the world of organic agriculture - Organic Eprints

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The World of Organic Agriculture 2006
Today, the network is composed of farmers, consumer’s organizations, small agro industries,
NGOs giving technical advice and some civil organizations like churches, schools, etc.
It is organized in 21 regional “nucleus”, that are the space for debate and consensus, and where
network projects like the Participatory Certification are carried on. With the involvement of all
the members, common criteria on organization and marketing are developed.
The network has developed a complex system of local organic guarantee, called Participatory
Guarantee that is now studied as an example by other countries in the Southern Hemisphere 12
. The Network uses a seal labeling each product that can circulate thousands of kilometers from
one state to the other. Consumers thus know that the product agrees with the Standards of the
Network.
Around 2’100 farmer families are connected through the Eco Vida Network, and they exchange
experiences, visit each other, organize events and celebrations. More than 100 farmers’ markets
(some of them very huge, like in Porto Alegre, with 300 farmers present weekly) are spread across
all the south of Brazil. The annual turnover of the network participants is near 20 million USD 13
, total in organic products.
16.8.4 BioFach América Latina in Brazil
In 2005, the third annual BioFach América Latina took place in Rio de Janeiro attracted 3193
visitors from 23 countries and 156 exhibitors, 35 of which were international, a 70% growth
in trade visitors and 40% growth in exhibitors. The rapid development of BioFach América
Latina will be able to continue at its new location in São Paulo from October 25-27 2006. São
Paulo, was deemed to be and excellent location for the further international development of
the organic agriculture sector.The conference program will give market actors the possibility
to become more informed about international developments and to develop market profiles.
Substantive issues to be discussed include the further development of the regulatory framework
in Latin America, above all the models for cooperation between multinational retailers and small
producer organizations, as with the growth in value-added production through the processing
of raw organic materials, regional marketing models in a Latin American context and consumer
relationships. Brazilian and Latin American markets for organic products hold great potential
for further development, and BioFach América Latina is playing a key role in providing an
international platform in a Latin American context.
16.9 Sources of Information
Alvarado, Fernando (Perú), Balance de la Agricultura Ecológica en el Perú 1980-2003“, Centro IDEAS, Red de
Agricultura Ecológica del Perú. Av. Arenales, 645 Lima, Tel +51 1 4335060, Fax +51 1 4331073
Amador, Manuel (Costa Rica), CEDECO Corporación Educativa para el Desarrollo Costarricense, Apdo. 209-1009
Fecosa. SanJosé
Augstburger, Franz (República Dominicana)
12 See also the work of the IFOAM working group on Participatory Guarantee Systems for Organic Agriculture,
Internet http://www.ifoam.org/about_ifoam/standards/pgs.html
13 20 million USD = 16.5 million EUR (per 31.12.2005)