International Conference Organic Farming and our Future Food System

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You are cordially invited to join the conference on Organic Farming and Our Future Food System, taking place on Friday 12 October in Oosterwolde, The Netherlands.

The organic farming concept and practice might not be the solution for all socio-economic and environmental problems that humankind faces today. But it is one of the “second-best” alternatives. A vast body of scientific evidence, as well as achievements from practice, indicate that organic farming scores quite well on major sustainability parameters. It delivers a range of public goods and services, while at the same time generating socio-economic benefits. It is farming for people, planet and profit. However, it still has to overcome several challenges, such as lower yields.

The organic sector has become part of the mainstream and is scaling-up. However, in doing this, it should strive to retain its integrity and remain committed to its basic principles. This is a delicate and challenging task. This conference will present the state-of-the-art of the organic farming sector and will discuss the way forward for future development and its consequences for society.

Objectives

The conference objectives are to:

1. Inform about the latest findings on potentials and challenges of organic farming in respect to its contribution to our future food system and to both human health and healthy ecosystems.
2. Discuss successful business cases, transition paths and policies fostering adoption of organic farming.
3. Provide the opportunity to exchange ideas and visions on the future development of organic farming.
4. Discuss the feasibility and consequences of scaling-up organic farming.

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Who will attend?

The conference will bring together a range of stakeholders working on new approaches to food and farming: farmers, policy makers, ngo’s, researchers, farm advisors, students, businessmen and others.

Programme Highlights​

Going organic 100%: a myth or reality?
Vandana Shiva Director, Navdanya (IND)

Contribution of organic farming in helping to solve global environmental and socio-economic problems
Prof Hans Herren President, Millennium Institute (CH); World Board member IFOAM - Organics International (D-CH)

Environmental, economic and health consequences of widespread conversion to organic farming: results from six case studies
Darko Znaor Principal Consultant, Avalon Foundation (NL-HR)

​Importance of soil organic matter and how to increase it - with special emphasis on contribution of organic farming
Prof Rattan Lal Director, Carbon Management and Sequestration Center, Ohio State University (USA); President, International Union of Soil Sciences

Organic farming and ecosystems
John Liu Commonland Foundation (NL-China)
Prof Jan Willem Erisman Director, Louis Bolk Institute (NL)
Prof Gerold Rahmann Professor, Thünen-Institute of Agricultural; Technology and Biosystems Engineering (D); World Board member IFOAM - Organics International (D-CH)
Sonja Karoglan Todorović Director, Environmental Institute Ecologica (HR)

Organic Farming and Business
Volkert Engelsman CEO, Eosta (NL)

​Contribution of organic farming to food quality and human health
Prof Tim Lang Professor, City University London (UK)

Organic farming and policy
Nic Lampkin Executive Director, Organic Research Centre (UK)

Soil Food Week

The conference on Organic Farming and Our Future Food System is part of the Soil Food Week, taking place from 10 – 13 October in Friesland, Cultural Capital of Europe in 2018. More information can be found on www.soilfoodweek.nl (Dutch only).