Global Food Security requires Organic Agriculture!
We, more than 1,000 participants at the 11th Scientific
Conference of the International Federation of Organic Agriculture
Movements (IFOAM), the only organization which represents the
entire organic food chain from farm to table (530 member
organizations in almost 100 countries), welcome the initiative of
the FAO in bringing together the governments of the world and
representatives of NGOs at the World Food Summit.
However, we believe that the preparatory documents emphasize the
wrong issues in analyzing the source of the crisis in world food
production and availability, and therefore that its commitments
are not likely to produce effective results. In particular,
protection of the environment, quality and safety of food, and
local self-reliance are not recognized as essential elements of
food security. We see a danger that the failure of the Green
Revolution will be repeated by promoting the even more
destructive gene-revolution. In addition key issues of access to
resources, equitable land tenure, the rights of women and
education have not taken the place they deserve - as a
consequence, people will continue to suffer.
The practical and rapid development of organic agriculture
throughout the world is living proof that it is a realistic and
achievable approach. Organic agriculture can ensure the long term
security of human and material resources, producing sufficient
food of high quality whilst protecting the environment and
conserving biodiversity. The many presentations made to the
conference in Copenhagen provide the evidence for this.
Organic agriculture provides the means to achieve real
sustainable food security for all. Local regional and national
self-sufficiency in food is our shared goal - we urge the FAO to
recognize the part organic production can play in achieving this
goal.
The FAO, amidst a food crisis which impacts on more than 800
million people in poverty, is missing an opportunity by not
drawing on IFOAM's 25-years extensive experience and expertise in
organic production.
Global food security requires organic agriculture!
International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements
at the Copenhagen Conference, August 1996