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Tierra Viva is the result of a collective initiative among farmers, environmentalists and persons interested in promoting Organic Agriculture in Chile. This group, working together since December 1992, legally registered itself in March 1993 as “Asociación de Agricultores Orgánicos de Chile “Tierra Viva” A.G. (Association of organic farmers in Chile). The objectives of this association are:
• Promote and disseminate Organic Agriculture in Chile.
• Create a meeting place for organic farmers to share their experience and knowledge.
• Market the produce of its members.
• Ensure credibility through participatory certification and close contacts with consumers.
• Develop and diversify production respecting criteria of social justice, environmental protection and sustainability.
“Tierra Viva” A.G. counts around 30 members. The board, elected every year, meets once a month. The association also has a technical/ethical committee in charge of elaborating and implementing the procedures for participatory certification. The participatory certification consists in a system which guaranties that the products marketed by Tierra Viva have been produced according to organic norms, in this case according to the Chilean Organic Standard (Norma Chilena de Producción Orgánica -NCh 2439). One characteristic of this system is its horizontality. In this process, consumers are also involved, having one representative in the technical/ethical committee and the possibility to participate in farm visits.
In January 2006, the Organic Law N° 20.089 was approved, creating a national system for the certification of organic products. The law also allows grass-roots and alternative certification systems for collectively organized family farmers producing for the internal market. This was the result of intensive efforts by Tierra Viva during the year 2005 to ensure its recognition by the national certification system. In 2006, Tierra Viva entered the National Organic Agriculture Committee created by the ministry of agriculture, in which it has been able to express its points of view.
More information (in Spanish only)is available on http://www.tierraviva.net/index.htm
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