29.04.2013: IFOAM represents the Farmers' Constituency at the UNFCCC in Bonn
The Farmers' Constituency is an important resource for information on agriculture and greenhouse gases, based on its research on the role that agriculture, especially Organic Agriculture, can contribute to reducing emissions. But there is an urgent need for widespread capacity-building on "climate-smart agriculture" among farmers in general. These are just a few of the messages transmitted by IFOAM Advocacy Manager Robert Jordan on behalf of the Farmers' Constituency, during the Second Session of the UNFCCC Ad Hoc Working Group on the Durban Platform for Enhanced Action (ADP 2) in Bonn, Germany.
15.04.2013: IFOAM launches consultation on draft version 1.1 of the IFOAM Standard
After the IFOAM Standard was first published in August 2012, the IFOAM Standard Committee has continued its work to further develop and improve the standard. The new proposed version particularely addresses concerns expressed by IFOAM members during the 2011 General Assembly. The deadline for sending comments is June 16, 2013.
Click herefor more information and to access the documents.
27.03.2013: Planning for the 18th Organic World Congress is well underway!
The 18th Organic World Congress (OWC) is taking place from 13-15 October 2014 in Istanbul, Turkey. Approximately 2,000 people from all continents are expected to debate issues, inspire each other, learn together and make strategic decisions.
The Call for Papers is now open. Further information on how to participate in the OWC and submit a paper can be found HERE.
14.03.2013: Closing Date for the next Organic Leadership Course is May 3, 2013
The IFOAM Leadership Academy is getting ready for the European edition of its successful Organic Leadership Course, taking place from 14-21 July 2013, in Dornach, Switzerland. This unique ten-month leadership program includes kick-off and closing residential sessions, monthly webinars as well as comprehensive tutorial assistance. The closing date for applications is May 3, 2013!
Click here for more information as well as an application form.
04.03.2013: Launch of Technology Innovation Platform of IFOAM Attracts Global Interest at BioFach Science Day
The BioFach Science Day held on February 15th in Nuremberg, Germany saw the successful launch of the Technology Innovation Platform of IFOAM (TIPI). An initiative welcomed by the entire organic sector, it already counts over 35 research institutes as its members and aims to encourage more global research projects on the impact Organic Agriculture can have on issues such as food security, ecosystem degradation as well as social and economic discrimination of farmers. TIPI will foster international cooperation; engage all who benefit from advances in knowledge; facilitate information exchange; and assist practitioners to disseminate, apply and implement innovations and scientific knowledge consistent with the principles of Organic Agriculture. Click here for the full press release.
18.02.2013: IFOAM announces at Biofach that it
will lead global certification database project
After extensive
research and deliberations, IFOAM has decided to implement in collaboration
with partners a global certification database for the organic sector. Using its
unifying power, political reach and extensive network, IFOAM joins forces with
participating certification bodies and makes the system accessible to all
others. Partners will provide the technical services for maintaining a robust
online platform for the management and use of certification data for the
benefit of a full spectrum of organic stakeholders, including certification
bodies, operators, buyers, governments, researchers, and consumers. Benefits of
a global certification database, among others include increased efficiency and
reduced costs of certification, help against fraud, easier traceability, and
opportunities for research and market analysis.
12.02.2013: IFOAM and FiBL Release Latest Figures on Organic Agriculture Worldwide
IFOAM and FiBL are happy to announce the publication of the 14th "The World of Organic Agriculture" statistics book. This comprehensive compilation of facts and figures demonstrates that past investments in the organic industry have paid off. There are 1.8 million farmers in 162 countries growing organically on more than 37 million hectares of agricultural land worldwide (2011). Now more than ever, consumers are choosing organic with sales figures reaching over US$ 60 billion for the first time. To order your copy, please contact us or visit us at BioFach Nuremberg, Germany at Booth #240 in Hall 1!
30.01.2013: IFOAM and SOAAN Release Best Practice Reference for Public consultation
Following a year of intensive visioning, discussion, and internal drafting, IFOAM and its partners in the Sustainable Organic Agriculture Action Network have now released for public comment the first version of a Best Practice Reference for Agriculture and Its Value Chains. The document is intended to be an inspirational and technical guidance for the organic movement and beyond, to help lead all of agriculture and its value chains worldwide toward sustainability.
20.12.2012: Sustainability Camp summary results now available
The Bonn Sustainability Days included a "Camp" wherein some 80 people had intensive and lively exchanges toward strengthening the organic movement's leadership toward a sustainable world and developing IFOAM's Best Practice program. There was much focus on the core best practices reference document of the Sustainable Organic Agriculture Action Network (SOAAN). You can access the results by clicking here.
29.11.2012:IFOAM Celebrates its 40th Anniversary
IFOAM's World Board and the birthday cake
On November 26, 2012, IFOAM celebrated its 40th year of existence. The official reception was held in the IFOAM Head Office in Bonn, Germany, and over one hundred invited guests travelled from around the world to attend.
Pioneers from IFOAM's early years, through to the new millennium took the stage to congratulate IFOAM for 40 years of leading, uniting and assisting the organic movement.
'Organic without Boundaries - Celebrating 40 Years' is the publication launched on this occasion to provide a retrospective on the 40 years of IFOAM. Browse through the online version below, or contact publications @ ifoam.org for a hard copy.
28.11.2012. IFOAM Seeks Partners for Feasibility Study: Global Certification Database
IFOAM has found that there is widespread desire and conceptual support for a globally unified certification database – a system where ultimately all organic certified operators and their products are findable in a consistent, logical, centralized way. IFOAM, being the recognized umbrella and leader of the organic movement worldwide, is exploring how such a platform might be created. We are seeking partners in this effort. IFOAM’s facilitation of this process will ensure that – if such a platform seems feasible – that a truly global, impartial service that benefits the entire organic market and movement will be the result.Read more...
Some eighty participants from 44 countries traveled to Bonn for the 'Sustainability Camp', and another 40 who attended the conclusions of the event via www.livestream.com/ifoam, bear witness to the strong interest in the topic of sustainability in Organic Agriculture. The messages collected throughout the event were translated into the Bonn Sustainability Days Declaration, which you can download HERE. The declaration was also endorsed by the City of Bonn, marking the end of the 2012 partnership between the City of Bonn and IFOAM, which began in February this year with the launch of a sky lantern.
Read the Press Release in English HERE and in German HERE.
4.11.2012, Bonn:Registrations Open for the IFOAM Sustainability Camp in Bonn, Germany, November 23-26, 2012
The deadline to register for IFOAM's Bonn Sustainability Camp, November 23-26, 2012, taking place at the IFOAM Head Office Bonn, Germany, is fast approaching. During these four days we will intensively exchange on sustainability in agriculture and the way forward for the organic sector. We will work towards a refined reference document for 'Sustainability in Agriculture: Organic Best Practices', and formulate strategic recommendations for policy and decision-makers, as well as other key players. Together, we will consider the big picture and state of the art at this moment in time, and bring our attention to future developments needed. We plan an on-site visit to the organic farm of the University of Bonn for some hands-on experience and discussions. Through creative working methods, a synopsis of the conversations will be produced as a basis for the reference document and policy recommendations.
19.10.2102, Rome:UN Adopts Key Strategic Document Recognizing the Role of Organic Agriculture In Addressing Food Security
IFOAM welcomes the adoption, at the 39th meeting of the Committee on World Food Security (CFS), on October 17, of its Global Strategic Framework for Food Security and Nutrition (GSF). For two years IFOAM has actively participated in the development and now successful adoption of the GSF which is the CFS’s overarching tool for enhancing action by a wide range of stakeholders in support of global, regional and country‐led actions to prevent future food crises, eliminate hunger and ensure food security and nutrition for all human beings.
The GSF recognizes the role of organic agriculture in increasing agricultural productivity and production in a socially, economically and environmentally sustainable manner. Given it’s principal users will be decision‐makers and policymakers in countries responsible for the development and implementation of policies and programmes for delivering food security and nutrition and the progressive realization of the right of adequate food the GSF will be an important advocacy tool for IFOAM members worldwide.
The State of Food Insecurity in the World (SOFI) submitted by the Rome based UN food and farming agencies, recognizes that almost 870 million people continue to suffer from undernourishment, and a further 2 billion are affected by micronutrient deficiencies. An IFOAM delegation of Andre Leu (President), Robert Jordan (Advocacy Manager) and Cristina Grandi (Food Security Campaigner) are in Rome at the 39th Session of the Committee on World Food Securityand at the preparatory Civil Social Forum calling for governments and UN agencies to give strong support to smallholders and for developing local food systems based on organic and other agroecological farming systems.
Download the three documents below produced by IFOAM to inform the discussion during the meeting.
17.09.2012 Mayor Jun is the winner of the One World Award 2012
More than 500 guests from around the world paid their tribute to the laureates of the 3rd international One World Award (OWA). The OWA statue and a check over 25,000 Euro went to Mayor Jun from the Philippines. The One World Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to scientist and organic pioneer Ana Primavesi from Brazil. The finalists from India, Turkey, Nicaragua and Cuba received a certificate and a check over 2,000 Euro each.
11.09.2012 Join the IFOAM World Café to connect to the IFOAM Animal Husbandry Conference! LIVE BROADCAST: Wednesday, September 12, 10:30 - 12:00 (Germany time)
Watch the keynote addresses of our keynote speakers live and direct!
Fritz Schneider, Head of Agriculture at the Bern University of Applied Sciences, Switzerland
Pierre Gerber, Sr. Policy Officer, Livestock & Environment, FAO
Allan Savory, Directory of the Savory Institute, USA
IFOAM WORLD CAFÉ: Wednesday, September 12, 12:15 - 12:45 (Germany time)
Hear
the keynote speakers share their thoughts on animal husbandry and post
your questions to them questions via chat. They will answer live! Moderator: Andre Leu, IFOAM President Speakers:
Markus Arbenz, IFOAM Executive Director
Fritz Schneider, Head of Agriculture at the Bern University of Applied Sciences, Switzerland
Pierre Gerber, Sr. Policy Officer, Livestock & Environment, FAO
Allan Savory, Directory of the Savory Institute, USA
10.09.2012 First Summit of the Organic Farming Innovation Award (OFIA)
IFOAM and the Korean Rural Development Administration (RDA) organize 12 September 2012, 4 pm the first OFIA Summit during the IFOAM Animal Husbandry Conference in Hamburg. Andre Leu, President of IFOAM will open the event with his speech "Innovation is the Engine of Organic Development". Markus Arbenz, IFOAM Executive Director, Rita Schwentesius (Mexico), Jee Hyeong-Jin (Korea), Shaikh Tanveer Hossein (Bangladesh), Uygun Aksoy (Turkey) and others discuss the need for innovations that benefit organic farmers The event is open for everyone. More information on www.ifoam.org/OFIA.
13.08.2012 IFOAM Standard Approved!
The IFOAM Standard for Organic Production and Processing Version 1.0 has been approved.
IFOAM’s membership voted with a majority of 93 % (6 ‘no’, 4 blank and 83
‘yes’ votes) in favor of the IFOAM Standard for Organic Production and
Processing Version 1.0 as the new section in The IFOAM Norms for Organic
Production and Processing, replacing what was formerly known as the
‘IFOAM Basic Standards’.
An outline of the historical background of the development of this standard can be found HERE.
08.08.2012 Register now for the 2nd IFOAM Organic Animal Husbandry Conference
Building on the first IFOAM conference of this kind in the USA in 2006, the 2nd IFOAM Organic Animal Husbandry Conference, taking place in Hamburg on September 12-14, 2012, will present the latest research, marketing trends and innovations in organic livestock systems and explore the future challenges of animal husbandry, e.g. climate change, food security, and animal welfare.
The conference participants will be part of an international event, that includes a range of presentations, indoor and outdoor workshops covering a variety of topics and animal species, as well as field trips.
28.06.2012 IFOAM Academy launched two more Leadership Courses for 2013
With the world's focus increasingly on sustainability and new solutions for our planet's challenges, leadership in the organic sector is key.
In 2012, the Academy launched and implemented its first Leadership Course, which is now nearing completion. This successful launch is now followed by two more courses: one for the North American region, and a second course to be held in India forSouth Asia.
Applications for these courses are now open, and prospective candidates are invited to visit the Academy page, view the brochures, and download an application form.
22.06.2012 IFOAM membership now voting on final approval of IFOAM Standard Version 1.0
The voting period on the motion to the IFOAM Standard is over. The
motion on organic plant breeding methods gathered a unanimous approval (3%
blank
votes, 14% total participation) and was therefore integrated into the IFOAM Standard Version 1.0,
which is the version submitted for a final approval vote (up
or down) to the IFOAM membership. The vote is now open until August 5, 2012. To read more, click here.
