GOMA
(Global Organic Market Access) Project calls for Tender
Qualified
consultants are invited to submit proposals on study and recommendations for developing Regional Organic Standards in Asia. Proposals should be submitted electronically to
GOMA Project Manager, Diane Bowen, d.bowen@ifoam.org
by 22 August.
IFOAM's Membership votes "Yes" on the new OGS Proposal
In the membership vote of 18 July 2010 on the IFOAM Organic Guarantee
System (OGS), 134 Members (out of 667 members, voter participation of
20%) cast their votes on the question:
‘Do you agree with the political direction of the presented OGS
and do you give the World Board the mandate to start offering the five
proposed services to potential clients and to report progress to the
next General Assembly 2011 in Korea?’
125 Members (93%) answered 'Yes, I agree' and 9 Members (7%) answered 'No, I disagree'. 2 votes were invalid.
The suggested Organic Guarantee System is now decided and the IFOAM
World Board has the mandate to start implementation of the new system,
while observing IFOAM’s procedures and policies. The IFOAM World Board
will report to the General Assembly 2011 in Korea.
For background information on the OGS Revision process, please click here.
Special Announcement:IFOAM invites its Membership to Comment on the Revision of GOTS, the Global Organic Textile Standard
GOTS has opened the first round of the revision input system regarding the revision of the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) 2.0 and the corresponding Manual. The first revision draft of GOTS 3.0 and the corresponding Manual for the Implementation of GOTS are open for a 60 day comment period, starting 24th of June. IFOAM invites its membership and other selected stakeholders to send IFOAM their comments. Comments received by IFOAM before the 12th of August will be compiled and channeled to GOTS, possibly in the form of an IFOAM position.
For downloading related documents and to read more, click here.
IFOAM has UNFCCC observer status. Agriculture is now becoming an increasingly important component of the climate change negotiations. This two-week meeting in Bonn was one of the last negotiating sessions before a potential agreement is signed at CoP16 in Mexico. IFOAM attended to help ensure that the world's small holder farmers are strengthened not weakened by international climate policies and funding mechanisms. The IFOAM 'side' event in the negotiation building showcased the potential of Organic Agriculture as an affordable and sustainable system for climate change mitigation and adaptation.
Organic Agriculture contributes to biodiversity by prohibiting the clearance of primary ecosystems, integrating high levels of natural and agricultural biodiversity into the farming system and by avoiding toxic chemical inputs. The campaign will:
bring
attention to the impacts of industrial agriculture on biodiversity and on
the local people who rely on biodiversity for their livelihoods
make
the biodiversity stewardship role of the world’s small-holder farmers who
produce over 70% of the world’s food more visible
raise
awareness of how the independence, livelihoods, biodiversity and climate
resilience of the world’s small-holder farmers can be affordably and
sustainably strengthened through the eco-intensification of their farming
systems
encourage
organic farmers to submit short videos showcasing eco-intensification
Celebrating Seed Diversity: The Green Foundation, India
The 11th edition of The World of Organic Agriculture documents recent developments in global organic agriculture.
The purchase of the book includes free download of the pdf version, access to excel sheet with selected data and powerpoint presentations. Organic faming is practiced in more than 150 countries and 35 million hectares of agricultural land are managed organically. The global sales of organic food and drink reached 50.9 billion US dollars in 2008.
Click on More below to see a preview or here to order a printed copy.
The Organic Business Guide
This guide is written for those who are actively engaged in setting up or managing organic businesses with groups of smallholders. It provides practical know-how and essential information for planning, managing and expanding such a business.
Click on More below to see a preview or here to order a printed copy.
IFOAM Guide to Biodiversity and Landscape Quality in Organic Agriculture This guide is designed to provide practical working examples and suggestions for farmers and advisers who are aiming for real positive change on farmlands world wide. Proven innovations from a wide variety of farms, traditions and agro-ecological zones are described, along with the underlying ecological and agricultural principles that make them effective. The more we all understand of the potential benefits and synergies of enhanced biodiversity and landscape quality within any and all types of agriculture, the more effective and appropriate the solutions that arise in our own contexts will be. This Guide provides a start for that process on which we can build, within the traditions of Organic Agriculture, but applicable for all rural land use.
