Complete issue (pdf, 12.56 MB, EN) - GIZ

GLOBAL NEWSROUND
Saudi Arabia
Organic label for foodstuffs
‘Healthy food for healthy families’ is the new campaign slogan
that has been used since the start of the year to boost sales of
organic products in Saudi Arabia. The Saudi Ministry of Agriculture
asked GIZ International Services to promote organic farming
practices throughout the Kingdom (see also report in ‘akzente’
03/11). With funding totalling around €7 million, the project is
scheduled to run for five years. One approach used is to boost
demand for organic foods, in order to increase the incentive for
producers to switch to organic farming. The national action plan
for organic farming developed by GIZ targets sustainable development
of the sector with a view to producing a wider range of
healthy, pesticide-free food. At
the same time, it is hoped the
national publicity campaign will
also raise awareness among
consumers of organic products
and raise the profile of the
national organic label. Organically
produced food has been
carrying the label since February
2011.
The Saudi Arabian organic label
Brazil
Solar power for favelas
Social housing in Mangueira benefits from solar hot water systems.
A pilot project is currently underway in Rio de Janeiro to equip
social housing with solar hot water systems. On behalf of the
German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation
and Nuclear Safety (BMU) and the German Federal Ministry for
Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), GIZ is collaborating
with the Caixa Econômica Federal, the national development
bank, and the Brazilian Ministry of the Environment to promote
the use of solar thermal systems for producing domestic hot
water. All new social housing in the favela of Mangueira is
equipped with solar thermal installations. For occupants, this
means a reduction in energy costs of around 25%. GIZ deployed
its own experts to closely monitor construction work, set high
quality standards when tendering and trained residents to use the
systems. The project also served as the model on which Brazil’s
national programme was based. This programme is to fund over
400,000 solar installations in social housing by 2014.
Photos: GIZ Saudi ArabiA, german consulate general at Rio de Janeiro, university of education Ludwigsburg
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akzente 02/2012