19th ORGANIC WORLD CONGRESS 2017
The IFOAM Organic World Congress 2017 is going to take place in India this year. We wish all the success of the Congress.
Farida Akhter, the founding member and the Executive Director of UBINIG (Policy Research for Developing Alternative), is going to participate in the conference and will speak in the plenary. She is the founding member and the Executive Director of UBING (Policy Research for Development Alternative) and one of the key leaders in the organic farming and safe food movements in Bangladesh. Farida is also one of the leaders of globally well known Nayakrishi Andolon (New Agricultural Movement), the biodiversity-based ecological agriculture.
The demand for the organic food is increasing globally as well as in South Asia. Bangladesh has tremendous opportunity in terms of agro-ecology, human resources, and knowledge practices unique for a bio-geographical landscape; the country is graced by mighty rivers, rain waters, alluvium and biodiversity. It is totally irrational to allow pesticides, harmful chemicals, questionable hybrids and risky GMOs into Bangladesh and narrowing the genetic base by promoting mono-culture. The country, if follows green, organic and bio-diverse life affirming practices, could easily play significant role in meting global organic food demands. Organic and safe food production is also a national necessity to prevent non-communicable diseases. Recent studies shows Bangladesh is already suffering from from illness that could easily be prevented by agricultural policy and food habits.
Feida Akhter, UBINIG / Nayakrishi Andolon
Nayakrishi has amply demonsrated that biodiverse organic farming can produce enough for Bangladeh's population, absorb large number of people in rural areas preventing migration and creating conditions for sustainbale rural industrialisation. All we need is positive reforms in agricultural and technological policy that is geraed to serve people and defend the interest of th farming communities.
ORGANIC WORLD FOOD CONGRESS
The Organic World Congress of IFOAM - Organics International is held every 3 years in a different country. The aim of the congress and related activities (per-conference, General Assembly, side-events and organic exhibition) is to share experiences, innovations and knowledge about the organic world, while giving the organizing country global visibility.
The Congress provides inspiration and an extraordinary momentum for all those who take part. It is the leading event for the development of the organic sector worldwide.
We, as UBINIG and Nayakrishi Andolon, is glad to participate in the efforts of Intercontinental Network of Organic Farming Organisations (INOFO) and our friends in India. We hope this will provide us an opportunity to contribute more to global and regional organic agricultural movement.
Again, wishing a great success of the Organic World Congress 2017