (Costa Rica), they sent a balloon to take a symbolic virtual journey with 40 stations collecting the demands to the Earth Summit, Rio+20.
Read the Press Releases here in ENGLISH and in GERMAN.
Track the journey to Rio+20 of the balloon launched in Bonn HERE.
31.01.12 IFOAM Membership Directory 2012 now available! IFOAM ended the year 2011 with a membership of over 870 Affiliates across 120 countries. The IFOAM Membership Directory 2010 is a valuable instrument, linking you to the worldwide organic movement by providing you with the contact of information of our entire membership base. You can download the E-Directory in via the following links:
The IFOAM E-Directory is a free publication. Feel free to share it among your networks!
12.01.12 IFOAM & SOCLA defend Organic Agriculture (OA) & agro-ecology Dr M S Swaminathan, Chirman of FAO's Committee on World Food Security (CFS) High Level Panel of Experts (HLPE) on Food Security and Nutrition, has agreed to prepare an authoritative paper on agro-ecology. This is a result of IFOAM and SOCLA (Latin American Scientific Society of Agroecology) jointly refuting the content of Appendix One (page 53 to 56) of their report on 'Land Tenure and International Investments in Agriculture' presented at the 37th Meeting of the CFS in October last year.
The Appendix contained many inaccuracies and prompted an immediate response from IFOAM's Chief Food Security Campaigner, Cristina Grandi, as well as a joint letter from IFOAM and SOCLA. IFOAM’s Andre Leu and SOCLA’s Miguel Altieri will meet with the HLPE Chair to discuss the paper and have been assured that its preparation will involve experts that have a long history of working on agro-ecology and OA.
29.11.11 IFOAM Advocacy Update
IFOAM is in the middle of an important period of advocacy work with significant participation in UN climate change, sustainable development and food security meetings. For more information read our advocacy update and for on-line participation options in our advocacy activities please visit IFOAM World Café.
UN Sustainable Development – Rio+20 Earth Summit (UNCSD 2012) Nov 1: IFOAM submitted its input to the UNCSD Rio+20 Draft Negotiation Document (‘Zero Draft’). Dec 1 & 15: IFOAM co-hosting and presenting at Biovision lead side events at the UNCSD Preparatory Meetings in Geneva (Dec 1) and New York City (Dec 15)
UNFAO Committee on Food Security (CFS) Oct 15 to 22: IFOAM was very active in an important session of the CFS in Rome that saw greater recognition of smallholders as the main providers of food in developing counties but also an attack on organic agriculture and agro-ecology.
16.11.2011 Eight new standards approved in the IFOAM Family of Standards
Following
the meeting of the IFOAM Standards Requirements Committee in September
in Korea, IFOAM has approved 8 of the 16 applicant standards for the
IFOAM Family of Standards. The newly approved standards are:
- The East African Organic Product Standard - The Dominica Organic Agriculture Movement Organic Standard - The CCOF Global Market Access Standard - The Encert Standard - The Standard of “Red Mexicana de Tanguis y Mercados Organicos” - The Standard of Nature & Progrès - The Biosuisse Standard - The NOFA Organic Land Care Standard
This
series of approval brings the total number of standards approved in the
IFOAM Family of Standards to 48. The updated Family Frame can be found here.
Standard
owners who have not applied yet should not miss the last opportunity of
a 1,250 Euros discount by applying before the 31st of December 2011!
15.11.2011 Late Wangari Maathai honored with the 'One World VIP Award' in Nairobi
The
'One World Award' jury selected Wangari Maathai to receive the award
for 'Very Impacting Person!', in particular due to her continued
promotion of 'peaceful community building'. As a tireless campaigner and
activist for environmental conservation, democracy, human - especially
women's - rights, peace and justice, she put the objectives of the 'One
World Award' into action on a global level, achieving the greatest of
impacts.
The award was received on behalf of Wangari Maathai by Wanjira Maathai,
her daughter, at the IFOAM's international conference in Nairobi,
'Ecological Organic Agriculture: The Alternative for Africa' on November
15.
Click HERE for the full press release in English and HERE for the German press release.
25.10.2011 Call for Papers: 2nd IFOAM International Organic Animal Husbandry
‘Tackling the Future Challenges of Organic Animal Husbandry’ – Hamburg, Germany - September 12-14, 2012
This conference will look at health and food safety in organic livestock production systems, marketing trends, innovation in organic livestock production systems, livestock breeding strategies, as well as developments in value-driven and philosophical fields. Everyone engaged in the research, practice of and advocacy of organic activities is welcome to contribute to the conference program. Submissions must be in English and adhere to the guidelines specified on the conference webpage. They need not be limited to the thematic foci above and can address one or multiple categories or species of animals.
Papers will be selected based on the abstract submitted. Upon confirmation of the selection of the abstract, authors will be asked to submit a full paper (see deadlines below). All contributions relevant to the development of the organic sector and innovations based on the Principles of Organic Agriculture will be considered, provided that the contribution fulfills the quality requirements.
Abstracts should be submitted as text in a MS Word document and not exceed 300 words.
For more information, visit www.ifoam.org/animalhusbandry2012.
Dates & Deadlines
• January 31, 2012: Deadline for submission of abstracts • March 31, 2012: Notification of accepted abstracts • April 30, 2012: End of early bird registration • June 30, 2012: Deadline for submission of full papers
IFOAM will participate in two important meetings during
World Food Security Week in Rome, Italy. From the 17th to 22nd October
the FAO Committee on Food Security (CFS) will meet to discuss the Global
Strategic Framework (GSF) for Food Security and Nutrition as well as
two reports on Land Tenure (‘Land Grabbing’) and Price Volatility and
Food Security. The CFS includes government representatives, UN agencies,
civil society organizations (CSOs) and the private sector. IFOAM
President Andre Leu is one of only 40 civil society delegates elected to
participate in the CFS meeting.
Prior to the CFS meeting the International Food Security and Nutrition
Civil Society Mechanism (CSM) will meet to approve the proposals that
the civil society delegates will bring to the CFS meeting. IFOAM will be
pushing for the recommendations of the United Nation’s 2008 IAASTD and
the recent UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food’s “Agro-Ecology
Can Double Food Production” reports to be implemented.
What happens in Rome this week will have a big influence on the strategy
that CSOs will have in preparing for Rio+20. If the CFS fails to
address the core reasons for hunger it is likely that CSOs will be
further united to push for a major shift in food and agriculture
policies in Rio next year. IFOAM is already advocating for a major
paradigm shift in Rio and sees the meetings in Rome as an important step
on the road to Rio.
10.10.2011 IFOAM Membership Elects new World Board
IFOAM’s
General Assembly (October 3-5) saw 49% of the IFOAM membership
represented in person and by proxy. Apart from ruling on a number of
motions (full report to be published in IFOAM In Action), the membership
also elected a new World Board for a term of three years. The new World
Board is composed as follows:
André Leu, Australia (President)
Roberto Ugas, Peru (Vice-President)
Gabi Soto, Costa Rica (Vice-President)
Eva Torremocha, Spain
Frank Eyhorn, Switzerland
James Benjamin Cole, Ghana
Manjo Smith, Namibia
Mathew John, India
Matthew Holmes, Canada
Volkert Engelsman, Netherlands
10.10.2011 Organic World Congress a Roaring Success
The
17th Organic World Congress (OWC), held in Gyeonggi Paldang, South
Korea from September 26 to October 1, attracted close to 2000
participants from 76 countries. The various side events, including the
organic world fair and festival, drew in some 250.000 visitors, making
this conference the most successful OWC in terms of attendance.
