| |  | | June 2007, Vol.2, no.6 |
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- The publication “Socio-economic effects of Organic Agriculture in Africa” is available in IFOAM’s bookstore
- IFOAM meeting with IFOAM African Contact Point Coordinators and Representatives to China and Latin America & the Caribbean
- East African Organic Conference, Unleashing the Potential of Organic Agriculture
- Organic Chain Development, Participative Networking Workshop in Addis Ababa
- Media training in Luwero, Uganda
- Cameroon Private-Public Partnership Organic Food Industry Development Program (CMPPP)
- Call for Papers for the 16th IFOAM Organic World Congress
- Upcoming organic agriculture-related events
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| | 1. The publication “Socio-economic effects of Organic Agriculture in Africa” is available in IFOAM’s bookstore | | | This report was commissioned by IFOAM to further understanding of the developing organic sector in Africa.
The report is authored by Kristen Lyons and David Burch from Griffith University, Australia.
This report documents the recent rapid expansion of Organic Agriculture in Africa. By providing in-depth insights from four selected countries – Egypt, Ghana, Kenya and Uganda – this report showcases the specific experiences of farm families and surrounding communities engaged in organic farming. Drawing from interviews with women and men organic farmers as well as representatives from NGOs, government departments and industry, the results presented in this report demonstrate a range of positive social and economic impacts. These results indicate conversion to Organic Agriculture has enabled farmers to realize: increased incomes and secure market access; improvements in their family’s health; increased access to food; improved access to education and vital health care services; improvements in the health of farm environments; alongside the empowerment of local communities. In short, the impacts associated with conversion to Organic Agriculture have the capacity to establish sustainable livelihoods for African farm families and their communities.
At the same time, there are clearly issues that need to be considered if African farmers and communities are to reap all the benefits that Organic Agriculture could provide. As such, this report concludes with a series of recommendations to support ongoing expansion of Organic Agriculture in Africa.
The printed copy costs 9 euros, the CD-Rom - 7 euros and the download version - 5 euros.
For further information visit the IFOAM website at: http://shop.ifoam.org/bookstore/index.php?cPath=64
| | | | | 2. IFOAM meeting with IFOAM African Contact Point Coordinators and Representatives to China and Latin America & the Caribbean
| | | The meeting was held June 13-14 2007 at the Head Office in Bonn Germany.
The main objectives of the meeting were to exchange views, give information on IFOAM activities and get feedback from the activities of the participants in order to strengthen the network.
The seven IFOAM African Contact Point Coordinators who attended:
• Christopher Gadzirayi (ZOPPA), Zimbabwe;
• Jackline Kabahinda (NOGAMU), Uganda;
• Lazare Akomagni (REDAD), Benin;
• Marjorie Chonya (PELUM regional desk of Zambia), Zambia;
• Dr. Olugbenga Adeoluwa (OAPTIN), Nigeria;
• Rajaonarison Andrianjaka (Laulanie Green University), Madagascar;
• Samuel Adimado (GOAN), Ghana.
The two IFOAM representatives who attended:
• Patricia Flores, IFOAM representative to Latin America & the Caribbean
• Zhou Zejiang, IFOAM representative to China
The meeting proved to be very successful. The participants highlighted the following outcomes:
• They have a clearer and better understanding of IFOAM’s work.
• They recognize the fact that they are part of the IFOAM network.
• Participants recognized that IFOAM is not a donor organization. “I was thinking that IFOAM is a big donor organization, during the meeting I realized that it is not the case,” a participant said.
• The training helped to improve networking activities. “Now, we know each other so that it will be easy in future to communicate,” another participant said.
• The participants expressed the wish to meet again after some time, in order to evaluate their work.
For further information contact Hervé Bouagnimbeck (h.bouagnimbeck@ifoam.org), IFOAM Africa Office Coordinator.
| | | | | 3. East African Organic Conference, Unleashing the Potential of Organic Agriculture
| | | The East Africa Organic Conference was held from May 28 - June 1 2007 in
Dar es Salaam, United Republic of Tanzania.
The conference aimed to mobilize support for Organic Agriculture in East Africa by sensitizing decision makers, development cooperation partners, and the public about the potential of organic agriculture as a market and sustainable development opportunity.
It also provided a platform for dialogue on the findings of studies and country projects undertaken in the region (Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya) and for the development of an action plan to take the organic agenda forward.
The conference also launched the East African organic products standard (EAOPS) and the associated East African Organic Mark (EAOM).
The EAOPS - the second regional organic standard in the world, following that developed by the European Union – and the EAOM were launched officially by Mr. Edward N. Lowassa, Prime Minister of the United Republic of Tanzania.
The Conference was a manifestation of global partnership for promotion of Organic Agriculture in the region.
Reports and articles about the event have been in the radio (e.g. BBC) and many different news papers.
IFOAM, the UNEP-UNCTAD Capacity Building Task Force on Trade, Environment and Development (CBTF), the Tanzanian Organic Agriculture Movement (TOAM) and the Export Promotion of Organic Products from Africa (EPOPA) organized the conference in cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Cooperatives, United Republic of Tanzania, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and International Trade Centre (UNCTAD/WTO).
The conference was supported by the European Union, and Sida.
The launch of the EAOPS and EAOM could be a catalyst for the development of Organic Agriculture in other regions of the continent.
The participants from West and Southern Africa were preoccupied with the same questions during the conference: How can we learn from and make use of the East African experience? How can we institutionalize the organic sector in our countries? How can we develop organic standards in our countries or region? There is great hope to find answers to these questions and take the necessary actions to bring the Organic Agenda to great heights in Africa.
The EAOS and other documents are available at the following websites:
www.ifoam.org/partners/projects/osea.html
www.unep-unctad.org/cbtf/projecteastafrica.asp
All the presentations and some photos of the conference are now available at: www.unep-unctad.org/cbtf/openDaressalaam2.htm.
| | | | | 4. Organic Chain Development, Participative Networking Workshop in Addis Ababa
| | | This workshop was held from May 24-25 2007 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Some 76 participants attended, including representatives from government, research, NGOs, private sector, certification bodies and other organizations working in the organic sector in the country.
The meeting was a great success. A lot of publicity was given to this event, on radio, television and in the newspapers.
During the workshop it became clear that many professionals in the organic sector work in isolation, and that a combined network would benefit all stakeholders. At the end of the workshop, a TASKFORCE was formed. Its overall objective is to establish a National Organic Agriculture Movement in Ethiopia. The first TASKFORCE meeting was held in the second week of June.
For further information contact Haike Rieks (h.rieks@agroeco.nl), Agro Eco, the Netherlands.
| | | | | 5. Media training in Luwero, Uganda | | | Last May, the National Organic Agricultural Movement of Uganda (NOGAMU), supported by the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM), organized a media training in the Luwero District. Some 16 Journalists from different media houses attended.
The main objectives of the training were the following:
• Provide information on the trends and status of Organic Agriculture.
• Promote the benefits of organic food, with a strong focus on health, taste and safety aspects.
• Promote the East African Organic Products Standard (EAOPS) and the East African Organic Mark.
• Share marketing and trading opportunities for organic products from Uganda.
Whereas the training focused on the above objectives, the journalists were more interested in organic farming and its impact in a village like Bulema Lwogi in Luwero district.
To address the questions raised by the journalists, a field trip to a pineapple farm was organized.
For further information contact Jackline Kabahinda (jkabahinda@nogamu.org.ug), NOGAMU.
| | | | | 6. Cameroon Private-Public Partnership Organic Food Industry Development Program (CMPPP) | | | Through collaboration between Biotropic GmbH and Cameroonian organic players, this program aims to connect Cameroonian organic actors with global distributors and assist them in meeting the safety, quality, environmental and labor standards demanded by consumers in the international markets.
The objectives of the CMPPP are to:
• Develop the logistical chain and provide equipment to increase production and marketing of organic products of specified consistency, quality and safety.
• Develop skills and capabilities of all participants in the organic horticulture supply chain.
• Establish a Cameroonian cooperative with the capability to organize and lead organic food export in sustainable and profitable development.
• Provide technical assistance to increase production and processing of high quality organic produces.
The project duration is 2 years (2007-2009).The partner organization in Cameroon is ASPABIC (Association for the Promotion of Organic Agriculture in Cameroon).
The project is supported by the German Investment and Development Company (DEG).
For further information, contact Kuemkwong Siemefo (kso@biotropic.com).
| | | | | 7. Call for Papers for the 16th IFOAM Organic World Congress
| | | The Organic World Congress has two main tracks: the Systems Values Track for presentation and exchange of practical experiences from farmers, consumers, campaigns and cooperation; and a Scientific Research Track, where current academic research and others will be presented and discussed.
The following subjects are brought to your attention in order to receive contributions for both tracks. However, the Congress won’t be limited, and contributions are sought for all themes that are based on the Principles of Organic Agriculture:
• Education and Organic Agriculture
• Organic food quality
• Renewable energy, including biofuel production in Organic Agriculture, energy and rural communities, mitigation and adaptation to climate change and carbon sink potentials of Organic Agriculture
• Best practices in organic production and animal husbandry
• Organic food production chain, including processing, conditioning and packaging
• Organic seeds and breeds
• Organic markets, including: mainstream distribution, direct markets, public catering, creating new local and regional markets, international/national regulations and trade barriers
• Organic Agriculture and rural tourism
• Organic food security
• Women in Organic Agriculture
• Organic viticulture and wine making
• Organic horticulture and fruit growing
• Organic textiles and fibers, including production, processing and marketing
• Natural cosmetics, body care, ecological detergents and household care
• Organic aquaculture, including: fish welfare, feeding strategies and environmental sustainability
In order to have a rich, diverse and effective Organic World Congress, everyone who is actively engaged in Organic Agriculture, who Cultivates the Future and is willing to contribute with her/his work to the OWC program is warmly invited to participate by sending us a paper or poster– without excluding other forms such as videos, pictures, songs, dance and other artistic works.
Submission of contributions
The contribution should consist of a short paper on 4 pages max (2500 words) including: introduction, methods, results and recommendations/conclusions/implications. Contributions must be written in English. Submit contributions using the Organic Eprints archive (www.orgprints.org). Details on the submission process as well as the template to be used for layout will be made available by June 30th, 2007 at www.ifoam.org.
For artistic contributions, there is no specific form and you are free to submit any kind of work.
Contributions for the Scientific Research Track will be evaluated through a peer review system by the International Society of Organic Agriculture Research, ISOFAR (see specific guidelines at: www.isofar.org/modena2008), and supported by a specific scientific committee and by other relevant research institutions. Parallel conference programs will be supported by other dedicated subcommittees involving partner organizations and stakeholders.
Deadline for submission: October 15th, 2007
Conference proceedings: A CD version of the proceedings will be distributed to all participants of the 16th IFOAM Organic World Congress free of charge.
Contributions that are accepted for the Scientific Research Track will be included in 2 printed volumes (papers and poster). Authors will receive a free copy at the conference. All submitted and accepted papers will be made public via the Organic Eprints Archive.
Contributions timeline
1. April 30th, 2007: first call for contributions
2. June 30th, 2007: second call for contributions
3. September 15th, 2007: OWC registration brochure
4. October 15th, 2007: contributions deadline
5. January 31st, 2008: notification of acceptance and of necessary modifications
6. February 29th, 2008: revised papers submitted
7. June 16th-17th, 2008: thematic pre-conferences
8. June 18th-20th, 2008: Organic World Congress
More detailed and updated information about the program and OWC registration: www.ifoam.org/modena2008
| | | | | 8. Upcoming organic agriculture-related events
| | | Events in Africa
National Organic workshop
July 3-4 2007
Antananarivo, Madagascar
For further information visit: http://www.madabio.info/workshop.htm.
Organic Work Camp
July 21-August 11 2007
Kpalimé, Togo
For further information contact: Simon Anoumou Todzro (cfape_eco@yahoo.fr) and Kossi Dackey (cgpaorg@yahoo.fr) in Togo or Rosi Lehmann (kiamaya@web.de) in Germany.
Fiermada (Rural Economy International Fair)
August 1-5 2007
Antananarivo, Madagascar
For further information contact: Rajaonarison Andrianjaka (njakar@gmail.com).
Other events
1st IFOAM Conference on Marketing of Organic and Regional Values
August 26-28 2007
Schwäbisch Hall, Germany
For further information visit:
http://www.ifoam.org/events/ifoam_conferences/regional_values_2007.html.
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Email: h.bouagnimbeck@ifoam.org
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Tel: +49-228-92650-10
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Email: headoffice@ifoam.org
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