INOFO: the Intercontinental Network of Organic Farmers Organisations
Started at the 1998 General Assembly of IFOAM in Argentina, the sporadic efforts made by Organic farmers organisations to set up their own professional network are finally taking root. There are no vague or impossible goals, only a minimal structure belonging specifically to Organic farmers, that can facilitate minimal consultation between their organisations, allowing them to find a common voice on matters of common concern.
The initial INOFO objectives have been limited to:
Establishing the network of Convenors & Deputy Convenors with the full consent of existing organisations in each Convenorship.
establishing Lists specifically of Organic farmers organisations in each continent & contacting them, whether or not they are currenctly affiliated to IFOAM.
identifying, in each such organisation, a farmer or staff member mandated as contact person to handle external relations, thus keeping in touch with the network via the Convenor(s).
All organisations being identified and their nature & activities understood, the Convenors can be kept informed of what is wanted on the agenda, can collect written reports & statements, circulate proceedings & facilitate internal & external consultations. Each Convenorship organises its own translation services where necessary, as well as all its other internal affairs.
The Convenors (& their Deputies belonging to other farmers organisations) facilitate occasional or annual consultations at regional or inter-continental levels, as well as an intercontinental assembly every three years, such as the recent 2011 INOFO Assembly in Korea, Sunday 2nd of October. Delegates from fifty organisations in 27 countries, representing about half a million farming families, set their organisational & thematic Agenda for the coming 3-year period. A summary of Proceedings will shortly be published via links appearing on the INOFO web page.
The following Convenorships have been established: Africa francophone, Africa West+Central anglophone, Africa South-East; Europe West, Europe East; Asia West+Central, Asia South, Asia South-East, Asia East; Australia+NZ, Pacific; America North, America Central+Caribbean, America South.
The list will be completed by addition of the names & e-mail addesses of the Convenors, when their mandates have been duly ratified by other organisations in their respective Convenorships. _______________________________
This update is signed on behalf of the INOFO Council of Convenors by the executive Secretary: Anton Pinschof (FNAB, France), 16-XI-2011 apinschof@fnab.org
