| |  | | September 2009 |
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- Support IFOAM Today
- Organic Farming the Future for Africa
- IFOAM’s campaign for the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen
- Farmers Opt for Organic Fertilizers in Zimbabwe
- World Food Day (WFD) 2009
- Upcoming Organic Agriculture related events
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| | 1. Support IFOAM Today | | | Representing every facet of organic farming, production, and trade –
from small farmers and regional cooperatives to international
corporations – IFOAM is working to ensure a more sustainable future.
In the last year, with your support we have successfully increased adoption of Organic Agriculture practices to:
- Combat hunger
- Improve food security
- Mitigate and adapt to climate change
- Lessen environmental degradation
- Protect biodiversity
- Reduce dependence on fossil fuels
To
continue our important work, we need your help. Your generous
contribution to IFOAM will enable us to promote the mission of Organic
Agriculture movements worldwide.
For your convenience, donations can be made online at www.ifoam.org/sub/whatyoucando.html.
| | | | | 2. Organic Farming the Future for Africa
| | | A debate about organic farming in Africa is currently taking place in Swedish media. Last month, the article “Don’t export organic farming to developing countries” was published at: www.svd.se/opinion/brannpunkt/artikel_3337475.svd.The article claims that western environmental movements are forcing organic farming onto developing countries, particularly in Africa, at the expense of conventional farming systems that rely on costly, polluting, unsustainable external inputs including mineral fertilizers, pesticides and new seed varieties in order to achieve food security.
Following the publication of this article, the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation (SSNC) and the African Organic movement reacted quickly and developed a debate article demonstrating the appropriateness of Organic Agriculture in Africa. The article was signed by members of the African organic movement and published at: www.svd.se/opinion/brannpunkt/artikel_3384857.svd. The article highlighted that Organic Agriculture is not a luxury in Africa, but a necessity by:
- Increasing yields over the long term.
- Combating climate change and desertification.
- Reducing the financial risk by refraining from using expensive synthetic fertilizers and pesticides.
- Integrating traditional farming practices and making use of locally available resources.
- Allowing farmers access to new market opportunities
- Improving human health and maximizing environmental services.
The development of a healthy, ecological and fair agriculture, following the principles of Organic Agriculture (health, ecology, fairness and care), has always been IFOAM’s major commitment through its whole history. Therefore, IFOAM encourages governments, donors and development agencies in developing countries to support and help the uptake of Organic Agriculture as the best agricultural development strategy for Africa. The reality of what Organic Agriculture can and is doing for food security in Africa is being demonstrated by intergovernmental agencies and independent universities with many of the findings compiled in the last issue of Ecology and Farming which had a special focus on Africa.
From IFOAM perspective, this is not the time to look for short-term solutions for the agricultural situation in Africa. Investment in real sustainable solutions that benefit people and the environment is urgently required in Africa.
| | | | | 3. IFOAM’s campaign for the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen
| | | From December 7 to 18 2009, the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP15) will be held in Copenhagen, Denmark. IFOAM will be present at COP15 and is currently developing a campaign to get the message across that Organic Agriculture is a mitigating and adapting solution to climate change as well as to provide governments from developing countries with advice on mitigation and adaptation strategies.
IFOAM in joint cooperation with the IFOAM EU Group and the support of Hivos will prepare key advocacy materials, including a compilation of mitigation case studies, a series of African climate change case studies and a guide to organic farming and climate change. IFOAM has applied to the UN to hold a “high sequestration, low emission farming systems for a food secure world” side event at COP15 that will encourage delegates from developing countries and NGOs to integrate organic farming into their climate change policies and action plans.
We are interested to hear from anyone planning to attend COP15 as well as of government representatives that we should approach in Copenhagen.
For further information, please contact Robert Jordan: r.jordan@ifoam.org.
| | | | | 4. Farmers Opt for Organic Fertilizers in Zimbabwe
| | | Most farmers, especially those into horticulture, are currently opting for organic fertilizers in Zimbabwe. “It seems they have come to realize the importance of organic fertilizer as an alternative low cost, environmental friendly and healthy farming system," said Mr Chimedza, Sales and Marketing director of a fertilizers company in Zimbabwe.
For more information, please visit: http://allafrica.com/stories/200908280003.html.
| | | | | 5. World Food Day (WFD) 2009 | | | On October 16 2009, IFOAM will join the international community to celebrate World Food Day with the theme Achieving Food Security in Times of Crisis.
IFOAM will deliver a sample press release which will be sent to members and partners in Europe, Africa, Asia and Latin America, in order to heighten public awareness of the world food problem and maximize the visibility and positive message of Organic Agriculture around the world. Be sure to watch for the publication of this press release in your local Media.
For other organizations and groups interested in receiving this press release, please contact Hervé Bouagnimbeck: h.bouagnimbeck@ifoam.org.
For more information about the WFD, visit the FAO website at: www.fao.org/getinvolved/worldfoodday/en/.
| | | | | 6. Upcoming Organic Agriculture related events
| | | World Congress on Organic Cotton “From Fashion to Sustainability”
September 21-25 2009
Interlaken, Switzerland
5th National Conference on Organic Agriculture
November 15 to 19 2009
Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria
For further information, please contact Prof. M. C. Ofoh: mcofoh@yahoo.com.
World Food Day 2009
October 16 2009
For more information, please visit: www.fao.org/getinvolved/worldfoodday/en/
Annual Sustainable Development Forum for Madagascar and
Indian Ocean (Alter.Natives)
October 22 to 25 2009
Antananarivo, Madagascar
United Nations Climate Change Conference
December 7 to 18 2009
Copenhagen, Denmark
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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
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