ecology farming nr 3 // June 2011
IFOAM
AND
HANS HERREN
Agua From ecological researcher to activist
SOIL AND MORE
Standards For Organic Aquaculture: A BRIEF HISTORY OF ORGANIC AQUACULTURE
Jamie Oliver
“Food should be fun”
Table of Con tents
JUNE 2011 // NR 3
Politics Smallholder organic farming 10
interview Jamie Oliver: 18
versus GMOs
Are GMOs needed to feed the
“Food should be fun”
Berward Geier talked with world
world population, or are they part of the problem?
Country reports Country focus Argentina 14 Argentina has a large area under
famous chef Jamie Oliver about children and food.
in Tunisia
Tunisia’s political landscape changed dramatically this year, but Elke Peiler expects that the future government will continue supporting organic agriculture which is a success story.
Researchers and other specialists
38 Hans Herren:
on organic food gathered in Prague to discuss whether the quality of organic food really contributes to the health of consumers.
From ecological researcher to activist
Nick Parrott talked with Hans Herren, scientist turned activist and co-author of the IASSTD report.
organic certification. Most of it is very low input farming in Patagonia and the pampas.
42 The organic sector
EVENTS First international conference 30
44 Rio+20
Innovation in agriculture Soil and More 22
wenty years after the first global T UN conference on biodiversity in Rio, there is a follow up planned for 2012. What are IFOAM’s plans to contribute to discussions about a ‘Green Economy’?
Turning desert into good agricultu ral land: Soil & More reports about projects in Egypt and elsewhere.
Market & economy Trends in the trade of 26
Aquaculture A brief history of organic 34
sustainable coffees Coffee is the world’s most
valuable traded conventional, fair trade and organic agricultural commodity.
Politics 10 Smallholder organic farming versus GMOs - By Andre Leu
World hunger is steadily increasing. The discussion is if GMOs are needed to feed the world population, or vpart of the problem?
aquaculture Global organic aquaculture has been constantly increasing its production over the past ten years. Standard setting involves bringing together the holistic concept of organic production and the reality of the aquaculture industry.
And more.... Editorial 5 News 6 Column by Gunnar Rundgren 7 Calendar 49
Innovation in agriculture 22 Soil and More - By Tobias Bandel Composting does not sound like hi-tech innovation, but when you do it well, you can turn desert into good agricultural land. Soil & More reports about projects in Egypt and elsewhere.
ECOLOGY & FARMING | 3-2011
3
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introduction
Denise Godinho
Peter Brul
Affordable and effective Organic agriculture offers affordable and effec-
Will the Green Economy prioritize agricultural
tive practices that are highly accessible to the
production that alleviates hunger and starva-
poor and that build the resilience and liveli-
tion, or will it continue down the path of satisfy-
hoods of farms and communities. The debates
ing growing market demand for commodities,
around ‘The Green Economy’, in preparation for
such as processed foods and ingredients,
the Rio+20 conference in 2012 leave no doubt
textiles, biofuels, plastics and other industrial
that a stable economic framework is required
feedstock?
to ensure that issues such as sustainable development and poverty eradication can actually
These and many other questions need to be
be implemented.
addressed and will require our attention in the coming months. The ongoing debates will
Yet, the implications of a shift towards a Green
offer our movement the opportunity to push for
Economy remain unclear: will it mean a move
recognition of the fact that multi-faceted, holis-
towards local production and consumption or
tic, agro-ecological approaches, exemplified by
greener transport? Or will it mean drought tole-
organic agriculture, can significantly contribute
rant GM Maize being labelled green because of
to reducing poverty - while ensuring price com-
its water-saving potential, and more industrial
petitiveness on the global market.
feedlots being rewarded for capturing the biogas from the effluent they generate?
These debates will have practical consequences: if we manage to get this recognition trans-
Will it mean greater support for the livelihoods
lated into policy recommendations across the
of the world’s 1.5 billion smallholder farmers?
world, this could lead to an important boost in
Or will farmers be increasingly lured into debt
the uptake of organic agriculture worldwide,
to pay for ‘climate-smart’ inputs - or simply
and an increase in the supply of organic pro-
deprived of their livelihoods as they are pushed
ducts. And with this, the distance from niche to
from their land to make way for industrial scale
mainstream will have further narrowed.
green investments and the outsourcing of food production by food insecure nations?
ECOLOGY & FARMING | 3-2011
5
// Canada and EU agree on equivalency of organic products Canada introduced its Canada Organic Biologique logo just two years ago, bringing together the previous hotchpotch of voluntary and mandatory organic certification that was spread
News // Growing a better future // A new Oxfam campaign A broken food system and environmental crises will result in millions more hungry people, according to Oxfam at the launch of its international campaign, GROW, which highlights the need to urgently transform the way we grow and share food. The GROW campaign – supported by Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, Lula, the former President of Brazil, actress Scarlett Johansson and former Masterchef Australia winner Julie Goodwin – aims to help create a world where everyone has enough to eat. Oxfam’s new report “Growing a Better Future” explains the world’s broken food system, showing how rising food prices, the increasing scarcity of arable land and water and a rapidly changing climate will undermine people’s access to food across the world. Executive Director of Oxfam Australia, Andrew Hewett said: “Although the world produces enough food for everyone, the broken food system means one in seven people are still going hungry. Oxfam was created in response to the food crisis caused by the Second World War in 1942, but this is a new food crisis that threatens us all. Our research
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3-2011 | ECOLOGY & FARMING
across the different provinces. Its Organic Products Regulations now require all Canadian organic products to be endorsed by a certification body accredited by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). The Canadian and EU decision on organic equivalency follow discussions between the European Commission and the CFIA, reviews of the two sets of organic rules and spot checks of control measures in both territories. “The review of each others’ rules for organic production and control systems have led to the conclusion that in the EU and Canada the rules governing production and controls of organic
shows that the world’s food system faces unprecedented future challenges, as growth in agricultural yields flatlines, the availability of land, water and fertilizers declines and the impacts of climate change increase.” Mr Hewett said that Australians, having encountered rising food prices after the Queensland floods, understood all too well how vulnerable food supplies are to the effects of extreme weather. “The Australian government and businesses must help to urgently reform the global food system, and they can start by dealing swiftly with the increasing impact of climate change on food production by securing a global agreement on climate change”. “The Australian aid programme also reflects the global trend over recent decades of declining investment in the food and agricultural sectors of developing countries. We must address this and prioritize support for small-scale primary producers who make up more than 80 per cent of the world’s hungry people. For the second time in just three years, we are seeing world food prices hit their highest recorded point ever. At the upcoming G20 meeting in Cannes in November, the Australian Government needs to push for real action to address skyrocketing food
agricultural products are equivalent to those laid down in each other’s legislation,” the European Commission (EC) said in a statement on Friday. The regulation that added Canada to the list of recognized countries was published by the EU on 21 June 2011. Canada confirmed in writing on 23 June 2011 that it now recognizes all EU organic products as equivalent to the Canadian Organic Products Regulation. The equivalency reached will facilitate and boost trade in agricultural organic products between the EU and Canada and the respective organic logos will be authorized to be used in each other’s markets.
prices by regulating commodity markets and reforming flawed US and EU biofuels policies.”
The main findings of the report include: • By 2050, demand for food will rise by 70 per cent, yet production is not keeping pace. The growth rate in agricultural yields has almost halved since 1990 and is set to decline to a fraction of one per cent by 2020. • The price of staple foods such as maize, already at an all time high, will more than double in the next 20 years. Up to half of this increase will be due to climate change. • US biofuel policies cause 15 per cent of the world’s maize to be diverted to engines, even at times of food crisis. The grain required to fill the petrol tank of a SUV with biofuel is sufficient to feed one person for a year.
Gunnar Rundgren Sowing the seeds
// Organic Marketing Forum 2011, Warsaw 6th International Meeting on the Processing and Marketing Organic Products and Raw Materials, Warsaw. ‘Organic and Communication –Successful Together’ was the motto for this the sixth meeting of market stakeholders from nearly 30 countries. The international event for producers, processors and marketers of organic products and raw materials took place on the 26th and 27th of May in the Polish capital. For the first time also a federation of several CentralAsian Associations represented the organic sector in their region. A growing number of visitors and exhibitors came from Russian-speaking countries Bernhard Jansen, Director of EkoConnect, the organizers of the event summed up his impressions of the 6th Forum. “The significance of Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) for the organic sector is continuously growing. CEE offers opportunities as a sales market for organic products. It is also growing in importance as a supplier of raw materials and beginning to offer a wider range of high quality organic products under brand names and private labels”. The theme of the initiating presentation, by Felix Prinz zu Löwenstein (of BöLW) was on the importance of organic farming in feeding the world. He pointed out that world hunger will neither be beaten by genetic engineering nor by increasing the level of mechanization. The key is traditional, improved, small-scale agriculture, organic farming and changing consumer’s behaviour. There were a number of other contributions about marketing and management at all levels of the supply chain, with particularly highly informative contributions from single CEE countries including Russia, Bulgaria, Hungary and Poland and to specific market sectors, which were all well received.
Co lumn
Trying to nail down what organic farming really is and what it really means is much more difficult than any of us could have imagined. As soon as we leave behind the no-no definition (no chemical fertilizers, no chemical pesticides) it gets hard. IFOAM’s definition says “Organic agriculture is a production system that sustains the health of soils, ecosystems and people. It relies on ecological processes, biodiversity and cycles adapted to local conditions, rather than the use of inputs with adverse effects.” I have a slowly growing view that organic agriculture should be defined as regenerative agriculture in the widest sense. It is a farming system that regenerates its own production capacity and potential (credit to Jules Pretty who wrote a book called Regenerative Agriculture and also to the Rodale Institute which often uses the term, even if not in exactly the same sense as I mean here). This term highlights that regeneration and reproduction are as essential in the farming system as production; that it is just as important to regenerate the conditions for farming as it is to farm. This perspective makes it quite obvious that crop rotations and bio-diversity are more desirable on your farm than buying ‘Fertility Bags’ of chemical fertilisers or ‘Pest Control’ in the shape of plastic drums full of poison. From this perspective, it doesn’t really matter much whether a particular input is good or bad, or even if it is natural or synthetic; what matters is whether it assists you in regenerating the farming system. It also becomes clear why a farm has to be a living place that is part of a living rural society, because that is the only way to maintain people on farms and, without people and thriving communities there is no regeneration. It also explains why organic farms should have good working conditions, because without that there is no future for the farms. Regenerating the people who work on the farm, the community of which the farm is a part, the fertility of the soil, the water used and the biological diversity – ultimately relies on just one external input - the sun. This brings us very close to the principles that, for millennia, have guided peasant farming all over the world. Peasants have avoided all kinds of ‘purchased’ inputs, be they credit, salaried labour or pesticides and fertilisers. Instead they prefer to rely on their own capacity, and the capacity of local communities and local ecosystems, to regenerate their systems. This is also the way that peasants try to keep their autonomy from the market and from loan sharks. There is nothing inherently wrong in being dependent on other people, so the idea of autonomy and self-regeneration should not be taken too far. The idea should work at a scale that embraces and regenerates whole communities. In this way sowing organic seeds can also contribute to growing a new and better world.
ECOLOGY & FARMING | 3-2011
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// BioFach China 2011: Successful 5th anniversary BioFach China celebrated its fifth anniversary this year and saw a 27% increase in visitors to the INTEX Shanghai Exhibition Centre for the fair that took place between the 26th and the 28th May 2011. 14,613 participants travelled from 33 countries to what was so far the most successful edition of the only trade fair for certified organic products in China. The exhibition space was fully booked with more exhibitors than ever before: 342 manufacturers, 13% of them from outside China, presented their organic produce. The congress
News
programme gave people the opportunity to learn more about the latest themes and fresh trends in the national and international organic market. Montalto a manufacturer of natural personal care products was represented at the fair: “We made use of BioFach China to develop a feeling for what makes the organic sector in China tick. Is the Chinese market yet prepared for natural personal care products? Our products attracted great interest from the visitors. There was even coverage from a Chinese TV station, which filmed our stand,” said a delighted Enrica Cagnoni. Mr. Lian, General Manager of Linyi Jianghu Gongmi Rice, said: “This was our first time exhibiting at BioFach China. On the first day we were already more than satisfied: we concluded several contracts with supermarket chains directly on the stand. The long trip to Shanghai from our base in Shandong Providence (in the north east of China) where we cultivate organic rice, has really paid off.
// Organic Farm Management Handbook Published The new edition of the Organic Farm Management Handbook is now available, published by the Organic Research Centre at Elm Farm near Newbury. The authors are Nic Lampkin, Marc Measures and Susanne Padel, who were also responsible for the previous editions. This is a ‘must have’ publication for anyone interested in the business of organic farming – covering a broad range of market, certification, policy, financial and technical infor-
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3-2011 | ECOLOGY & FARMING
Zhang Chen, Assistant General Manager at Tony’s Farm was also pleased with their participation in the fair.
“We met all our potential business partners and many industry experts who came to visit the show. In recent years the quality has increased enormously – the visitors and the fair itself are becoming increasingly professional. Next year we will almost definitely be participating again!” The next BioFach China will be held from 24th to 26th May 2012 at the INTEX Shanghai Exhibition Centre.
mation about different organic systems and enterprises. A new edition as we emerge from the recession and prepare for the next phase of CAP reform is timely. The handbook reflects honestly the difficulties that the organic sector has faced in the market place ( especially in the UK), but also shows the evidence from the Farm Business Survey that organic farms have in general maintained income levels and continue to perform as well as similar non-organic farms. Looking forward, increasing general food prices and a potential recovery in the UK organic market (which has continued to grow elsewhere in Europe and globally despite the recession) mean that prospects for organic farming maintaining its profitability are good.
Coupled with the serious attention now being given to the role of organic farming by the European Commission as part of the CAP Reform debate and the very positive attention from FAO and other UN organizations, now may be the time to start thinking again about the potential of converting to organic farming. The handbook is the ideal reference source on conversion to and continued organic farming for farmers, growers, consultants, bankers, land agents, buyers, students and many more in the temperate climate zone.
Copies are available at £18.50 plus £1.50 p&p in the UK, with a discount available for bulk orders and trade purchasers – for further information visit www.organicresearchcentre. com, e-mail elmfarm@organicresearchcentre. com.
// Germany’s recent food poisoning outbreak In recent weeks 47 people have died and more than 3,000 became ill in the north of Germany and other European countries because of a food disease. When the first people came to hospital with bloody diarrhea, analyses showed that they were infected with EHEC bacteria (enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli). EHEC is part of the E.coli bacteria group, a very common intestinal bacteria. EHEC is a very aggressive form that is poisonous in even very small amounts. Hospitals could only try to create the best circumstances for their patients to survive, but did not have the means to fight the bacterial disease itself, because it is resistant to almost all antibiotics. The authorities had difficulties in finding the source of the problems and this took several weeks. The assumption that vegetables like cucumber, tomatoes and lettuce were the transmitters of the infection has caused tremendous financial damage to vegetable growers and traders. Finally the Robert Koch Institute came to the conclusion that bean sprouts from an organic producer, ‘Gärtnerhof Bienenbüttel’ in the North of Germany were the source of the infection. The farm, organic since 1978, produced a range of fresh sprouts that were distributed to health food shops and restaurants in the region. Production follows HACCP since 1998, and has been global gap certified since 2004. Sprouts are known as a very sensitive media for bacterial infection since the warm and humid conditions they are grown in are also ideal for bacterial growth. Despite the strictly controlled circumstances, such disasters can happen. Food borne illnesses caused by EHEC are quite common, it is estimated that in the
United States alone it causes to 36,000 illnesses, 1,000 hospitalizations and 30 deaths every year. Because it was unclear for several weeks what the source was, because very many people became sick and died and because local authorities blamed a range of different products, the effect on the consumption of fruits and vegetables lasted for a long period. Russia closed its borders to vegetable imports from Europe. The German market for fresh vegetables, such as cucumbers, tomatoes and lettuce collapsed. The damage for market gardeners and traders was and is enormous.
The growers will get some financial support from the European Union, traders probably not. There are still many questions to be answered, but it is almost sure that the sprouts from the organic farm in the north of Germany were the cause of the infection. At this stage it is too early to link the infection to the fact that the sprouts were produced in an organic way. It seems that the EHEC bacteria did not come from animal manure that was not well composted, but they came in through seeds of red beet. The entire chain has to be analyzed to found out what happened, how such an infection develops and what can be done to prevent it happening again. However,
News it might be that a lot of questions will remain unanswered. Until now the media in general has not linked the problems to the fact that this farm was organic, except for some of the usual opponents of organic agriculture. When EHEC occurs, it normally comes from animal products. From research it is known that the chance of EHEC contamination is lower in organic production. The danger of EHEC lies in
it being extremely poisonous in low concentrations and resistant to many antibiotics. The widespread use of antibiotics in conventional intensive animal production and in conventional medicine has caused more and more bacteria to develop resistance against antibiotics. Organic farming uses no antibiotics or only in cases where animals are really sick and there is no alternative, as this is the best way to prevent development of antibiotic resistance. The use of good compost in vegetable production should also be a good guarantee against development of pathogens. More research is needed to find out how and why this occurred and what can be done to prevent any such recurrence.
ECOLOGY & FARMING | 3-2011
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By andre leu
What is a better solution to world hunger?
SMALLHOLDER ORGANIC FARMING VERSUS GMOs According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) world hunger has been steadily increasing since 1995 and affected 925 million people in 2010. The response from several governments and industry organisations has been that GMOs are necessary to produce the extra food needed to feed the world.
T
his response needs to be analyzed in the context of the current increases in world hunger, current patterns of
food production and the recent rises in agricultural commodity prices. Can GMOs feed the world? The data from FAO shows that the number of hungry people decreased slowly between 1969-71 and 1995-97. Since then they have increased every year (except 2010 when they fell back somewhat from the ‘spike’ of 2009). This turn around coincided exactly with the beginning of the commercial cultivation of GMOs. The increase in the number of hungry people and the increase in the number of hectares planted to GMOs mirror each other. This is not a coincidence. It is because the major GMO crops, maize, soy and cotton, are traded as commodities. One of the key issues that can be drawn from FAO data is that these trends mirror each other (see figures 1 and 2). This is not a coincidence. It is because the major GMO crops, maize, soy and cotton, are traded as commodities. One of the key issues that can be drawn from FAO data is
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3-2011 | ECOLOGY & FARMING
Politics Figure1
Global planting of GMOs Source: gmocompass 120
100
80
60
40
20
0
1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
Figure 2
Number of undernourished people in the world Source: FAO
that the number of hungry people is not related to the level of food production, as the world already produces more than enough food to satisfactorily nourish everyone. It is due to the way that the global economy distributes food as a commodity. According to the FAO: ‘Global cereal harvests have been strong for the past several years – even as the number of undernourished people was rising – but the overall impro-
Figure 3
Over 170 million suffered due to food commodity pricing
vement in food security in 2010 reflects improved access to food through the expected resumption of economic growth … but food prices in most low-income food-deficit countries remain above the pre-crisis level of early 2008, negatively affecting access to food by vulnerable populations’ (FAO, 2010). There is more than enough suitable agricultural land to feed everybody. Yet much of the land currently under cultivation is not being used productively or efficiently. Inefficient, unfair distribution systems, agricultural commodity speculation, poor farming methods and political crises are
ECOLOGY & FARMING | 3-2011
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the causes of global hunger. The agribusiness model
GMOs are now being proposed as the solution to hun-
of commodity production is a key reason why hunger
ger, with proponents arguing that they can find genes
continues to rise. World food production is at an all-time
to fix every problem; providing plants and animals that
high, but it is not getting to the hungry simply because
give high yields, can cope with salinity, drought and
they cannot afford to pay for it. A good example of this
any other problem, including climate change, facing
was seen in 2007 when food prices increased drama-
farming. The reality is that most of these traits are ficti-
tically due to market shortages. The increases were
onal at the moment and there are very few examples of
blamed on biofuels, poor seasons and not enough
GMOs solving these problems. GMOs are being sold to
land to grow crops. In 2008 food prices decreased in
government, industry and the public as the silver bullet
many countries, due to the global economic crisis, even
to all our problems. There is striking parallel with the
though the same factors were in play as in 2007. Yet
way that propaganda from the nuclear industry in the
the numbers of hungry people skyrocketed to almost 1
1950s and 1960s sold the fantasy that nuclear power
billion despite a decrease in prices. This was because
would provide endless cheap power. The idea that
hungry people did not have the money to buy food (see
world hunger can be solved by inventing new ‘super
figure 3).
crops’ shows a complete misunderstanding of the problem. The introduction of GMOs has increased world hunger because it entrenches an agribusiness system that is based on commodity production and marketing and weakens the position of those who produce most of the world’s food. The need is for a paradigm shift away from large scale commodity production to family scale and local food production. The largest review into our current agricultural systems by The International Assessment of Agricultural Knowledge, Science and Technology for Development (IAASTD) states that “the way the world grows its food will have to change radically to better serve the poor and hungry if the world is to cope with
A major reason for the high prices in 2007 was due to
growing population and climate change while avoiding
futures traders hoarding food and creating market shor-
social breakdown and environmental collapse” (IAASTD
tages and artificial high prices; treating food as a mass
2008) This report does not endorse the current push
commodity. This market speculation caused a huge
for GMOs and large agribusiness as the solution and
spike in global hunger from 850 million to a peak of
instead proposed working at a more sustainable local
1,023 billion in 2009. Over 170 million extra people suf-
level with lower inputs and family farms. (See figure 4)
fered due to the greed of the food commodity traders. In 2011, world agricultural commodity prices are on
The current reality is that smallholders currently pro-
the increase again, due to market speculation because
duce 70% of the world’s food (ETC Group, 2009). Yet at
production levels for 2010 are slightly lower than 2009.
the same time it is equally true that the majority of the
This is despite total food production being at a long
world’s hungry are smallholders or landless farm labou-
term all-time high.
rers. The most logical way to feed the world is for the
There will always be a need for international commodity
people who need it to grow it themselves. This means
markets for food and they will probably always play a
focusing on increasing production among smallholders,
key role in distributing food to a significant percentage of
rather than encouraging higher productivity by agri
the world’s population. Yet, they are an ineffective model
business. (See figure 5)
in getting food to the poorest people. Agribusiness only
12
produces 30% the world’s food and the experience of
Organic agriculture has a proven track record of impro-
the last 40 years shows a clear failure of agribusiness a
ving yields as well as delivering a range of social and
way of feeding the hungry (ETC Group, 2009). At best
environmental benefits, particularly among small holders
it only contributed to a short term and modest decline,
in the developing world. The majority of the world’s far-
which has recently been completely erased.
mers are traditional farmers who are largely ‘organic by
3-2011 | ECOLOGY & FARMING
Politics Figure 4
default’. Significant increases in yields can be achieved by teaching these farmers to include good organic
Who the hungry are Source: A Viable Food Future
practices to their traditional methods such as: • better soil nutrition • improved pest and disease control • more efficient water use • better weed control methods • ecological intensification A recent report by two UN agencies found that ecological agriculture significantly increases yields in Africa. ‘…the average crop yield was … 116 per cent increase for all African projects…The evidence presented in this study supports the argument that ecological agriculture can be more conducive to food security in Africa than most conventional production systems, and that it is
Figure 5
dies which focused on food production in this research
Peasants feed at least 70% of the world’s population
where data have been reported have shown increases
Sources: A Viable Food Future and ETC Group
more likely to be sustainable in the long term’ (UNEP/ UNCTAD 2008). The report further states ‘All case stu-
in per hectare productivity of food crops, which challenges the popular myth that ecological agriculture cannot increase agricultural productivity.’ Most of the world’s farmers are smallholders who use traditional methods that are largely organic. Training farmers in techniques to improve their practices with good organic methods is a practical, low cost and proven way to increase their yields and income and reduce hunger and poverty. One of the most important aspects of this change is encouraging the production of food and fibre close to where it is needed and wherever possible by the people who need it. This implies curtailing the sovereignty of commodity markets. One key benefit of this change is that it a low cost
aspect of agricultural systems. This money would be
method. Farmers do not need to buy expensive impor-
more effectively utilized if it was spent on training the
ted fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides. The use of
world’s smallholders who already grow 70% of the
labour intensive activities, such as cultural weeding,
world’s food to adopt best-practice organic methods
composting and intercropping provides more local
and increase their production. In some places in Africa
employment. This allows landless labourers to pay for
100% increases in yields have been reported. More
their food and other needs. Such a model of organic
than enough to feed the hungry.
agriculture fosters rural development and is more effec-
Andre Leu is chairperson of OFA
tive at combating rural poverty and starvation, than GMOs and expensive inputs. Billions of dollars are being spent around the world to research and develop new GMO crops. The proponents of GMOs believe that feeding the hungry just involves new food varieties with better traits and show a lack of understanding of the problem and also of the human
References: A Viable Food Future, Part I, (2010) The Development Fund / Utviklingsfondet, Norway ETC Group, (2009) Who Will Feed Us? Questions for the Food and Climate Crises. (www.etcgroup.org/upload/publication/pdf_!le/ ETC_Who_Will_Feed_Us.pdf) FAO (2010) The State of Food Insecurity in the World, FAO, Rome. IAASTD (2008) International Assessment of Agricultural Knowledge, Science and Technology for Development (IAASTD), Island Press. Washington DC UNEP / UNCTAD (2008) Organic Agriculture and Food Security in Africa, http://www.unep-unctad.org/cbtf/index.htm
ECOLOGY & FARMING | 3-2011
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Argentina is the second largest country in South America, after Brazil. It covers a total surface area of 2,766,891 km2 and has four major regions: the fertile central plains of the Pampas, the source of Argentina’s agricultural wealth; the flat rolling, southern plateau of Patagonia; the subtropical northern flats of the Gran Chaco and the rugged Andes mountain range along the western border with Chile. 4.4 million hectares certified organic land
COUNTRY FOCUS ARGENTINA A
griculture is one of the mainstays of Argentina’s
society sectors, were the starting point of the organic
economy. Agricultural goods, whether raw or pro-
sector in Argentina. Two certifiers started at the end of
cessed, earn over half of Argentina’s foreign exchange
the eighties, one of which, Argencert, still exists. There
and, arguably, remain an indispensable pillar of the
are currently five nationally accredited certifiers.
country’s progress and prosperity. In 2007, more than one fifth of Argentine exports consisted of unprocessed agricultural primary goods, mainly soybeans, wheat and maize. A further third consisted of processed agricultural products, such as animal feed, flour and vegetable oils. Around 10% of the country is cultivated, while about half of it is used to graze cattle, sheep and other livestock. The development of the organic sector in Argentina began with the foundation of CANECOS (Centre for the Study of Organic Crops) and a group of NGOs promoting rural development projects using the agroecological
In 1990, Argentinean delegates at the IFOAM World
approach. This occurred shortly after democracy was
Congress in Vienna were encouraged to strategically
re-established in the mid 1980s. Eleven Latin American
develop the country’s organic sector. Discussion on
NGOs came together to found CLADES (Consorcio
how to do this focused around key issues such as
Latinoamericano sobre Agroecologia y Desarrollo)
unsatisfied demand, certification and the country’s
dedicated to training and capacity building within Latin
competitive advantages within a constantly growing
America. Parallel to this, there were several initiatives
market.
from export-oriented farmers who started to export
In 1992, a legal framework for organic production
organic products to Europe and the United States.
began to be developed. SENASA, the National Service
These initiatives, which came from the private and civil
for Health and Agri-food Quality (part of the Secreta-
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3-2011 | ECOLOGY & FARMING
Country reports
By Patricia Flores Escudero
riat of Agriculture, Cattle Farming, Fishing and Food)
Currently, MAPO is prioritizing the development of orga-
developed guidelines for organic production, laid out in
nic production, by strengthening farmers’ groups and
Resolution 423/1992, which is based on IFOAM and EU
encouraging associative initiatives to facilitate group
Standards. The same year, Argentina applied for Third
certification, the exchange of technical information and
Country status to the EU, a process which was finally
market access. This work is being done in alliance with
and officially approved in 1996. In the 1990s, Argen-
INTA (National Institute of Agricultural Technology).
tinean exports significantly increased and the country
MAPO is also intensively working with organizations
hosted the IFOAM World Congress in Mar del Plata in
in both the public and private sectors to develop the
1998. It was an enthusiastic period when this new sec-
domestic market.
tor grew considerably. The competent authority for organic agriculture is The Argentinean Movement for Organic Production
SENASA which maintains a special unit for the Coordi-
(MAPO) was founded in 1995 and is now the biggest
nation of Ecological Products (Coordinación de Produc-
organic organization in the country. It has a diverse mem-
tos Ecológicos), responsible for the implementation of
bership, including NGOs, certification bodies, farmers’
policies and regulations related to organic agriculture.
organizations and entrepreneurs. MAPO actively parti-
They are in charge of developing and updating regu-
cipated in the development of the National Standards
lations related to the production, processing, packing,
for Organic Production (Res. SAGPY Nr. 423/92 and
labelling, commercialization and certification of organic
1286/93) and the National Programme for Organic Pro-
products. It is regarded as the best-equipped compe-
duction (PRONAO, 1996) and was also an advisory body
tent authority, in terms of human and financial resour-
for the development of the National Law for Organic
ces, in Latin America outside of Brazil. This gives it, and
Production (Law 25.127, 1999). It also played a lead role
its high qualified technical staff, a leadership role in the
in organizing the 1998 IFOAM World Congress.
region (see Table 1).
Table 1
The main regulations relating to organic production in Argentina Source: SENASA (2011)
Resolution SAGYP 423/1992
Regulating the production and processing of organic food
Resolution SENASA 286/1993
Regulating organic livestock
Resolution IASCAV 42/1994
ermits organic farmers organizations to use group certificaP tion for the domestic market
1999: Law 25.127
Law on ‘Organic, biological and organic production’
Decree No. 97/200 1
Regulation of Law Nº 25.127
Decree No. 206/2001
reation of PRONAO and the regulation of a national system C for the production, commercialization, control and certification of organic products
2007: Law No. 26.295
Law for a ‘National Day to promote Organic Production’
ECOLOGY & FARMING | 3-2011
15
Hectares
80000 Figure 2
70000
The state of organic production in Argentina in 2010
60000 50000 40000 30000 20000
Source: SENASA (2011)
10000 0
2010 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
Every year, SENASA publishes an annual report con-
The Argentine organic domestic market is mainly for
taining information and data about the organic sector,
fresh products, such as fruit and vegetables, and is
based on the information delivered by accredited cer-
relatively small compared with the size of the organic
tification bodies. The 2010 Report (published in March
export market. There are several initiatives to develop
2011), provides the most recent update on organic pro-
organic domestic markets that are being organized by
gress and trends.
farmers’ groups, NGOs and consumers. MAPO has promoted occasional fairs in the Province of
The success of the organic sector in Argentina has inspired developments in many other countries in the region
Buenos Aires. In May 2011, the first national organic fair was organized in Lujan, in the Province of Buenos Aires. There are also farmers’ markets in Mendoza and many delivery schemes across the country, which are based on trust, rather than third party certification. A pioneer organization for delivery schemes, organic shops and most recently the county’s first organic restaurant-bar, is El Rincon Organico in the city of Buenos Aires. El Rincón Orgánico has recently opened a new window in the market, organizing food stalls at rock concerts Most of Argentina’s organic products are exported to
and festivals (including recent concerts by Shakira, Ian
the EU (54%: mainly to the Netherlands, the UK and
Anderson and Ziggy Marley) providing organic food and
Germany) and the USA (26%). Other main market des-
beverages to the concert-going public and a backstage
tinations include Russia, Canada, Ecuador, Norway and
organic catering service for the artists and their staff.
Brazil. Demand from the USA doubled in comparison to
This is an innovative strategy in advocacy work and
2009, with organic cereals and oilseeds being the major
raising public awareness.
items.
16
The most important organic product groups are fruits,
Argentinean supermarkets carry some organic products
vegetables, processed products, and oilseeds. Within
such as the popular ‘yerba mate’, a dried herb used
these categories the most important items are organic
to make a traditional drink, alongside marmalades,
pears, apples, sugarcane and soybeans. The economic
olive oil and wines. However, in general the domestic
crisis that affected the main destination markets affec-
market is poorly developed and needs much support
ted organic exports during the first quarter of 2010.
to grow. To this end a national governmental project
In the second quarter organic exports saw a further
called PRODAO is currently being implemented. Its
upward trend. In 2010, the volume of organic animal
objective is to increase and consolidate the scale of the
products exported increased significantly, mostly honey
organic agriculture sector. By increasing the area and
and wool. Exports of fruits, vegetable and legumes
volume of organic production it is intended that more
diminished slightly, but cereals and oilseed exports
organic products will become available on the domestic
increased.
market and the skills base of the sector and its profile
3-2011 | ECOLOGY & FARMING
Country reports
By Patricia Flores Escudero
will increase. The project is jointly implemented by the
Since 1995, there has been a clear increase in the
National Office of Agroindustry and the Advisory Com-
amount of organic cultivated land in Argentina, from
mission for Organic Production.
12,000 hectares (195) to almost 70,000 hectares in 2010. Organic grazing land has also increased signifi-
The total organic cultivated area in 2010 was 69,337
cantly from 100,000 hectares in 1995, to 3.7 million in
hectares, marking a recovery on the decline in 2009.
2010. (See Figure 2)
The certified organic area for animal grazing (pastures) was 3.7 million hectares. 86% of this land was used for
Argentina is one of Latin America’s leading organic
sheep production in Patagonia while the rest (14%) is
producers. Its organic sector has achieved significant
used for cattle rearing. Argentina remains the second
exports and is well regulated regulation, with a strong
largest country –after Australia- in terms of total certi-
organizational basis support from the authorities that
fied organic agricultural land with 4.4 millions of hecta-
has steadily developed since the early ‘90s. The organic
res of organic land, mostly pastures.
domestic market development still needs to be deve-
The province of Misiones has the largest share of orga-
loped and multi-stakeholder and multi-level strategies
nic producers (26% of the country’s total) mainly due
need to be prioritized and implemented in order to achieve this. Some efforts in this direction have already
Fruit growing is a major sector in this temperate climate
been launched. The Argentinean organic movement plays a key role as an advisory body in these efforts, especially in alliance with governmental programmes and projects linked to initiatives to support family agriculture. The country is seen as a pioneer at the Latin American level, as the stories of success of the organic sector in Argentina have inspired developments in many other countries in the region. Argentina is seeking to encourage more smallholders into the organic sector and to develop its own domestic markets, offering new opportunities and ways of adapting to the very diverse
to a high number of smallholders who are organized in
regional context.
cooperatives. Mendoza also has a high share, with 12% of producers occupying plots that average 136 ha. The Patagonian provinces of Chubut, Santa Cruz and Tierra del Fuego have the most land surface dedicated to organic livestock (75%) although they account for only 5% of the organic producers in the country. Santa Cruz has 72,000 hectares of organic land, Tierra del Fuego more than 46,000 hectares and Chubut more than 23,000 hectares.
Technical Notes Agroecology is a widely used term in Latin America and the Caribbean Region. It seeks to use is ecological principles to develop sustainable agricultural systems within site specific conditions. Different definitions of the term can be distinguished due to the specificity with which the term ‘ecology’ is used, and its potential political connotations. There are now five national accredited certification bodies operating in Argentina: Argencert S.R.L., OIA S.A, Letis S.A. , Food Safety S.A. and Vihuela S.R.L.
ECOLOGY & FARMING | 3-2011
17
Jamie Oliver about the quality of food:
“Food should be fun”
18
3-2011 | ECOLOGY & FARMING
interview
By Bernward Geier
A healthy diet is important and eating habits are learned at a young age. Jamie Oliver thinks that politicians have a responsibility here. He has used his reputation as a world famous chef to become a champion for healthy nutrition, especially among children. ‘Organic’ plays a decisive role for him. Bernward Geier, former director of IFOAM, interviewed Jamie Oliver when he was in Germany, receiving the German sustainability award. You have received many awards and now this one.
is healthy in the daily diet. When we can get this balan-
What does it mean to you?
ce right then we are on the right track in this aspect of
A tribute from abroad is something special. This award
our children’s education.
acknowledges that my social and political commitment
does make a contribution to sustainability, I find it
How can you achieve this balance?
great. Germany is exemplary when it comes to sustai-
The top priority is that food must be fun. It is also
nability issues. I have been involved in doing things in
important that children learn the range of options on
Germany for more than eight years and am glad that
offer and then to make the right choices. I always let
here, as in England, young people are enthusiastic
my children choose between an apple and a pear or
supporters of my ideas about cooking.
a carrot and celery. Such small steps about diet mean children feel included. It is also important that we guide
Speaking about young people, it is known that the
children, for example telling them when ‘enough is
development of taste stops quite early in childhood.
enough’ and that it can be better than ‘more’.
Many of our readers have children. Do you have tips
for them on how to inspire their children to take to
What importance does organic food have for you?
healthy food?
Organic is not only a very important issue, but is the
The desire for sweets or hamburgers is not in the DNA
challenge of our times. It is only a few decades since
of children. The desire for bad food is created – by
our, originally very healthy, food has been contaminated
mass advertising, particularly around TV shows for children. It’s important to keep children from this brainwashing as much as possible. If you have children, you can engage by, for instance, ensuring that no junk food is sold in their school. Parents can be very effective in calling for good food to be served in schools.
“Politicians only have a short term focus and this is a problem”
Your commitment to healthy school food is known worldwide. How does that work with your
and diluted by chemical fertilizers and pesticides. It
four children?
has now lost much of its quality and is either partly, or
Candies and other temptations are not taboo for us.
really, unhealthy. Buying organic food is the best thing
Snacking is part of life. Don’t we all like that every now
you can do for your children. I want to see a day when
and then? It is crucial to find the balance between
organic food becomes the norm and escapes from its
what is not very harmful, but in moderation, and what
niche. I totally reject mass production, especially in
ECOLOGY & FARMING | 3-2011
19
policies. Bringing about a profound change needs a time horizon of a decade or more. Politicians just don’t work on such long-term timescales. Should there be a policy to put nutrition on the school curriculum? Please no nutrition lessons! That is too one-sided and scientific. Knowledge about nutrition should be integraanimal husbandry. Factory farming does not offer any-
ted in the wider context of a sustainable lifestyle. What
thing in terms of quality. It is also important to support
we need is a subject of ‘life skills’.
local organic producers.
And what will be taught in the ‘life skills’ class?
Don’t high prices stand in the way of ‘organic for all’?
My dream is that those who leave school will know the
That can’t be said across the board. The price differen-
basics of a healthy diet, where foods come from, what
ce is not so great for many products. Even people with
they look like unprocessed and how to select for qua-
a lower income can afford organic milk or yoghurt at
lity. Time-efficient cooking in a well organized kitchen
present price levels. Food must be simply more worth
should also be taught. Ten basic recipes will do. When
to us. And you can grow fresh, healthy food yourself.
kids have learned these, then the art of variation will
A small corner of land is usually easy to find. You can
kick in and they will find a lifetime of fun in cooking. A
even grow herbs and a few tomatoes on a balcony. In
life skills course should also teach about how to deal
England, it is now becoming popular again to produce
with money and banks. Schools should be preparing
food yourselves. We are experiencing a genuine renais-
their pupils to live sustainable, conscious and self-
sance of gardening.
determined lives.
Buying organic food is the best thing you can do for our children. Organic should be the norm and escape from its niche.
Does organic always mean best quality?
Jamie Oliver grew up his parents pub and spent eight
Unfortunately no. There are some organic products
years there learning how to cook. He later went to
that do not meet demands for freshness or quality.
cookery school and worked in several prestigious res-
‘Organic’ alone is no guarantee of good quality. Best
taurants. In 2002 he opened the restaurant ‘Fifteen’ in
quality also includes freshness, seasonality and regio-
London, which now has branches in Amsterdam and
nality.
Melbourne. These restaurants give unemployed young
people the chance to learn a trade. Jamie achieved
Unhealthy nutrition is also promoted by bad policies
fame with the series ‘The Naked Chef’ and his cookery
and laws. What is the influence of politics when it
books are bestsellers worldwide. Jamie lives with his
comes to healthy eating?
wife and four children in England.
There need to be more focus on long-term and sustainable programmes. A basic problem is that politicians often rely on very short term thinking when making
20
3-2011 | ECOLOGY & FARMING
The latest book ‘Jamie’s 30 minutes meals’ is published by Dorling Kindersley. His web site is www.jamieoliver.com. Courtesy ‘Schot & Korn’
Your Partner In Organic Potatoes, Vegetables and Fruits Im- & export of fresh and industrial organic potatoes, vegetables and fruits. Custom designed and reliable services for sourcing and marketing your organic products.
The Netherlands
Soil
Composting helps reclaim deserts and reduce CO2 emissions
Soil & More have been developing large and small scale composting systems that simultaneously improve soil structure, water retention capacity, yields and incomes. These have also been proven to act as a carbon sink and counteract increases in CO2 levels. Tobias Bandel writes about the company’s achievements and aspirations.
and More
By Tobias Bandel
A
ccording to the latest FAO figures there was 2137
Agricultural biomass is transformed into high quality compost
m2 of arable land available to each person on the
planet, less than half the amount available in 1961, when the figure was 4307 m2 per person. This of course is largely caused by the rapid growth of the world’s population from 2 to almost 7 billion people over the last 50 years. But it is also due to effects of unsustainable agricultural practices such as over-fertilization, intensive monocultures etc. Every year such practices lead to the loss of about 12 million hectares of fertile top soil, which only accelerates the decrease in land
countries this figure is even higher, at around 80% -even
availability.
though these countries face huge shortages of potable water.
Synthetic fertilizers contribute almost 8% to world greenhouse gas emissions, through their nitrous
Irresponsible agricultural practices
oxide emissions. At the same time emissions from the
Climate change, food and water security, biodiversity,
world’s agricultural sectors contribute 30% of global
animal welfare, jobs, education and communities: all
greenhouse gas emissions - taking into consideration
these issues are directly or indirectly linked to agriculture.
the CO2 released through the deforestation needed to
Irresponsible agricultural practices present a threat to our
compensate for the loss of arable land due to erosion
natural and socio-economic environments. Yet adapted
caused by unsustainable farming. Worldwide, the agri-
and sustainable farming methods have the capacity to
cultural sector consumes more than 70% of the avai-
tackle these issues, not only maintaining, but also deve-
lable fresh water supply. In developing and emerging
loping our planet’s most vulnerable resources.
22
3-2011 1-2011 | ECOLOGY & FARMING
Innovation in agriculture
Land reclamation in Egypt the first harvest after 14 months
In recent years many large players in the global chain
Large scale compost production
(such as Walmart, NestlĂŠ, Unilever, Starbucks, Tesco,
Soil & More International BV collects agricultural bio-
Carrefour and Rewe) have increasingly become aware
mass and transforms it into high quality compost.
that more and more consumers care about
The company, established in early 2007,
the environmental and the social footprint of
already has subsidiaries in Egypt, Ethiopia,
the products they consume. Many leading
India, Mexico, the Netherlands and South
business consultancy firms (such as McKin-
Africa. Its activities not only minimize the
sey, Boston Consulting Group and Ernst &
green waste going to landfill, but also, by
Young) are warning these companies that business as usual is no longer an option: that
establishing soil management regimes with a higher organic matter content, improve
conventional agricultural practices are already contri-
soil fertility and water holding capacity and reduce
buting to severe soil and water scarcities and present a
greenhouse gas emissions.
risk to resource and commodity security. The message
The composting technique is based on a method of
is clear to maintain agricultural business, there is no
controlled microbial composting devised by Dr. Ehren-
option other than to implement more sustainable agri-
fried Pfeiffers. This method which involves using a
cultural practices or else the entire business and supply
unique compost inoculant in an aerated, controlled
chain is at risk.
microbial compost process, enables a range of organic
ECOLOGY & FARMING | 3-2011
23
inputs (mainly farmyard wastes such as greens, wood
strategy is now not only a model for producing and sel-
and manure) to be decomposed and transformed into
ling high quality compost but also provides a technology
a stable humus complex within 6 – 8 weeks. This high
that qualifies as a emission reduction methodology
quality compost product provides plants with all the
under the regulations of the Kyoto protocol. This genera-
nutrients and micro-elements they require. The unique
tes an additional income stream for the project partners,
structure of the humus increases the water-holding
as the reduction in CO2 emissions can be sold as carbon
capacity of the soils by up to 70%, an important con-
credits to offset the emissions of other companies.
sideration for growers in arid and semi-arid areas. The
To date composting facilities have been established in
final compost also contains millions of micro-orga-
Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Mexico and South Africa, where
nisms, introduced in small numbers by the inoculant.
they produce and sell high quality compost to small,
These provide a tightly knit soil-food-web that creates
medium and large-scale farms. Working with local part-
a natural immune system for the plant and acts as a
ners the company is producing over 200,000 tons of
natural defence against most known soil-born diseases
compost per year and reducing almost 180,000 tons of
and other pathogens. This disease suppression is one
CO2. The income from the carbon credit sales subsidi-
of the outstanding unique selling points of the compost.
zes making the compost, reducing the price of compost to below that of synthetic
Various studies have proved that
fertilizers and making land-
soils, enriched with the compost
reclamation projects feasible.
not only have the capacity to
Recently over 2000 hectares of
reduce C02 emissions but to
desert land along the Nile val-
act as a carbon sink. The com-
ley in Egypt have been reclai-
posting technology has been
med using compost.
submitted for approval as an emission reduction methodology
Small scale composting
to the relevant United Nations
Sustainable soil management
authorities. A demonstration project was established at
is becoming the key factor for long term competitive
Sekem Farm in Egypt to take the product through the
farming strategies. In co-operation with small-scale
entire cycle of assessment, third party validation and
tea co-operatives in India and Kenya, Soil & More has
verification required for emission reduction projects. At
implemented micro-scale, static composting solutions
the end of this assessment Soil & More’s composting
using biomass available on-site biomass, such as pru-
technology was approved by TĂœV-Nord Germany as a
ning material from the tea bushes and cow manure.
greenhouse gas emission reduction project according to
These co-operatives had experienced a decline in yields
the guidelines of the UNFCCC (for methane avoidance).
of up to 40% over the last five years due to increasin-
That means that this innovative biomass management
gly irregular rainfall and soil erosion. By bringing back
24
3-2011 | ECOLOGY & FARMING
Innovation in agriculture
Training small-scale farmers on using cow manure and pruning materials for composting to improve organic matter content in the soil
organic matter to the soils through on-site composting,
number of leading research institutes, including the
yields went up by 30% within 2 years.
Louis Bolk Institute, FiBL, the Heliopolis Academy and
Healthy and vital soils promote healthy plants, more
other experts in soil science, composting, emission
stable and higher yields, secure incomes, more food
reductions and footprinting.
production, considerably reduce the amount of water
In one of these studies, carried out with the Louis Bolk
needed for irrigation and produces healthy food for
Institute and Sekem Farm, experts looked at carbon
healthy people.
sequestration and storage in organically managed soils on reclaimed desert farms in Egypt. Continuous
Assessing and communicating sustainable development
compost applications over a period of thirty years have
Since early 2008, Soil & More has also been developing
increased the carbon stocks in these soils by more
carbon and water footprinting services to agricultural
than 26 tons of carbon per hectare (using the original
organizations, producers, processors, traders and retail-
plain desert at neighbouring sites as a control). In
ers around the world: the customer base includes Alna-
line with similar studies it was found that a significant
turA, Dole, Dovex, EOSTA, Fairtrade, IFOAM, Lebens-
increase in carbon stocks occurred during the first 5
baum, Marks&Spencer, Ritter Sport, Sekem, Unilever
years. This small-scale research project supports the
and Weleda, to mention just a few. As with the carbon
assumptions made by most of the leading climate
credits obtained from organic composting, the carbon
change institutions that improved soil management
footprints are certifiable.
can make a major contribution to offsetting climate
So far carbon and water footprint assessment has been
change. This pilot trial is currently being scaled up to
carried out for a number of supply-chains that source
more farms and to incorporate analysis of changes in
produce from all over the world to use in a wide variety
water retention capacity. These experiments will com-
of products. These two activities are linked: more and
pare both these factors on organically managed and
more large-scale conventional farming businesses are
conventionally managed soils.
deciding to gradually replace their synthetic fertilizer
With its worldwide partners in the organic agricultural
applications with compost, so as to lower the carbon
movement, Soil & More will continue to implement
footprint of their products. High quality compost is pro-
these concepts and to promote and communicate
ving to be the most competitive substitute for chemical
the role of healthy soils in contributing to sustainable
fertilizers, particularly at a time of high oil prices and
soil fertility and food security, the mitigation of climate
when such products are showing diminishing returns
change and the reduction of water usage in agriculture.
because of overuse.
The related social-economic benefits are clear.
Research and development activities To improve and further develop these innovative pro-
Tobias Bandel has an extensive background in organic agriculture and marketing. He was a co-founder of Soil & More International BV and is now the managing partner. tobias.bandel@soilandmore.co
ducts and services, Soil & More works closely with a
www.soilandmore.com
ECOLOGY & FARMING | 3-2011
25
By Joost Pierrot, Daniele Giovannucci, Alexander Kasterine
At current growth rates
Trends in the trade of sustainable coffees
Figure 1:
Worldwide imports of certified organic coffee (60 kg bags) 2001
2003
Europe
187 000
220 000
N. America
171 000
2005
2006
2007
316 700
511 700
612 000
Others Japan Total
26
389 000
3-2011 | ECOLOGY & FARMING
700 000
2008
2009
725 000
754 000
672 800
703 080
154 400
160 575
51 600
62 000
67 000
72 500
75 400
867 000
1 117 000
1 492 000
1 625 700
1 693 055
Market & Economy
Coffee is the world’s most valuable traded agricultural commodity. It is exported by 60 countries and grown predominantly by smallholder farmers, many of them women. In the organic sector, coffee is the most important internationally traded product in terms of both quantity and value. At the moment price levels are very high, especially for arabicas (both conventional and organic).
C
offee always has been a trendsetting
import rates were slightly higher than in
commodity: it was the first tropical
2009. Trade in organic (and other cer-
product that was certified as organic and
tified) coffees is historically affected by
as Fairtrade. And it is probably the pro-
high price levels and the market can be
duct with the most different standards,
extremely volatile. There is also growing
certifications and labels.
domestic consumption of organic coffee
This article gives an overview of the quan-
in producing countries, such as Brazil and
tities of coffee traded under the main five
other emerging markets.
sustainability labels: Organic, Fairtrade, Utz Certified, Rainforest Alliance and the
The main exporter of organic coffee is
Common Code for the Coffee Community
Peru, where about 15% of all cultivated
(4C). In addition to these standards there
coffee is certified organic. Peru supplies
are also own-brand schemes, of which
more than 20% of all organic coffees
Starbucks and Nespresso are the most
worldwide. In Latin America it is followed
important.
by Mexico and Honduras. Indonesia leads in Asia and Ethiopia is Africa’s main sour-
Certified coffee is moving rapidly from
ce. Organic is the most important certifi-
a niche to the mainstream. It is a fast
cation for African coffee producers, who
growing segment of the market and
supply nearly 10% of the global market.
major corporations and NGOs are both very interested in it. At current growth
It is worthwhile mentioning two sub-cate-
rates, certified coffees would grow from
gories in the organic coffee segment: Bird
an 8% market penetration level in 2009
Friendly and Demeter certified coffee.
to 20-25% of the global coffee trade by
These were among the earliest certifiers
2015.
and are certainly among the most stringent in their requirements, one of which
Organic Coffee
is to be fully organic. In 2008 about 1,800
It is difficult to obtain exact figures, but
bags of Bird Friendly, sometimes also
we estimate that in 2010 organic coffee
called shade-grown, coffee were exported
ECOLOGY & FARMING | 3-2011
27
consumer concerns about the environment and the socio economic conditions in the coffee value chain, Ahold, one of the leading retailing multinationals, started Utz Certified in 2003. Other corporations, such as Kraft and Nestlé followed suit, and started marketing coffee under another sustainability scheme, Rainforest Alliance. The industry has also developed its own verification scheme for social and environmental criteria, called the Common Code for the Coffee Community (4C). Prospects Figure 2 compares total worldwide imports of certified coffees between 2006
1,8
and 2009. It is likely that in 2010 Utz and
1,6
Rainforest will have overtaken organic as
1,4
the world’s leading sustainability certifica-
1,2
tion for coffee (in volume). However, orga-
1
nic remains the strictest system in terms
0,8
of farming system requirements. The
0,6
environmental and social benefits created
0,4
by these schemes vary considerably and
0,2
further research is required on the impact
0
Organic
Flo 2006
Utz Certified
2007
2008
Rainforest Alliance
4C
of these different standards on different environmental and social criteria.
2009
Figure 2:
Worldwide sales of certified or verified coffee by seal (million 60 kg bags)
Some coffees bear two, or even more certifications. For instance, half of FLO coffees are also certified organic. Therefore, the total quantity of certified coffee is less than the sum of the separate five
worldwide. The 2009 worldwide exports
fee, the USA, did not grow in 2010 due
categories) The ’60 kg bag’ (of green
of Demeter, or bio-dynamic, coffee are
to unsold stock remaining from 2009.
beans) is a widely used measure in coffee
estimated at approximately 5,000 bags.
Other markets are more mixed so there
trading.
was some modest growth from 2010. Fairtrade Coffee
Fairtrade’s other (non-coffee) sales have
Coffees certified as Fairtrade are the
expanded considerably.
only coffees for which exporters are guaranteed a minimum price (the price
Other forms of certification
to exporters was recently increased to
Mainstream companies have sensed the
140 US$ cents/lb for washed Arabica)
opportunity presented by coffee certified
when sold. These coffees are produced
as sustainable but, in some cases, have
exclusively by organized smallholder
been reluctant to buy at higher price
farmers. The Fairtrade organic premium
levels and meet the stringent organic and
was increased recently from 20 to 30 US
Fairtrade requirements. They have been
cents. The main market for Fairtrade cof-
looking to find ‘easier’ ways to address
28
3-2011 | ECOLOGY & FARMING
-Joost Pierrot has been a marketing consultant for the organic industry since 1999 and has worked at Simon Levelt BV in the Netherlands, Europe’s first importer of organic coffee and a co-founder of ‘Max Havelaar’, the precursor of Fairtrade certification. -Daniele Giovannucci is the Executive Director of the Committee on Sustainability Assessment (COSA), a global consortium of institutions and UN agencies developing innovative ways to measure sustainability. -Alexander Kasterine is a Senior Adviser on Trade, Environment and Climate Change at the International Trade Centre based in Geneva, Switzerland. Pictures: courtesy of Simon Levelt B.V. and Olaf Hammelburg.
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International conference By Lucy van de Vijver & Machteld Huber
The first international conference on organic food quality and health research I
t was the largest gathering of its kind to
FQH, Technology Platform Organics (TPO)
FAO’s view on a sustainable diet. FAO’s
date, with people attending from 30 dif-
and the Institute of Chemical Technology
focus is undergoing quite a drastic
ferent countries including the US, the Bal-
(ICT) in Prague highlighted the growing
change and now recognizes the impor-
tic States, Africa and New Zealand. Thirty
maturity of research into organic food
tance of biodiversity in ensuring long
seven oral presentations and 75 poster
quality and health. Since the founding of
term food security. A shift in focus is
presentations addressed issues of orga-
FQH in 2003, the association has provided
occurring away from intensive agri-
nic food quality, how it can be measured,
a forum for scientists, stimulating discus-
culture and towards sustainable food
what influences quality and whether the
sion, collaborations and improving the
production. “Wild species increase food
quality of organic food does really contri-
quality of scientific research. This is now
security and form a source of important
bute to the health of consumers - animal
developing into a coherent joint research
nutrients. A reduction of indigenous food
or human.
agenda, particularly because of TPO’s role
species in people’s diets reduces their
in formulating a vision, strategic research
health status and increases the preva-
Organic food research
agenda and implementation plan for orga-
lence of obesity”, Burlingame said. The
Johannes Kahl, chair of the Organic Food
nic agricultural and food research that is
loss of varieties has a dramatic effect
Quality and Health Association (FQH), an
being presented to the EU.
on nutritional status: (in Bangladesh the
association of research institutes, was
number of varieties of rice has declined
pleasantly surprised by the interest in the
The first presentations discussed organic
from 5000 to just 23). Urs Niggli (FiBL)
conference and the high quality of the
agriculture’s role in providing ecosystem
continued the discussion by summari-
abstracts (200 in total) submitted. The
services, setting the context of ‘farm to
zing the ecosystem services of organic
welcoming speeches of the organisers,
fork’. Barbara Burlingame set out the
agriculture. The pursuit of food security
30
3-2011 | ECOLOGY & FARMING
events
In mid May the first international conference on organic food quality and health research took place in Prague, the Czech Republic. It was a unique event where over 160 scientists and others gathered to discuss the latest research on organic food quality and health. through conventional means has led to
of constituents with an evolutionary back-
problems in ecosystem services, including
ground. Its effect on health is synergetic
increased soil erosion and a loss of bio-
and extraordinarily complex”. Because
diversity. Organic agriculture may provide
of this complexity the randomized inter-
an answer to these problems. According
vention study (seen as the most objective
to Niggli, if half the world’s soils were cul-
and optimal design study) is unlikely to be
tivated organically this would “postpone
successful when studying food, because
the heating of the world by 2-3 years, so it
it is practically not possible to ‘blind’
is not a solution to the problem. The main
food, to find a good ‘placebo-diet’ and to
advantage is that the soil will be more
maintain a given diet for long enough to
resistant and the resilience of the whole
do a long term study. In practice therefore
system will be improved, so the conse-
observational studies, which track people
quences will be less dramatic”.
for years, are the best way to study the effects of diets. Statistical techniques
Potential health effects
can be used to adjust for other lifestyle
David Jacobs (University of Minnesota)
factors. (KOALA, a Dutch cohort study, is
discussed how to assess the potential
one such example).
health effects of organic food. He emphasized that we should keep in mind that we
On the second day several aspects of
eat food, not nutrients. “Food is a mixture
organic food quality were discussed.
ECOLOGY & FARMING | 3-2011
31
There was a discussion about the diffe-
leading to a loss of carotenoids, taste
Fingerprinting results from the Org-
rences in nutritional quality and safety of
and structure. Sterilization played a less
Trace study done in Denmark. This
organic food compared to conventional
important role in the final quality.
can show the difference in levels of
foods and about the influence of proces-
anthocyanides, minerals, different
sing. Gillian Butler (Newcastle University)
Methodology
isotopes of N and other components.
reported on the beneficial effect of out-
An important theme of this conference
It was stressed that because of the
door grazing on levels of the unsaturated
was looking at the tools and methods
complexity of plants multi-element
fatty acid CLA (which also vary with coun-
available to assess quality. Several pre-
fingerprinting should always be per-
sentations were devoted to this subject.
formed (Søren Husted, University of
The results showed a remarkable mixture
Copenhagen).
of sophisticated modern techniques and more classical methods that are both
During the conference, 4 workshops
now used within organic research. Some
were organized covering the following
analytical techniques are not only used to
themes: organic food quality concepts;
measure quality but are also used to diffe-
quality changes for organic food pro-
rentiate between organic and non-organic
duction chains in Africa, Asia and Latin
products in order to prevent fraud. The
America; consumer-related aspects of
techniques discussed included:
quality and; dairy products – quality
the biocrystallization method (Nicolaas
and health issues.
Busscher, Univerity of Kassel); Johannes Kahl
a fluorescence based sensor, Naturalys,
The consumer related aspects discus-
to assess the difference between fresh,
sed trust (Virgilijus Skulskis, Lithuanian
try and seasonal differences). Giovanni
Institute of Agrarian Economics), taste
Dinelli (University of Bologna) discussed
(Tim Obermowe, University of Göt-
the use of traditional wheat varieties wit-
tingen) and perceived health benefits
hin organic agriculture as a way to impro-
(Lucy van de Vijver, Louis Bolk Insti-
ve the nutraceutical content of the diet.
tute), all important aspects of orga-
Alongside the benefits, potential risks
nic consumption. A lively discussion
were also discussed. Anette Jensen
emerged on how to increase consumer
(Technical University of Denmark) presen-
trust which, in Lithuania, is an important
ted the results of experiments in which
aspect in getting people to buy organic.
slurry contaminated with E-Coli was used.
The study of perceived health benefits
While E-coli were detected in the crop
showed the positive health experiences
and in the soil, further analyses indicated that the fecal contamination of the crops
consumers had with organic food and Machteld Huber
was not primarily due to the slurry but
raised a discussion about the value of this type of study.
originated from alternative sources, such
pasteurized and stored products (Inez
as contaminated water and wildlife. The
Birlouez, Biocitech);
The workshop on dairy products paid
impact of processing on product quality
Ambient mass spectrometry, realized
special attention to the use of raw milk.
was discussed by Ursula Kretzschmar
by DART (Direct Analyses in Real Time)
The benefits of raw milk for consumers’
(FiBL). She pointed out that sensory
for differentiating between organic and
health were discussed by Charlotte
quality is a key-issue within the proces-
conventional apples, potato tubers and
Braun-Fahrländer (University of Basel)
sing chain and that processors do not
tomatoes (Jana Hajslova, ICT, Prague);
who presented results from the Par-
always accord health the same priority
Profiling techniques to differentiate bet-
sifal and Gabriela study, showing that
that consumers do. Kathrin Seidell (FiBL)
ween organic and conventional eggs,
raw milk is associated with decreased
presented the results of the Core-QACCP
which use carotenoid levels as the main
risks of asthma and allergies. Gerhard
study, which investigated the influence
indicator. Here the differences may be
Jahreis (University of Jena) associated
of processing on the quality of baby
due to the feed used or to differences in
raw milk with preventing inflammatory
food. It showed that the use of frozen as
the hens, as organic systems often use
and cardiovascular diseases. Ton Baars
opposed to fresh or stored carrots had a
different strains of chicken (Saskia van
(University of Kassel) presented the
major impact on the quality of baby food,
Ruth, RIKILT);
results of a study in children with an
32
3-2011 | ECOLOGY & FARMING
events
suspected allergy to milk, who reacted
sensitivity to allergens was lower in the
adversely to conventional milk, but were
organic group. Organic eating, however, is
able to tolerate raw (biodynamic) milk.
very closely related to the anthroposophic
Alongside these benefits there are also
lifestyle, which makes it difficult to draw a
risks associated with raw milk: it can
clear conclusion.
contain harmful bacteria such as EHEC E-coli bacteria, listeria and campylobac-
The final session discussed the problems
ter. Wolfgang Kneifel (University of Natural
encountered when doing research into
Resources and Life Science, Vienna)
organic food and health. While health
argued the case for developing new
should not be defined solely in terms of
processing techniques that maintain the
the presence, or absence, of illness, we
benefits of raw milk while reducing the
do lack a clear definition of health which
potential for these bacteria occurring.
can be applied in practice and which offers an overall and integrative physiolo-
Barbara Burlingame
On the last day the question of health was
gical explanation for the variety of effects
discussed. Intervention studies performed
observed in an organism. Fred Wiegant
in rats (Charlotte Lauridsen, Aarhus Uni-
(Utrecht University) discussed the terms
versity), mice (Elena Mengheri, Instituto
homeostasis and allostasis in this con-
Nazionale di Ricerca per gli Alimenti e la
text. These include the ability to adapt,
Nutrizione, Rome) and an observational
and the resilience and robustness of an
study in pigs (Albert Sundrum, University
individual. Machteld Huber (Louis Bolk
of Kassel) did not reveal any unequivo-
Institute) discussed the potential for ope-
cal beneficial effects of an organic diet.
rationalizing these concepts in research on
The health effects on humans are often
organic food and health. She discussed
derived from the higher levels of specific
the results of her study “Is organic more
nutrients, e.g. the higher levels of CLA
healthy?” which showed clear differences
fatty acids in milk are associated with a
between organically and conventionally
decreased risk in cardiovascular disease
fed chickens, although this did not allow
and eczema (Chris Seal, Newcastle
any conclusions to be drawn about which
University). The results of a few studies
animals were more healthy. There is scope
among humans were discussed; including
for further developing this line of work.
one on the absorption of minerals (Susanne Bügel, University of Copenhagen) and
While the conference did not have any
on protection against DNA damage (Karlis
sensational or surprising results, the over-
Briviba, Max-Rubner Institute). Neither
all feeling was positive. It brought together
of these showed any major differences
a large group of researchers from all over
between organic and conventional diets.
the world. During the breaks they met,
The only study that directly looked at the
made contacts with each other and discussed existing projects and future oppor-
A reduction of indigenous food species in people’s diets reduces their health status and increases the prevalence of obesity. health effects of a diet was the Swedish
tunities. The conference created not only new contacts but also new inspiration to those who attended. Lucy van de Vijver, Machteld Huber Louis Bolk Institute, the Netherlands More information on the presentations can be found in the book of abstracts, which can be downloaded from the following link http://www. fqh2011.org/book-abstracts.html or from FQH’s website http://www.organicfqhresearch.org/.
ALADDIN study, carried out among anthroposophic families. The results showed that at the age of 6 months the prevalence of
ECOLOGY & FARMING | 3-2011
33
By Markus Arbenz
Standards For Organic Aquaculture
A BRIEF HISTORY OF ORGANIC AQUACULTURE Markus Arbenz looks at the history of the development of organic standards for aquaculture and the philosophical, practical and legal challenges that had to be overcome. Today there is a wide range of organic aquaculture standards, set by both private certifiers and national legislation. Such arrangements are required to accommodate the wide range of conditions under which aquaculture is practised (closed pond systems, river deltas and coastal waters etc.). But harmonization and equivalence remain a challenge.
O
rganic aquaculture grew out of the
ting standards that helped establish the
organic agricultural movement,
first organic salmon project in Ireland in
when organic farmers and associations in
1995. These standards were based on
Austria and Germany first started to deve-
IFOAM’s organic farming principles and
lop organic carp production systems in
the EU Regulation for Organic Agricul-
the early nineties. Since that time demand
ture (2092/91/EEC) but also involved
for organic products has increased the
finding feasible ways to address the
range of production systems under the
numerous problems associated with
organic umbrella. Besides closed ponds
intensive salmon farming.
on farms they now include open riverine and coastal systems, such as shrimp
Organic salmon was successfully intro-
and salmon farms. Adjusting standards
duced to the German market in 1996
to include open ecosystems has posed
and immediately faced a backlash from
challenges for organic certification, which
the conventional fish sector who threa-
grew out of a ‘closed’ farm based system.
tened legal action against the companies involved with organic salmon on the
34
Naturland Association, from Germany,
grounds that all fish are, per se, ‘biolo-
laid the foundations for the international
gical’ and that labelling fish as organic
development of organic aquaculture, set-
was misleading.
3-2011 | ECOLOGY & FARMING
Aquaculture
What does organic aquaculture mean?
Preserving biodiversity on and around the (fish) farm Respecting the natural balance between genotype, phenotype and environment; Production without chemical substances commonly used in conventional aquaculture; Finding a sustainable level of intensity, in an ecological, social and economic sense Caring for the product at all stages of the value-chain.
Setting standards for organic aquaculture has involved the challenge of translating the existing holistic concept of organic farming and its related principles into the reality of the global aquaculture industry.
ECOLOGY & FARMING | 3-2011
35
Organic aquaculture certification programmes and standards (as of 2008) 1. International Umbrella Organization International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movement (IFOAM) 2. Europe Private standards: Associazione Italiana per I’Agricoltura Biologica (AIAB), Italy; Bio Austria, Austria; Biokontroll Hungária, Hungary; Biokreis, Germany; Bioland, Germany; Biopark, Germany; Bio Suisse, Switzerland; CAAE, Spain; Debio, Norway; Demeter, Germany; Gäa, Germany; Irish Organic Farmers and Growers Association (IOFGA), Ireland; KRAV, Sweden; Naturland e.V., Germany; Organic Food Federation (OFF), United Kingdom; Quality, Certification and Inspection (QC&I), Italy; Soil Association, United Kingdom: Vottunarstofan Tún ehf., Iceland National standards: Økologisk, Denmark; Agriculture Biologique, France; Österreichischer Lebensmittel Codex (Codex alimentarius austriacus), Austria; Junta de Andalucia, Spain 3. Oceania Private standards: Australian Certified Organic (ACO), Australia; BioGro, New Zealand; AsureQuality, New Zealand; National Association for Sustainable Agriculture, Australia (NASAA), Australia (IFOAM Accredited) 4. Asia Private standards: Israel Bio-Organic Agriculture Association (IBOAA), Israel (IFOAM Accredited); Organic Agriculture Certification Thailand (ACT), Thailand; Organic Food Development and Certification Centre of China (OFDC), China (IFOAM Accredited) National standards: China (GB/T19630); Thailand 5. The Americas Private standards: IBD, Brazil; Letis Aquaculture Standards, Argentina (IFOAM Accredited); National standards: Appellations Agroalimentaires du Québec (CAAQ), Canada 36
3-2011 | ECOLOGY & FARMING
Global organic aquaculture production (t/year)
110000
82500
55000
27500
0
2000
2003
2004
2006
2008
2010
Naturland was also at the forefront of the
motivated the Swiss Import Promotion
next important step in the history of orga-
Programme (SIPPO) to develop similar
nic aquaculture, developing standards for
initiatives in Peru, India and Bangladesh.
organic shrimp. With the support of Ger-
A similar project in Java (Indonesia) was
many’s largest development agency (then,
established off by Alter Trade, a Japanese
the Gesellschaft für Technische Zusam-
based NGO.
menarbeit, or GTZ), the standard setting process started in 1998 with round-table
In the United States, discussions on orga-
discussions in Ecuador. In 2000, the
nic aquaculture standards started in 1998
first organic shrimps were imported to
within the National Organic Standards
the United Kingdom by Lyon’s Seafood
Board (NOSB). In 2005, however, these
Ltd. where they were sold at Sainsbury’s
discussions were complicated when Cali-
supermarkets. The concept of organic
fornia prohibited all organic labelling of
shrimp attracted worldwide attention
farmed seafood until a public regulation
and a number of European development
was in place. This setback in the U.S.
agencies became interested in spreading
organic aquaculture sector and market,
the initiative to more Southern countries.
left many pioneers in the sector unsure
Organic shrimp farming held the promise
if they would ever see a return on their
of solving many of the environmental pro-
investments.
blems related to intensive conventional production (e. g. deforestation of man-
In 2000, IFOAM, published its first draft
grove areas and the abuse of antibiotics,
basic standards for organic aquaculture.
leading to residues in the final product). It
The existing IFOAM Basic Standard, a
also offered an alternative business model
‘standard for standards’, served as a
for the shrimp industry, which was suf-
template for developing the standard,
fering from extremely low prices having a
ensuring it was informed by IFOAM’s
strong potential to strengthen the position
principles of organic agriculture. IFOAM
of small-scale producers, who were typi-
became further involved in this new field
cally employing low intensity, ‘close-to-
of activities by forming the IFOAM Aqua-
organic’ systems. The first organic shrimp
culture Group in 2003. This group started
project focused on small-scale producers
to organize lobbying activities, particu-
was in Vietnam, where the sector is domi-
larly in regard to legal standard setting in
nated by small-scale producers, with less
the US and EU, as well coordinating the
than one hectare. The positive response
development of aquaculture standards. In
Aquaculture
2008 they organized the first IFOAM con-
standard setting, the private certification
China has the largest number of certified
ference on organic aquaculture in Italy.
bodies, over time, gained greater com-
individual organic aquaculture operators
petence in aquaculture-specific issues
working under its national regulations
Organic farming principles for aquaculture
and learnt which principles could simply
(121). Naturland is the largest private cer-
Setting standards for organic aquaculture
be adopted from organic agriculture (e.
tifier, covering 47 operations in Europe,
has involved the challenge of translating
g. prohibition of GMOs), which had to be
Asia and Latin America. Particularly in
the existing holistic concept of organic
partially abandoned (e. g. the area-based
Asia, these companies consist of several
farming and its related principles into the
approach) and which needed completely
hundreds of small-scale fish farmers orga-
reality of the global aquaculture industry.
new definitions (e.g. the protection of
nized within an Internal Control System
These principles, laid down by Rudolf
mangrove forests).
(ICS, group certification). Bio Austria and
Steiner (1924), Lady Eve Balfour (1943)
Bio Suisse are also important players in
and Sir Albert Howard (1943), have
The successful introduction of standards
international and domestic aquaculture
been the basis for the development of
for organic aquaculture, set by private
certification.
certification bodies, has been a key driver of the continuous growth in the mar-
Decentralized and locally adapted,
ket for certified organic seafood. Howe-
standard development assures the owner-
ver, the regulatory authorities took longer
ship of operators and the practicability of
to respond to the challenge. It was only
the requirements. Yet, it also creates the
in 2007 that the EU Commission started
challenge of co-ordination. The Global
to discuss rules on organic aquaculture.
Organic Market Access Project (GOMA),
The US National Organic Program (NOP)
funded by the Norwegian Government
started discussions to include rules
(NORAID) has been set up to harmonize
for organic aquaculture within existing
standards and ensure mutual recogni-
organic farming legislation slightly earlier,
tion based on equivalence. The GOMA
the whole organic movement. However,
but after several years of discussion, no
project follows on from the International
organic certification bodies involved in
concrete time plan for a final definition
Task Force on Harmonization and Equi-
pioneering the first aquaculture standards
and implementation has been agreed on.
valence (ITC); both of the initiatives are
quickly found that it was inappropriate to
partnerships between IFOAM, FAO and
simply amend existing organic livestock
Currently, there are at least 35 certifica-
UNCTAD.
standards by adding a few ‘aquacul-
tion standards in the world to regulate
As part of its new Organic Guarantee
ture specific’ provisions. Marine culture
organic aquaculture. Of these, 28 are
System (OGS) - implemented after
systems in particular require a different
private-law based regulations set up by
a membership vote in July 2010 -
approach, since they are embedded in,
organic farmers’ associations or certi-
IFOAM launched the ‘IFOAM Family of
and interact with, an open system making
fication bodies. Most of these certifiers
Standards’, a directory of all organic
it nearly impossible to recycle soluble
already had standards or organic agricul-
standards and regulations. This ‘family’
nutrients within a defined farm area.
ture in place and extended their scope of
unites standards globally and draws a line
activities to include standards for organic
between organic and not organic. This
Private organic certification bodies also
aquaculture. In addition to these private
family of standards will unite the many
had to ensure that they achieved consi-
standards, several countries have public
initiatives, and IFOAM intends to assist
stency with the internationally established
regulations in place. In Europe alone four
those who want to do standard develop-
regulatory frameworks for the organic
national regulations had been formulated
ment under the flag of the jointly main-
food industry, such as those of FAO,
by the end of 2007 (alongside 19 private
tained IFOAM Standard, thus creating
Codex Alimentarius’ ‘Organically Produ-
ones). In Asia, three regulations were
synergies among standard setters. IFOAM
ced Foods’, EU Council Regulation/EEC
established, followed by two private
will also describe best practices in order
no. 2092/91, the USDA/National Organic
standards (in the same countries). There
to lead the development towards more
Program and national regulations for
are four organic aquaculture standards in
sustainability in standards.
organic agriculture. By working with indi-
place in Oceania, two in the US, one in
vidual fish farmers during the process of
Latin America and one in Canada.
Markus Arbenz is the Executive Director of IFOAM.
ECOLOGY & FARMING | 3-2011
37
Hans Herren From ecological researcher to activist By Nick ParrotT
Cheap food comes with huge environmental, social and economic costs. Food needs to be realistically priced or else more family farmers will go out of business 38
3-2011 | ECOLOGY & FARMING
interview
Hans Herren is one of the world’s leading authorities on biological pest control and was co-chair of IAASTD (The International Assessment of Agricultural Know ledge, Science and Technology for Development). His career spans pure and applied ecological research and, increasingly, policy advocacy. Ecology & Farming interviewed him on the evening before he gave evidence to the UK’s All Party Agroecology Working Group in the House of Commons, London.
I
trained as agronomist and entomolo-
This is one of the classic models of
gist at ETH-Z, the Federal Institute of
agroecology. Tell us more about it.
Technology in Zurich. My PhD involved
We started by asking ourselves what
researching the Larch Tortrix, a European
farmers grow and if we can rearrange
caterpillar that periodically - every eight
their field puzzle to make use of potential
to twelve years - defoliates alpine forests.
synergies. We studied African farming
It took forty years for people to work out
systems – where maize is a major com-
the dynamics of this pest and how to
ponent and very vulnerable to attacks
control it. This experience stimulated my
by stemborers. We were particularly
interest in biological control, which was
interested in wild grasses; they have co-
then in its infancy. So I went to Berke-
evolved as stemborer hosts, they attract
ley to study under Prof. van den Bosch
them away from the crops, but are uns-
who was the biological control guru at
uitable for their successful development:
the time. I then went onto the Interna-
stemborers only have a 10% survival rate
tional Institute of Tropical Agriculture in
there. Then we looked at a fodder crop
Nigeria, which was the start of 27 years
that repelled stemborers and attracted
of working in Africa. We first worked on
its natural enemies. We had very good
biological control programmes for the
success with Desmodium spp, a legume
cassava mealybug, cassava green mites
crop that also provides nitrogen fertiliza-
and the mango mealybug and integrated
tion and stops the growth of striga – one
pest management programmes for other
of the most persistent weeds in maize
pests of cowpeas and maize. This led to
systems, one that takes a lot of work,
me founding the Biological Control Cen-
usually manual, to control. As a bonus,
tre for Africa in Cotonou, Benin – where
Desmodium also improves general soil
we did work on these pests, and later
fertility, water absorption capacity and
also on a biological control programme
reduces erosion: all elements that incre-
on locusts and grasshoppers, which was
ase the resilience of the system in the
done in partnership with CABI. My career
face of climate change. The fodder pro-
then led me to the International Centre
duced in these fields helped farmers by
of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE)
generating additional income, as well as
in Kenya. One of the things we develo-
closing the carbon cycle, by bringing the
ped there was the push-pull system for
manure back to these fields, whose pro-
controlling stem borers in maize-based
ductivity increased from two to five times.
systems.
Hard to do better……
ECOLOGY & FARMING | 3-2011
39
Despite its attractions it hasn’t taken off
policies, favouring the specific needs
reports, watering down the key messa-
as much as you might have hoped.
of small-scale farmers, such as access
ges and delaying the inevitable paradigm
Why not?
to information and skills. National and
change with all the dangers further delay
It has been adopted by 50,000 farmers –
regional research institutions aren’t really
implies.
but it could go further. The first problem
set up to cater for these needs and most
was, and still is, a lack of recognition by
often do not have enough contact with
That’s why I have set up the Biovision
the donor and development community of
these farmers in the first place. On the
Foundation. To give farmers the informa-
the potential of push-pull as a sustainable
international level, the CGIAR Centres
tion they need to be successful, to deal
way of addressing soil fertility and the
have been dominated by western approa-
with the changing environments, biotic,
issue of low productivity. Then there was
ches to agriculture that focus on breeding
abiotic and economic. Our magazine, The
a shortage of Desmodium seeds – which
with the idea of increasing yields. There
Organic Farmer, is now read by about
are very small – we got women’s groups
is an obvious need to reform agricultural
200,000 farmers in Kenya and beyond,
to run nurseries to supply these, which
research at all levels, to bring it in tune
and some three million farmers listen to
did help, but it was still not enough to
with the findings of the IAASTD report
the radio programme that is linked to
‘Agriculture at a Crossroads’, which
it. This is not just about farmers having
argues the need to pay more attention
access to new knowledge, but also
to the whole system and to the soil. This
exchanging their own experiences with
report recommends organic agriculture
their peers. The Biovision Farmer Informa-
and agroecological practices as the way
tion Programme is backed up by InfoNet,
forward that will assure the long term
an information source developed and
productivity of the soil and a multifunc-
maintained by the Biovision Foundation.
tional agriculture. The report argues the urgency of putting this new paradigm in
Talking of markets, there has been much
place without further delay and that ‘busi-
debate about the price of food recently.
ness as usual’ is no longer an option. The
People have been complaining about
report also emphasized the need to bring
increases in food prices – but the reality
on which to base their food and nutrition
farmers, and in particular women, into
is that in the west only 8% of average
security.
the research and extension cycle and at
family incomes go on food: in Switzerland
get the method ‘go viral’. Push-pull is like all sustainable agricultural practices in that it is quite knowledge intensive, and so requires working extension systems. Farmers like push-pull once they have grasped it – but it needs good timing. A shortage of resources made it difficult to carry out a strong Farmer Field School programme, so that was another stumbling block. New funding opportunities have been secured so new dissemination projects are now being planned. But, a major part of the problem is people’s heavy reliance on maize as a staple cropinstead of using a more diversified and climatically better adapted set of crops
an early stage; to hear their priorities and
it might be just 3%. That’s an all time low.
People often talk of the difficulties of sca-
what holds them back. But since its publi-
Cheap food comes with huge environ-
ling up sustainable agriculture.
cation in 2008, governments (even the
mental, social and economic costs. Food
Yes there’s a kind of inertia in the system
ones that have endorsed the report) have
needs to be realistically priced or else
that needs to be overcome by better
continued to procrastinate: writing more
more small, medium scale and family far-
40
3-2011 | ECOLOGY & FARMING
mers will go out of business, yielding their land to corporate farming. Governments who support and advocate industrial agriculture need to ask themselves what the effect will be in generating a new wave of jobless people, joining the ranks of the current 1.5 billion unemployed. The way forward is simple, internalize the externalities, this will offer key advantages to local and small scale organic and agroecolo-
I think we need to adopt a carrot and
ralization for agricultural products and the
gically produced food. The added bonus
stick approach. Keep reminding poli-
potential of genetic engineering to solve
is better quality food with less water and
ticians that things can’t go on as they
the key problems of hunger and poverty,
more vitamins, micro-elements and anti-
are now – but also tell them how much
nutrition and health, rural livelihoods and
oxidants. This in turn will reduce govern-
better they could be with just a few sim-
inequity and the environment. This has led
ment’s health care bills, which are out of
ple options. The issue of internalizing
to some governments to commission their
control. But supermarkets keep pushing
externalities – mentioned above- is one
own studies which really water down the
down prices and this creates a huge
way that should be easy to implement,
key findings of IAASTD –arguing that there
amount of post-retail waste, about 30 to
by reallocating the huge and perverse
is a strong role for GMOs in this equa-
40% of what is purchased.
agricultural subsidies that are already in
tion. But no single government – north or
We need pressure from consumers and
place towards providing incentives for a
south- has yet rewritten their agriculture
producers to rectify this situation and
transition to sustainable farming practi-
and development policies to reflect this
bring some sense to the food system,
ces, to support positive externalities and
changing reality. We are planning to take
which has created a society where we
pay for ecosystem services. With more
this to the Rio+20 Summit next year and
have 1.5 billion hungry and malnouris-
than US$300 billion going to agricultural
get it on high on the agenda, both within
hed and an equal number of obese and
subsidies a year, the money is not the
and outside the Green Economy discus-
overweight people. Farmers need to get
problem. It is the vested interests of a few
sions.
together and organize themselves – and
corporations and large farmers that work
arrange more farmers’ markets and joint
against the only sensible solutions.
I must have given more than 250 talks on IAASTD. It has helped put agriculture
marketing initiatives to counter the monopolization that, if left untamed, threatens
Business as usual is no longer an option?
back on the international development
our civilization.
That’s exactly the message of the IAASTD
agenda. But now we need to do some-
report. We spent more than four years
thing with these ideas and give them
You recently said you have little confiden-
and recruited more than 400 experts to
wings. I am pessimistic about the poli-
ce in governments to lead this change.
compile that report. The critical question
ticians of today changing course, and
Politicians have short-term timeframes
is how can we nourish the world in fifty
supporting these suggested changes.
and are scared of doing things that are
years time, especially given the uncertain-
Doing so will not benefit their prospects at
unpopular. But it all begins with educa-
ties resulting from climate change, gro-
the next election, but it will benefit future
tion: of consumers, children and politici-
wing population and diminishing natural
generations. We need to have a better
ans. Kids need to be taught good eating
resources.
informed public who will make demands on their leaders. The Rio+20 IAASTD
habits. Politicians need to understand that organic approaches and more expensive
Fifty nine countries, including developing
action and seeking to mobilize the world’s
food will create more jobs in the country-
and developed countries, have endorsed
youth are two ways in which I am working
side, will create a vibrant rural economy,
the report, which was sponsored by six
to open people’s eyes and avoid the next
will help repopulate the countryside – and
UN agencies and the World Bank. But
collapse.
will enable the more gifted to stay and
developed countries have shown little
prosper instead of moving to the cities. It
willingness to implement its findings, for
maintains the landscape and will produce
various reasons, the most important being
high quality nutritious food.
the report’s critical position on trade libe-
For more information about Biovision, visit the foundation’s website: www.biovision.ch Copies of the IAASTD report can be downloaded (in five languages) from www.agassessment.org/
ECOLOGY & FARMING | 3-2011
41
By Elke Peiler
The organic sector in Tunisia
New circumstances, continuous growth?
Tunisia is the second largest organic producer (in terms of land) in Africa and the only African or Arabic country with third country equivalence status with the EU. The previous government was providing technical and financial support to aid the development of the sector and to raise its profile domestically. But will all this change? 42
3-2011 | ECOLOGY & FARMING
Country-reports
T
he organic movement in Tunisia
than 2,000. The volume of exported pro-
– CTAB). In May 2010, a set of stamps
started in the 1980s and was based
ducts has quadrupled from 3,018 tons in
carrying images of organic products was
on private initiatives. However, the deve-
2003/2004 to 12,000 tons in 2008/2009,
published. Last, but not least, the week
lopment of the sector was very slow
these exports were worth 55 million Dinar
also saw the second national trade fair on
until 1999 when the (former) government
(40 million USD, 28 million Euro), compa-
organic farming and biological agro-pro-
launched a national strategy for organic
red to 12 million Dinar in 2003/2004. The
cessing (BIO-EXPO) organized between
agriculture that covered several key areas.
amount of land under organic cultivation
the 26th and 29th of May 2011 in La
These included a legislative basis for
and the volume of organic production have
Soukra. Compared to last year there were
organic farming, together with support for
grown much faster than the volume and
less exhibitors: around 30, compared
research, education and training, extensi-
value of exports and this has resulted in
to about 50. However, according to the
on, organization, structure and promotion.
a growth in organic produce coming onto
organizers this was due to post-revolution
Under this programme the government
the domestic market.
problems experienced by many compa-
bears 30% of all the costs regarding
nies, who did not participate this year but
the conversion of farms to organic pro-
The current programme (covering the
plan to do so again next year. Despite
duction and 70% of the expenses for
period 2009 to 2014) has set the ambitious
this the atmosphere at the fair was very
certification and inspections. This has led
goal of extending the land surface under
optimistic.
to significant growth in Tunisia’s organic
organic farming to 500,000 ha by 2014. It
sector. The main growth areas have been
also seeks to more than double the value
in the production of organic olives and
of exported organic products to 120 million
dates, crops that are relatively easy to
Dinar in the same period and sets a goal
grow organically. At the same time there
for local consumption of organic products,
has also been an increase in the volume
at 1% of total consumption by 2014.
of certified almonds, vegetables, citrus
To achieve these ambitious objectives,
fruits, medicinal plants, honey and jojoba
new measures have been implemented to
coming onto the market.
raise awareness among the population. Thus, in 2010 the country’s first ‘organic
Tunisia is the only country in Africa and in
week’ was organized, with several infor-
This programme was set in motion by
the Arabic world which has acquired ‘third
mation programs in different media. In
the previous government, who based on
country equivalence’ with the EU for orga-
addition a dedicated research laboratory
several studies, saw the export potential
nic products, giving it ready access to the
for organic farming has been set up (La
of organic products from Tunisia (dates,
EU market. The Tunisian Government has
Centre Technique d’Agriculture Biologique
olive oil and others). It is too early to say
authorized 5 internationally accredited
anything about likely developments under
control and certification bodies to certify
the new government: the elections do
locally produced organic products.
not take place until October. However,
Between 2002 and 2009 the area
the focus of the new government will
under organic cultivation increased
probably not change, as the organic sec-
from 18,600 to almost 336,000 ha.
tor has become very important, in terms
Tunisia is now the second largest
of surface area, volumes produced, the
organic producer (in terms of land) in
number of producers and export figures.
Africa and ranked at number 24 among
The main question is whether the new
the 141 countries around the world
government will continue to subsidize the
where organic farming is practiced (Wil-
conversion process as before.
ler & Lucas 2011). The volume of organic crops produced increased from 9,000 tons in 2002 to 247,000 tons in 2009. And, in the same period, the number of enterprises working in this sector has increased from 481 to more
Elke Peiler runs the agro-processing department within the German-Tunisian Chamber of Commerce in Tunis (AHK Tunisia), supporting Tunisian producers to get access to the European market. References Willer, H and K. Lucas (2011) Survey on Organic Agriculture Worldwide 2011. FiBL/ IFOAM www.bioexpotunisia.com
ECOLOGY & FARMING | 3-2011
43
Biodiversity and the ‘Green Economy’ By Robert Jordan
Rio +20
Preparations are already underway to set the agenda for Rio+20 in 2012. Robert Jordan looks at the background to the conference, the emerging agenda and IFOAM’s plans to contribute to the debate over the ‘Green Economy’.
44
3-2011 | ECOLOGY & FARMING
Events
economic growth. They believe that the
tives on forest protection, carbon trading
only option left is to ‘cut a deal’ with the
and technology transfer. Policy develop-
global economy.
ments, such as the expansion of market mechanisms (including REDD+), access
However bringing these environmental
and benefit sharing protocols and the
and social issues together, under an eco-
valuing of nature and its services through
nomic banner, even a ‘green one’ means
initiatives such as TEEB (The Economics
the future of the planet will be dealt with
of Ecosystems and Biodiversity) are likely
first and foremost as an economic issue.
to be high on the agenda of discussions
It leaves little room for sentiment or ide-
about the ‘Green Economy’.
alism and will favour those individuals,
T
he transition of the global economy
organizations or nations that currently
The institutional framework
have economic power and influence. Yet
Another major theme at Rio+20 will be
this also reflects the current reality that
reviewing the institutional framework for
economic activity is the driver of potenti-
sustainable development. Changes to
ally catastrophic climate change and other
international environmental governance
critical environmental issues.
could turn out to be radical and could
towards a ‘Green Economy’ is now
give a ‘Green Economy’ teeth. A new
firmly on the international agenda. The
While there is currently no generally
World Environment Organization or a
‘Green Economy’ will be a major theme
agreed concept of what the ‘Green Eco-
strengthened UNEP are amongst the
of next year’s high profile UN Conference
nomy’ entails, its appeal lies in its promise
options being discussed to simplify the
on Sustainable Development to be held in
of growth while protecting the earth’s eco-
institutional framework and strengthen
Rio, 20 years after the original Earth Sum-
systems and contributing to poverty alle-
sustainable development. Many countries
mit, in the same city.
viation. UNEP’s Green Economy Report,
from the global South see unfair trade
the most comprehensive elaboration of
regimes as the biggest barrier to achie-
Interest in the ‘Green Economy’ is rising
the concept to date, is based on the pre-
ving the sustainability and poverty eradi-
especially amongst developed nations
mise that economic growth and environ-
cation goals of a ‘Green Economy’. Trade
who see it as an opportunity to stimu-
mental stewardship can be complemen-
issues are already at the centre of the UN
late economic growth while addressing
tary strategies. It challenges the common
Climate Talks and are likely to spill over
social and environmental issues. Leaders
view that there are significant trade-offs
into the Rio+20 process as developing
within the UN now believe that rebalan-
that need to be made between the two
nations seek a much fairer deal.
cing the global economy is the only way
and argues that it is possible to decouple
to address climate change, ecosystem
economic growth from increased resource
The Rio+20 process
integrity, biodiversity loss, desertification
use and environmental degradation. This
The decision to hold a high level con-
and food, water and energy security and
is an attractive proposition, one that orga-
ference on sustainable development to
many other key issues. The UN General
nic agriculture strives to uphold.
mark the 20th anniversary of the Earth Summit was made by the UN General
Secretary, Ban Ki-Moon, whose personal mission was global warming, recently
Yet, there is scepticism from some that
Assembly in late 2009. The resolution
ended his hands-on involvement with the
the ‘Green Economy’ is an attempt to
called for the conference to secure rene-
international climate change negotiations
steer the Rio+20 summit and sustaina-
wed political commitment for sustainable
in a strategic shift to the broader agenda
ble development away from addressing
development, to assess progress made
of promoting sustainable development.
the root causes of the ecological crises.
to date, the gaps in implementing the
Several key figures within the UN believe
Some see the process as being a hidden
resolutions from earlier major summits on
that the plethora of Multilateral Environ-
attempt to open-up new forms of markets
sustainable development and to address
mental Agreements (MEAs) that have
and create new forms of ownership over
new and emerging challenges. The reso-
been developed over the past two deca-
public goods. They see parallels with
lution also called for a unique preparatory
des (such as the Conventions on Climate
the climate change negotiations which
process in which all stakeholders (govern-
Change and Biodiversity - UNFCCC and
have so far failed to curb emissions and
ments, intergovernmental agencies and
UNCBD) are not strong enough to coun-
instead opted for the politically much
civil society) were invited to contribute
ter balance the environmental impacts of
easier ‘industry and market friendly’ initia-
to a working document (the ‘Zero Draft’).
ECOLOGY & FARMING | 3-2011
45
The Zero Draft will form the basis for the
Yet despite the positive vision the
To strengthen the organic movement’s
discussions (and outcome document) at
‘Green Economy’ report has for agri-
voice within the Rio process, IFOAM is
Rio+20.
culture, it is far from universally shared.
working with a range of partners, inclu-
There are massive political challenges to
ding some of the authors of the IAASTD
A number of preparatory meetings are being held in advance of Rio+20. These are designed to identify key emerging issues and will help set the agenda for the summit. A number of key issues were raised at a recent Rio+20 preparatory meeting in March this year. These included: climate change and related natural disasters; the financial, economic, energy and food crises; the degradation of ecosystems; diminishing natural resources and water scarcity; political instability and social unrest and; unsustainable patterns of production and consumption. Many governments also suggested that the framework of the Millennium Development Goals should be extended beyond 2015.
The organic movement and its allies must push for a ‘Green Economy’ that ushers in a new paradigm based on care.
report, to develop formal submissions to the Zero Draft document. IFOAM is also working closely with the World Food Programme and the African Union to raise awareness of the multi-functional benefits of agro-ecological practices for the world’s most climatically and food
Organic pioneers
scaling-up organic agriculture and we
The organic movement can be seen as
must not forget the plight of the world’s
a pioneer of the ‘Green Economy.’ Its
1 billion hungry people, who are poorly
One outcome from Rio might be a blue-
practices and systems have the potential
served by national and international
print for a ‘Green Economy’. However,
to establish a globally sustainable food
agricultural policies as well as the global
any blueprint that does not address the
economy based on the judicious sustai-
trading system. The organic movement
gross ‘market failures’ that see one billion
nable use of biodiversity and ecosystem
has much to offer in terms of making
people needlessly go hungry each year is
services and its principles of health,
affordable and effective practices more
totally unacceptable. The organic move-
ecology, fairness and care. The ‘Green
accessible.
ment and its allies must push for a ‘Green
Economy’ report states that “agriculture
Agriculture is at the centre of just about
Economy’ that ushers in a new paradigm
based on a green-economy vision inte-
all the world’s current environmental cri-
based on care. Care for Mother Earth and
grates location-specific organic resource
ses, yet it is still a strategic challenge to
care for each other – especially the most
inputs and natural biological processes to
ensure that it will be high on the agenda
vulnerable.
restore and improve soil fertility; achieve
at Rio. One strategy is to position it
more efficient water use; increase crop
under the ‘new and emerging issues’
and livestock diversity; support integrated
objective rather than under the ‘Green
pest and weed management and pro-
Economy’, where the critical issues of
motes employment and smallholder and
food security and sustainability could
family farms’’.
get lost.
46
3-2011 | ECOLOGY & FARMING
insecure communities.
Robert Jordan is responsible for IFOAM’s international advocacy campaigns and activities. The goal of IFOAM’s advocacy work is to position organic agriculture as a widely recognized and utilized development model that addresses food security, climate change and biodiversity loss. advocacy@ifoam.org
Our organic seeds grow your success Rijk Zwaan is a world-leading specialist in creating high-quality vegetable varieties; also for the organic market. We do this through innovative research & development, led by the needs of our customers. It is our aim to be a knowledgeable, collaborative partner, with infinite respect for the environment. Rijk Zwaan. www.rijkzwaan.com
423797RZW_adv187x126.indd 1
03-02-11 09:17
“Healthy flow of money in society” Our Mission
• Explain and promote sustainable agriculture and animal production in its productive chain, aiming health and life integrity of humans, animals, plants, water, earth and air.
Our activities:
• Organization of national and international seminars and conferences. In 2010 the focus has been public health and quality of living in relation to food security and food origin; • High quality level networking in universities, industry, government, medical and consumer associations, sustainability orientation; • Support of small communities, who strive to protect the social, health, gender, economic sound and environment aspects of common living. Municipality impacts of global warming and food security; • Support of industries who seek quality and safety in their products; • Networking in the NGO world; • Consultancy and observatories in medicine, toxicology, agriculture, law and food. Etica da Terra /Instituto Ita Wegman do Brasil has won a special status -OSCIP- from the Ministry of Justice in Brasil in 2010.
Contact
Josiana Arippol E-mail: josiana@eticadaterra.org Tel: +55 11 3443-6423 Av. Brig. Faria Lima, 3729-4o/5o andares CEP: 04538-905 São Paulo/SP/Brasil
Josiana Arippol E-mail: josiana@institutoitawegmandobrasil.org Tel: +55 11 3443-6397 Av. Brig. Faria Lima, 3729-4o/5o andares CEP: 04538-905 São Paulo/SP/Brasil
BREEDING SQUARE ORGANICSEEDS.NL AT BIOVAK 2012, TRADE FAIR FOR SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE, NATURE AND FOOD QUALITY
On an attractive and convenient Breeding Square with a large number of companies, many Dutch nurseries and traders in the plant sector show their varieties, which are of great importance to the national and international organic market. The Dutch nurseries and traders produce organic propagating material including the following crops: Vegetables (covered and open cultivation): Leaf vegetables, tomatoes, sweet peppers, carrots, beetroots, cabbage crops, cucumbers, pumpkins; Arable crops: potatoes, sowing onions, set onions, shallots, garlic, cereals, grasses; Medicinal herbs; Fodder crops; Green manuring crops; Fruits: Apples, pears; Soft fruit; Parkland trees and avenue trees; Shrubs; Ornamental plants: Tulip bulbs, flowers, garden plants. Workshops: We would like to invite you to join the workshops. Especially since both days of the BioVak workshops are scheduled to form new visions in which your participation and input are important. For example on how to get in the future the right varieties at the right farms. In order to obtain the highest yields in balance with nature we need more diversity, possibly even for each farmer his own selection of plant varieties. Plant varieties which are well adapted to the local circumstances and give the best food for the local people. Organicseeds.nl is working on an approach in this field.
Trade Fair for Sustainable Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality.
ICEM ’s Gravenweg 44 2911 CG Nieuwerkerk aan den IJssel The Netherlands Mike and/or Joop de Looze T. +31(0)180-31.46.62 E. mikedelooze@icem.nl
WEDNESDAY 18 AND THURSDAY 19, JANUARY, 2012 IJSSELHALLEN - ZWOLLE THE NETHERLANDS - 30 MINUTES FROM AIRPORT AMSTERDAM www.biovak.nl You are cordially invited!
Organicseeds.nl De Welle 48 8939 AT Leeuwarden The Netherlands Bertus Buizer T. +31 (0) 582990530 E. info@organicseeds.nl
AUGUST - DECEMBER 2011 //
SEPTEMBER 21-24th, 2011 Bio Balkan Expo 2011 Belgrade, Serbia www.alexpo.co.rs SEPTEMBER 22-24th, 2011 BioFach America 2011 Baltimore, USA www.biofach-america.com SEPTEMBER 26th OCTOBER 5th, 2011 17th Organic World Congress 2011 Gyeonggi Paldang, South Korea www.kowc2011.org OCTOBER 3-5th, 2011 IFOAM General Assembly 2011 Gyeonggi Paldang, South Korea www.ifoam.org/GA2011
OCTOBER 5-7th, 2011 BioFach America Latina 2011 Sao Paulo, Brazil www.biofach-americalatina.com NOVEMBER 1-3rd, 2011 BioFach Japan 2011 Tokyo, Japan www.biofach-japan.com NOVEMBER 10-12th, 2011 BioFach India 2011 Mumbai, India www.biofach-india.com NOVEMBER 30th DECEMBER 2nd, 2011 AgriPro Asia Expo and Agri-Conference Asia 2011 Hong Kong, China www.agriproasia.com
Calen dar Items DECEMBER 5-7th, 2011 Middle East Natural & Organic Products Expo 2011 Dubai, United Arab Emirates www.naturalproductme.com These are events organized or endorsed by IFOAM. If you are organizing an (international) congress, fair, training, etc. in organic farming, marketing, and you would like to have it on the E&F calendar, please contact the editors: p.brul@ecologyandfarming.com
CONTACT Ecology & Farming is a magazine for all elements of the organic movement - from organic farmers’ associations to organizations from the organic food industry and fair trade; from research institutions to certifiers; from organic consumers to organic advocates. Ecology & Farming provides information on key issues in the organic sector and offers the space for discussions on key issues. IFOAM The International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements is the umbrella organization for the organic movement. Established in 1972, IFOAM has over 800 affiliates in more than 100 countries. and represents the common interests of the organic movement based on the principles of organic agriculture (ecology, health, fairness, care). IFOAM’s mission is to lead, assist and unite the organic movement in its full diversity. Peter Brul has been working in the organic sector as a farmer, researcher and consultant. As the Chief-Editor of Ecology & Farming he brings in his international experience in organic farming. The Van Westering Groep B.V. have been publishing magazines since 1988. VWG also maintains a focus on ecology through Ekoland, the professional magazine for organic farming in the Netherlands and Belgium and Gezond Bouwen & Wonen, a professional magazine about sustainable building and living.
Publisher Jaap van Westering Editorial staff Peter Brul (editor in chief) Denise Godinho Nick Parrott Contributors to this issue Authors: Markus Arbenz, Tobias Bandel, Peter Brul, Patricia Flores Escudero, Bernward Geier, Daniel Giovanucci, Machteld Hüber, Robert Jordan, Alexander Kasterne, André Leu, Nick Parrott, Joost Pierrot, Elke Peiler, Gunnar Rundgren, Lucy van de Vijver Photos: Argencert, Bernward Geier, Olaf Hammelberg, Simon Levelt BV, Elke Peiler, Soil&More, Lucy van de Vijver Editorial office P.O.Box 696 3740 AP Baarn, The Netherlands T +31 35 88 735 31 F +31 35 54 241 19 E p.brul@ecologyandfarming.com W www.ecologyandfarming.com
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Ecology and Farming is published by Van Westering Groep bv, Netherlands, under the auspices of IFOAM