Bonn, Germany and Arusha, Tanzania
March 8, 2006New
partnership announced at March 7-10 workshop in Arusha, Tanzania
to promote organic agriculture development in East Africa
The International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements
(IFOAM), the United
Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and the
United Nations Environment
Program (UNEP) announce a joint project to facilitate the
development of an East African Organic Standard, which will help
to make organic products from East Africa more recognizable on
supermarkets shelves throughout the world.
This project pools together the expertise and experience of a
wide range of stakeholders at the national and regional levels,
and builds upon work that is already underway in the region, in
particular through the Export Promotion of Organic Products from
Africa (EPOPA) proje! ct.
“IFOAM is a strong supporter of the development of regional
organic standards to aid in the harmonization of trade in
organic products. In the case of East Africa, Kenya, Tanzania
and Uganda are natural trading partners, and this project, in
addition to making international markets more accessible, will
strengthen trade in organic products between these countries,
which is an integral part of creating a sustainable system,”
explains IFOAM President Gerald A. Herrmann.
The UNEP/UNCTAD Capacity Building Task Force on Trade,
Environment and Development (CBTF) project Promoting Production
and Trading Opportunities for Organic Agricultural Products in
East Africa, launched in Kampala on October 19, 2004,
established a Regional Standard Technical Working Group (RSTWG).
Comprising representatives from standards bodies, certification
bodies and the organic sector from the three countries, the
RSTWG held its first meeting in Kampala on October 24, 2004. It
met ag! ain in Arusha on March 6 to discuss the contents of the
standard. The RSTWG will now be strengthened by IFOAM‘s
full-fledged support.
IFOAM is also launching the East African Organic Standards
(OSEA) project this week. OSEA will provide resources to conduct
national consultations and field-testing of the standard. Once
the standard has been approved, IFOAM will also support the
development of a joint inspection protocol and consumer
education campaign through the OSEA.
“IFOAM welcomes increased collaboration with UNEP and UNCTAD.
IFOAM has the knowledge base and expertise from the organic
sector, both internationally and specifically in East Africa, to
provide unparalleled leadership in the promotion and development
of organic standards. UNEP and UNCTAD, as United Nations
organizations, have access to both the human and financial
resources necessary to bring the key players together and to
lend broad credibility to an effort that will have direct
environmental, soci! al and economic benefits for the people of
East Africa,” comments Angela B. Caudle, IFOAM Executive
Director.
This new partnership will be announced on the occasion of the
CBTF Regional Workshop for Organic Agriculture, March 7-10,
2006, in Arusha, Tanzania.
The workshop will showcase the outcome of new research conducted
under the CBTF project on such topics as the status of organic
agriculture and related policies in East Africa (contributions
from 17 authors in East Africa and abroad); best practices;
organic agriculture and food security in Africa; and demand for
organic products from East Africa. The workshop also will focus
on opportunities for regional cooperation. The RSTWG will
present the outcome of its work. On March 10, participants will
have the chance to view organic agriculture in practice by
visiting nearby organic farms.
Participants in the workshop will include representatives from
Ministries of trade, environment and agriculture a! s well as
standards bodies; the East African Community; national organic
agriculture networks, including farmers and certifying bodies;
research institutions and universities; national and
international organizations involved in organic agriculture; and
international experts.
All draft papers are available on the CBTF website at
http://www.unep-unctad.org/cbtf/openArusha.htm.
It is expected that the information and momentum generated
through the workshop will help to promote production and trade
in organic agriculture in East Africa. |