| |  | | July 2008 |
|
- Invitation to the Organic Africa Meeting in Nairobi, Kenya
- Report on the Information and Training Day on Organic Agriculture
- British-Nigerian Organic Agriculture Summit
- PELUM’s Triennial General Meeting and International Diverse Food for Africa Symposium
- West African Summit on Organic Agriculture
- New report: Ecological in Ethiopia – Farming with Nature increases Profitability and reduces Vulnerability
- Upcoming Organic Agriculture Related Events
|
|
| | 1. Invitation to the Organic Africa Meeting in Nairobi, Kenya
| | | Even with the support of IFOAM, the African organic movement could be stronger at the international fora. This was evident during the last IFOAM Organic World Congress and General Assembly. There is therefore a need to strengthen the Africa Organic voice, coordinate it better and have a clear common Africa agenda.
There are issues which are common to the continent which could be well addressed at continental level rather than national level, for example the introduction of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) and Genetic Engineering (GE) in Africa is a major threat to Organic Agriculture, yet we have seen multinationals influence policy makers in many of the African countries and the threat is real. Different countries are at different levels of introduction of GE/GMO. The “Africa Organic Movement/Voice” can/should be key in assisting national movements/operators in development strategies and policies of member countries to ensure that the risks of contamination are adequately addressed, and a legal framework to protect organic farmers will be established. The Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) is another body that the Africa Organic Movement needs to strategically approach. Both the public and the private sector are looking for solutions to guarantee food security, yet some are capitalising on the same. Poverty, climate change/global warming environmental degradation are all issues where Organic Agriculture has a mitigating role to play at national, regional and international levels. Fundraising challenges for the Organic Agriculture Movement in Africa should also be discussed at the continental level.
It is therefore intended to hold an African Organic meeting to initiate and develop strategies to drive the organic agenda forward. All representatives of the African organic movements are invited to attend this first meeting which is proposed to be held in Nairobi on 22nd and 23rd of August 2008 - later the meeting could be on a rotational basis. The venue will be the International Center for Insects Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE) complex which also host the Kenya Organic Agriculture Network (KOAN).
Please note that this is a self sponsored meeting as KOAN cannot refund any travel or accommodation expenses of the participants.
For more information, please contact Eustace Kiarii Gacanja.
| | | | | 2. Report on the Information and Training Day on Organic Agriculture
| | | On June 18th 2008, an information and training day on Organic Agriculture was held in Antananarivo, Madagascar. This meeting was organized by the Italian organization Reggio Terzo Mondo (RTM) and aimed to launch a project of the Istituto per la Etica Certificazione e Ambientale (ICEA) and RTM on Internal Control Systems (ICS) for group certification in Madagascar. The day brought together nearly 53 participants, including future beneficiaries of the project, members of the National Organic Agriculture Movement of Madagascar and representatives of associations already supported by RMT.
Two staff members of ICEA came from Italy to explain guidance and monitoring of ICS and different types of certification offered by their organization. A follow up of this promising project is planned.
For more information, contact Andrianjaka Rajaonarison.
| | | | | 3. British-Nigerian Organic Agriculture Summit
| | | The Organic Agriculture Centre – OOCORD is pleased to announce a British based British-Nigerian Organic Agriculture Summit to be held from September 2nd to 6th 2008 at the Coventry University, Ryton, England. The theme of the summit is “Harnessing Organic Agriculture for Food Security, Human and Environmental Health and National Development.” There is an urgent need to target these major areas of Nigerian economy and diversify from the oil sector while building a broad base developmental plan and advancement of the country. This unique summit will be the first British – Nigeria Organic Agriculture meeting to link organic research, Nigerian Organic Agriculture network with British stakeholders through the Coventry University, Garten Organic and the British Soil Association. This initiative was conceived to address the following key priorities, challenges and prospects of Organic Agriculture in Nigeria:
• Organic Agriculture production and mechanization
• Public and Private Partnership in Organic Agriculture
• Crop and Animal Protection strategies in Organic Agriculture
• Inspection, conversion and certification initiatives in Nigeria
• Standards, certification and regulations in Organic Agriculture
• Organic preservation and processing strategies
• National and International markets for organic products.
IFOAM is partner of the initiative and will be officially represented at the event by Patricia Wangong'u, IFOAM Regional Project Coordinator for the OSEA Project, and Louise Luttikholt, IFOAM Strategic Relations Manager.
For more information, please visit: www.oocord.org/web_pages/bnoas/bnoas.htm.
| | | | | 4. PELUM’s Triennial General Meeting and International Diverse Food for Africa Symposium | | | From October 27th to 30th 2008, the Participatory Ecological Land Use Management (PELUM) is holding its first Triennial General Meeting (TGM) in Morogoro, Tanzania. The general meeting is the supreme policy-making body of PELUM Association, as it mandates the board and the staff to implement the policies that are decided on during these meetings. At every general meeting a new strategic focus for the Association is adopted by the members of PELUM Association, which guide the direction of the Association.
The theme that was adopted for the next meeting, is ‘Promoting indigenous under-utilized species as the most viable means to food security, sovereignty as well as human and environmental health’. The TGM will also be organized as a symposium at which a range of issues, challenges and opportunities around indigenous food shall be discussed.
The name ‘TRADIFFA’ - Traditional and Diverse Food From and For Africa - aims to raise awareness of the importance and potential that the production and consumption of more diverse food has to offer to the development of Africa. TRADIFFA also aims at recognizing the importance of maintaining the biodiversity of Africa’s traditional fruits and vegetables.
The TRADIFFA symposium
TRADIFFA is not intended to end at only identifying the factors that constrain development in Africa. On the contrary, this symposium will be organized in a unique way. PELUM is striving to organize a strongly action-orientated symposium, with the goal to have a concrete project or campaign as the actual output of the symposium. This campaign or project will be jointly developed during the actual symposium amongst all stakeholders that will be present; farmers (groups), consumers, the private sector, policy makers, developmental workers, scientists and marketing experts. Ideas for a possible campaign or project will be shared on PELUM’s website throughout the period leading up to TRADIFFA (October 27 2008). The campaign or project that receives the most votes will be the project to further develop during TRADIFFA.
For more information, please contact Marjorie Chola Chonya.
| | | | | 5. West African Summit on Organic Agriculture
| | | From November 17th to 21st 2008, the Organic Agriculture Project in Tertiary Institutions in Nigeria (OAPTIN) and the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria, are organizing the West African Organic Summit on Organic Agriculture.
Awareness on the benefit of Organic Agriculture is increasing in West Africa. Nonetheless, the potential of West Africa in Organic Agriculture remains under exploited. To redress this, there is a need for effective networking among West African scientists, farmers, students and other stakeholders which necessitated this conference.
The aims of the conference are:
• Spread current knowledge, competences and technology development in Organic Agriculture throughout Africa
• Experience-sharing among Organic Agriculture scientists and practitioners in West Africa
• Enhance collaborative opportunities in West Africa and beyond
The theme of the conference is “Organic Agriculture and the Millennium Development Goals.” The conference sub-themes are the following:
• Organic Agriculture and poverty alleviation
• Organic Agriculture and environmental health
• Organic Agriculture in HIV/AIDS and other health issues
• Organic Policy and trade
• Gender issues in organic agriculture in developing countries
• International cooperation in Organic Agriculture
The idea of having a West African Organic Summit was conceived last year during the East African Organic Conference in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, among the West African participants at the conference. Planning of the conference has received contributions from Ghana, Benin, Burkina Faso and more participation is expected from other countries in the region.
At this level, suggestions and advice on what should go into the program is still being sought from stakeholders and friends of the region. All suggestions and advice on organizations that might sponsor/support the event would be highly appreciated.
IFOAM plans to be involved in this event. The level of involvement is currently being negotiated.
For more information, contact Olugbenga O. AdeOluwa, PhD.
| | | | | 6. New report: Ecological in Ethiopia – Farming with Nature increases Profitability and reduces Vulnerability | | | This report has been published by the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation and describes a successful project in sustainable agriculture in Tigray, northern Ethiopia. The project has succeeded through organic practices such as composting, crop diversification and improved water management in reversing the developments in an area formerly severely affected by problems such as soil erosion and recurring periods of drought. The project has produced a range of positive results such as higher yields, higher groundwater levels, better soil fertility, decreased susceptibility to drought, increased income and better opportunities for women.
The report can be downloaded at: www.naturskyddsforeningen.se.
| | | | | 7. Upcoming Organic Agriculture Related Events
| | | Fiermada (Rural Economy International Fair)
August 6-10 2008
Antananarivo, Madagascar
For more information, contact Andrianjaka Rajaonarison.
ZOPPA Stakeholders and Strategic Planning Workshop
August 18-19 2008
Harare, Zimbabwe
For more information, contact Fortunate Nyakanda.
Organic Africa Meeting
August 22-23
Nairobi, Kenya
For more information, please contact Eustace Kiarii Gacanja.
African Green Revolution Conference
August 28-29 2008
Oslo, Norway
IFOAM plans to be active in this event to promote Organic Agriculture as an alternative to the industrial agriculture model promoted by AGRA.
British-Nigerian Organic Agriculture Summit
September 2-6 2008
Coventry University, Ryton, England
International Seminar on Organic Farming - Principles & Practices For East African Countries
September 9-24 2008
CINADCO’s International Training Centre at Kibbutz Hotel Shefayim, Israel
For more information, contact the nearest Israeli Embassy or visit the Israel’s Foreign Ministry web site at http://mashav.mfa.gov.il (in Contact Us - Information and Registration).
Natural and Organic Products Exhibition
October 17-19 2008
Cape Town, South Africa
National Organic workshop
October 23-26 2008
Antananarivo, Madagascar
For more information, contact Andrianjaka Rajaonarison.
PELUM’s Triennial General Meeting (TGM) and International Diverse Food for Africa Symposium
Morogoro, Tanzania
October 27-30 2008
For more information, please contact Marjorie Chola Chonya.
West African Organic Summit
November 17-21 2008
Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria
For more information, contact Olugbenga O. AdeOluwa, PhD.
| | | | |
Email: h.bouagnimbeck@ifoam.org
Head Office Contact Information
Charles-de-Gaulle-Str. 5
53113 Bonn, Germany
Tel: +49-228-92650-10
Fax: +49-228-92650-99
Email: headoffice@ifoam.org
http://www.ifoam.org
© 2009 IFOAM - All rights reserved. International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM) e.V.
Trial Court Bonn, Association Register no. 8726
Executive Board: Gerald A. Herrmann, Alberto Lernoud, Mette Meldgaard |
|  |