IFOAM - Africa Organic News
September 2010
  1. IFOAM Declaration for Living Change
  2. Support the Global organic data survey 2011
  3. New Publication Release: Ecological Farming: Drought-Resistant Agriculture
  4. The Organic Producers and Processors Association of Zambia (OPPAZ) Wins Best NGO Prize
  5. The Kenya Organic Agriculture Movement Launches its New Roadmap
  6. Smart Phones Assist Farmers in Zambia to Faster Organic Certification
  7. Upcoming Organic Agriculture related events
 

1. IFOAM Declaration for Living Change

 IFOAM launched its Declaration for Living Change at a gathering of eleven Alternative Nobel Prize laureates as well as the World Food Prize laureate, Hans Herren (Switzerland) in Bonn on September 16.

Endorsed by laureates the Declaration serves as an appeal to embrace change and calls for a sustainable development that respects biodiversity and social well-being. IFOAM sees the need to urgently raise awareness of affordable and resilient organic approaches that improve food security and livelihoods.

You too can support the 'IFOAM Declaration for Living Change'. Read and endorse the Declaration in English here and in German here.

The gathering ‘Inspiration for Living Change’ was organized by IFOAM and COLABORA celebrated the 30th anniversary of The Right Livelihood Award, also known as the “Alternative Nobel Prize”. During the full-day event, the laureates engaged with 200 participants from 15 countries during plenary sessions and workshops. The event also included virtual participants from around the world. It was broadcast via videoconferencing to Germany, Tunisia, China, Belgium, Italy, Zambia, USA and Switzerland.

The Laureates brought their expert views to critical subjects such as:
  • Organic Agriculture to Nourish the World;
  • Eco-Intensification;
  • Genetic Engineering to Nanotechnology;
  • Paradigm Shift in Food Policies;
  • Organic Agriculture Leads us Towards a new Economy;
  • Saving Seed is Saving Life;
  • Land for Landless Farmers.
Participating Alternative Noble Prize laureates included:
  • Melaku Worede (Ethiopia);
  • Ibrahim and Helmy Abouleish from SEKEM (Egypt);
  • Vandana Shiva (India);
  • Percy and Louise Schmeiser (Canada);
  • Frances Moore Lappé (USA);
  • Taeko Ogiwara & Ikuko Sasaki from the „Seikatsu Club Consumers Cooperative Union“ (Japan);
  • Maria Salete Campigotto from the „Movimento dos Trabalhadores Rurais sem Terra“ (Brazil);
  • Pat Mooney (Canada).
The event was a great success. Reports and articles about the event have been in local radios and different newspapers.

Click here to see the first videos from the event. More video impressions and key statements of the laureates will be available soon at the IFOAM website at: www.ifoam.org.

 
 

2. Support the Global organic data survey 2011

 IFOAM and the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) are currently conducting the global organic data survey (to end of 2009) on the current status of organic farming worldwide. Hervé Bouagnimbeck of IFOAM is carrying out the survey among African countries and Helga Willer of FiBL among other countries.

We would like again to extend our thanks to all individuals and organizations that have contributed to the previous survey (2008 data) which was publish this year in the yearbook 'The World of Organic Agriculture - Statistics and Emerging Trends'. Without your contributions it would not have been possible to execute this global collection of data.

Several individuals and organizations have already been invited to support this year’s survey with their expertise. The data surveyed refer to end of 2009 and include:
  • Agricultural land area under organic management;
  • Certified wild collection;
  • Land use and crop details;
  • Production and market data;
  • Number of organic farmers and other operator types.
We are interested to hear from any key organization that we should approach in the framework of this survey.

With your support we can continue to make a substantial impact by providing information on recent developments in global Organic Agriculture.

For further information, please contact Hervé Bouagnimbeck.

 
 

3. New Publication Release: Ecological Farming: Drought-Resistant Agriculture

 Greenpeace recently published the report “Ecological Farming: Drought-Resistant Agriculture”. Based on many farm experiences in Africa and other parts of the world, the report demonstrated that agro-ecological farming is the best way to increase the ability of the farming system to continue functioning when faced with the adverse effects of climate change. Ecological practices such as cover crops, crop residue retention, mulching, green manure and composting make farming more drought-resistant and more resilient to extreme events.

This is particularly important for vulnerable and poor African people in rural areas that rely on agriculture for their livelihoods, as their food supply relies on successful adaptation to climate change.

To read the full report, please visit: www.greenpeace.org.

 
 

4. The Organic Producers and Processors Association of Zambia (OPPAZ) Wins Best NGO Prize

 The Organic Producers and Processors Association of Zambia (OPPAZ) won a first prize for Best Non Governmental Organization Exhibit at the 84th Zambia Agricultural and Commercial Show recently held in Lusaka. OPPAZ exhibited a variety of Zambia organically produced commodities such as rice, groundnuts, poultry, honey, bees wax, and spices. Among the exhibitors who competed for these prices were international and local NGOs.

We congratulate OPPAZ for this achievement!

For further information, please contact Munshimbwe Chitalu at: mchitalu@organic.org.zm.

 
 

5. The Kenya Organic Agriculture Movement Launches its New Roadmap

 The Kenya Organic Agriculture Network (KOAN) recently launched its 2010-2014 Strategic Plan during a well attended meeting at the Panafric Sarova Hotel, Nairobi.

The event brought together KOAN members, key strategic partners and stakeholders for experience sharing and discussion on organic agriculture developments in the country. It also presented an opportunity to inform the public about the key strategic choices for the sector in the next five years.

The Strategic Plan addresses challenges that the country is currently facing, including food security, environmental sustainability, and sustainable livelihoods. The Strategic Plan’s main objectives are:
  • Enhancing the visibility of the Organic Agriculture sub-sector in Kenya;
  • Facilitating Value Chains Development in Kenya through Partnerships, Networking and Linkages;
  • Promotion of Standardization and Ethics within the Organic Agriculture Sub-sector in Kenya;
  • Facilitating Knowledge Exchange and Learning for the Organic Agriculture Sub Sector In Kenya;
  • Enhancing KOAN’s Capacity for Organic Agriculture Sub-sector Co-Ordination and Development.
Besides the main conference, the event also included an exhibition in which stakeholders in the organic sector had an opportunity to exhibit their organic products and services, a photo gallery capturing KOAN’s milestones since its inception as well as success stories of producers in Organic Agriculture in Kenya.

For further information, please contact Wanjiru Kamau at: wanjiruk@elci.org.

 
 

6. Smart Phones Assist Farmers in Zambia to Faster Local Organic Certification

 With the support of the International Institute for Communication and Development (IICD) and the Organic Producers and Processors Association of Zambia (OPPAZ) over 1000 organic farmers throughout Zambia are now able to receive organic certification for local markets through the use of smart phones.

For further information, please visit: www.iicd.org.

 
 

7. Upcoming Organic Agriculture related events

 Second West African Organic Conference
November 8-12, 2010
Accra, Ghana
For further information, please contact Samuel Adimado: adimadosam@yahoo.com.

Organic Sector Development Training
March 21 - April 1, 2011
Lusaka, Zambia

The 17th IFOAM Organic World Congress
September 28 – October 1, 2011
Gyeonggi Paldang, South Korea

IFOAM General Assembly
October 3-5, 2011
Gyeonggi Paldang, South Korea

 
 


Email: h.bouagnimbeck@ifoam.org

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Email: headoffice@ifoam.org
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International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM) e.V.
Trial Court Bonn, Association Register no. 8726