|
|
 |
 |
| Organics met in Modena: four Principles for cultivating the Future |
|
|
|
|
06/20/2008
Organics met in Modena: four Principles for cultivating the Future |
|
|
|
From 16 to 20 June 2008 more than 1.700 experts, practitioners and producers from some 110 countries met in Modena/Italy for the 16th IFOAM Organic World Congress to discuss biodiversity, food safety, sowing, growing and harvesting techniques, market opportunities, verification methods, and technological innovations. The Congress has been organized by IFOAM, the International Federation of Organic Agriculture, and the local organizers ModenaBio. As the Congress comes to an end four keynote speakers reflect on the four Principles of Organic Agriculture: Health, Ecology, Fairness, Care. These principles are the outcome of a democratic multi-stakeholder process of several years. They had been adopted by IFOAM’s General Assembly in Adelaide/Australia in 2005 and serve as guidance for the organic movement as such, as well as for governments, the private sector and civil society. |
|
|
|
Howard-Yana Shapiro
Being a
geneticist he has been involved with sustainable agricultural and
agroforestry systems, plant genetics and food production systems for
over 35 years, working all over the world.
He and his wife, Nancy,
were investors in Seeds of Change, and in 1991 he joined the Board and
became the Chief Agricultural Officer committed to biodiversity and
organic sustainable agriculture systems. In 2007 he was awarded the
Lifetime Leadership Achievement Award from The Organic Trade
Association.
The Principle of Health
states that Organic Agriculture should sustain and enhance the health
of soil, plant, animal, human and planet as one and indivisible.
On
the Principle of Health Howard-Yana Shapiro reflects that “health is
the abundance of positives, the celebration of wellness”. On the
controversial issues around the Green Revolution Shapiro doubts that it
has proven to be a successful strategy for ending hunger. “Current
hunger can only be alleviated by redistributing purchasing power and
resources toward those who are undernourished. In a nutshell – if the
poor don’t have the money to buy food, increased production is not
going to help them”, Shapiro concludes. Choices for all with regards to
reasonable access to healthy and safe, organically grown food, is the
key to Health. “And what we need now is a real revolutionary coalition
to breed appropriate germplasm for use in organic agriculture systems”,
Shapiro emphasizes. “Let’s breed to win, it’s a healthy thing to do.
Let’s determine what needs to be a modern organic cultivar. This is the
future of Health!” Shapiro confirms the principle of Health as
"sustaining and enhancing the health of soil, plants, animals, humans
and the planet as one and indivisible” and he adds “that there are no
enemies in this story.”
Vandana Shiva
Outstanding
representative of the alterglobalist trend defined as ecofeminism, for
many years, the Indian scientist has been actively involved in research
on the effects of biodiversity loss. Through her organization
‘Navdanya’ Shiva actively contributes to seed saving and thus creates a
solid base for food security and economic democracy in an insecure
future. She was awarded the Right Livelihood Award in 1993.
The Principle of Ecology
states that Organic Agriculture should be based on living ecological
systems and cycles, work with them, emulate them and help sustain them.
Those who produce, process, trade or consume organic products shold
protect and benefit the common environment.
On the Principle
of Ecology Vandana Shiva emphasizes that we need to bring ecology back
to agriculture, ecology of biodiversity, of water and of air. Shiva
states that "biodiversity and seeds by their very nature renew
themselves and multiply. That is the power of biodiversity. It is the
problem for industry". Concerning the ecology of air, Shiva sees the
actual disturbance of the weather as "the ultimate signal of humans
living the wrong way" and the solution to climate extremes has to be
found in the struggle for diversity. Ecology is also about water, and
"only ecological farming with diversity can prevent us to not further
deplete our water resources". Food is central for ecology: "the ecology
of all the elements of resources is ultimately connected to the ecology
of food. We have an ancient text that tells us: 'everything is food,
everything is something elses' food'." Concerning the organic movement,
Shiva states the urgency of its further development for preserving the
principle of ecology.
Tewolde Berhan Gebre Egziabher
He
has been keeper of the National Herbarium (Ethiopia), the President of
University of Asmara and Director of the Ethiopian Conservation
Strategy Secretariat. Since 1994 he has been General Manager of the
Environmental Protection Authority of Ethiopia. He won the Right
Livelihood Award in 2000 "for his exemplary work to safeguard
biodiversity and the traditional rights of farmers and communities to
their genetic resources." In 2006 he won the United Nations top
environmental Prize, Champions of the Earth.
The Principle of Care
states that Organic Agriculture should be managed in a precautionary
and responsible manner to protect the health and well-being of current
and future generations and the environment.
On the Principle
of Care Tewolde asks “Care for what ? Care for humans, for the food
that we humans produce and eat, care for the other beings that interact
with us, and with our food. Care for the soil and for the genetic
resources that give us our food, and even care for our partners in
life, that share our food, whom we call pests, provided that they are
not so selfish to exclude us from food, so care from exclusion, care
for the biosphere that keeps and feeds us all. “Life is a summary of
interactions and cares,” Tewolde elaborates. "IFOAM maintains that the
production and processing of agricultural products should be free from
all artificially synthesized chemicals. It’s a logical conclusion from
our given situation.” He congratulates IFOAM: “All humans should be
IFOAM members, otherwise we will not even have tried to care. And yet
care we must if we love our children and their children and their
children.” Tewolde’s big question remains: “Are we caring enough ?”
Frances Moore Lappé
She
is the author of sixteen books, beginning with the 1971
three-million-copy bestseller, Diet for a Small Planet, which awakened
a whole generation to the human-made causes of hunger and the
significance of our everyday choices. Her newest book is Getting a
Grip: Clarity, Creativity, & Courage in a World Gone Mad.
The Principle of Fairness
states that Organic Agriculture should build on relationships that
ensure fairness with regard to the common environment and life
opportunities.
On the Principle of Fairness Frances Moore
Lappé cites the work of Adam Smith summarizing that many social
sentiments are optional. However, the instinct for fairness is innate
to all human beings. Exploring answers to our planet’s most urgent
questions of sustainability and democracy, she urges that “we have to
develop a sense of dignity, voice our gains, practice fairness for
ourselves and others.” “By sharpening our empathetic sensibilities to
fairness”, Moore Lappé remarks, “we share our experiences as human
beings.” Moore Lappé feels very strongly that “ideas can be more
powerful than our hardwired sensibilities.” “We do not have to change
human nature, yet there is need to live fairness every day”. She
concludes that we “have to trust our own innate power to act out our
connectedness”.
IFOAM is committed to take up the challenges
emanating from the Principles of Organic Agriculture and from the
successfully concluded 16th Organic World Congress. IFOAM’ mission is
leading, uniting, and assisting the growing organic movement in its
full diversity. IFOAM’s goal is the worldwide adoption of ecologically,
socially and economically sound systems that are based on these
Principles.
|
|
|
|
|
|
