BioFach Newsletter

[OrganicABC]

BioFach Newsletter
Issue no. 199, 12.6.2009
1. BioFach and Vivaness 2010: new opening days for successful duo

The international organic sector presented a lively, dynamic and
innovative picture for the twentieth time at its annual highlight in
Nuremberg in February: 46,771 trade visitors were convinced by the rich,
enjoyable and creative range of products offered by the 2,744 exhibitors
at the world’s leading exhibitions for organic products, natural
personal care and wellness. The next BioFach and Vivaness in the
Exhibition Centre Nuremberg take place from Wednesday to Saturday, 17-20
February 2010. The exhibition duo starts a day earlier from 2010 onwards
– on Wednesday.

BioFach - Presseinformationen

2. France: organic sales up 25 % in 2008

On the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the Organic Action Days
Printemps Bio (Organic Spring), the semi-public body Agence Bio in Paris
announced that last year’s sales of organic products had risen by 25 %
to 2.6 billion EUR. Printemps Bio organized many actions throughout the
country in the first half of June.
The organically farmed area has risen from 210,000 ha to 580,000 ha
within ten years. The areas under conversion increased by 36 % in 2008
alone. The number of organic farms grew by 11 %. Agence Bio expects the
share of canteens using organic products at least now and then to rise
from the present 36 % to 71 % in 2012.

Agence Franaise pour le dveloppement et la Promotion de l'Agriculture Biologique - Agence BIO

3. IFOAM EU Group votes for new president and executive board

The IFOAM EU Group, which represents more than 300 organic organisations
and companies in Europe, has elected Christopher Stopes as a new
President and Thomas Dosch as Deputy President. Three of the elected
Vice Presidents of the Executive Board will be responsible for the main
activity areas of the Group – Thomas Fertl (BioAustria) for Policy,
Sabine Eigenschink (Austria Bio Garantie) for Regulation, and Otto
Schmid (FiBl, Switzerland) for Research. Two other Vice Presidents
contribute further sectoral expertise – Karolina Dyrtrova (Bioinstitut,
Czech Republic) and Bavo van Idsert (Stichting Promotiebureau
Biologische Speciaalzaak, the Netherlands). Treasurer of the Group and a
member of the Executive Board is Gerald Altena (Debio, Norway).
Structural changes made will ensure the more efficient internal
decision-making needed for the timely adoption of positions on an
increasing number of policy issues – in which the Group provides
sectoral knowledge-based advocacy of relevance to the organic operators
in Europe.

www.ifoam-eu.org

4. IFOAM informs FAO committee members about organic advantages

During the April 2009 meeting of the FAO's (UN Food and Agriculture
Organization's) Committee on Agriculture, IFOAM helped organize a
successful side event on "Organic Agriculture, Climate Change and the
Environment," with more than 120 participants, including delegates from
at least 45 countries. The intent of the side event was to demonstrate
to the country delegations the important role that Organic Agriculture
could play in responding to social and environmental challenges that
food systems are facing and coping with growing food demands in times of
climate change. In this advocacy activity IFOAM received strong support
for the organization of the event from the Danish Ministry of
Agriculture, both through direct funding and through the involvement of
the Danish International Centre for Research in Organic Food Systems
(ICROFS).
The success of the side event was reflected in the final report of the
FAO Committee on Agriculture, which mentioned Organic Agriculture as a
tool for achieving sustainable agriculture. In addition, individual
members of the Committee on Agriculture stressed the need to strengthen
interdisciplinary work within FAO on issues such as water, biodiversity,
climate and Organic Agriculture.

ICROFS - International Centre for Research in Organic Food Systems
5. BioFach China 2009: good times for organic products in Shanghai

From 27th to 29th May 2009 international representatives from the market
for organically-produced goods came together for the third time at
BioFach China in Shanghai. The Chinese subsidiary of the world's leading
fair for organic products, BioFach Nuremberg, successfully celebrated
its third staging at its new venue, the International Exhibition Centre
INTEX Shanghai. 238 Chinese and international exhibitors from 12
countries and regions presented their extensive range of high-quality
organic products to the total of 10,375 (2008: 9,143) interested trade
visitors.

BioFach China - Press Releases

6. Comparison of organic labels in four countries

A comparison study comes to the conclusion that an official
certification and quality labelling system creates consumer confidence
and leads to more consumption of organic products. Danish consumers have
a higher degree of trust in the organic labels awarded in their country
than is the case for consumers in other countries where the state plays
a less significant role in terms of labelling and certification. The
Danish Research Institute ICROFS conducted a study on this issue in four
countries in 2008: the USA, Great Britain, Sweden and Denmark.

http://www.icrofs.org/pdf/icrofsnews/2009_2.pdf

7. Emergence of Organic Plus strategies

Global organic food sales have been increasing by over US $5 billion a
year, exceeding US $50 billion in 2008 according to the London based
consultancy Organic Monitor. However, single digit-growth could occur
for the first time this year because the global economic slowdown is
impacting organic product sales. Organic food sales are being affected
by the reduction in consumer spending power and declining investment
levels. The UK market has been the most adversely affected, with just 2%
growth reported in 2008. Organic Monitor finds another factor affecting
market growth is increasing consumer sophistication. Consumers are
demanding more from organic food products; they are increasingly looking
at ethical sourcing, traceability, the carbon footprint, sustainability
and corporate social responsibility. Recognising the changed consumer
behaviour, leading organic food companies are adopting ‘Organic Plus’
strategies.
Case studies of companies who have successfully implemented such
strategies will be given at the Sustainable Foods Summit on June 25-27th
in Amsterdam. Companies & organisations participating at the summit
include Eosta, Canaan Fair Trade, Tradin (SunOpta), Nature & More, IMO,
IBD, Soil Association, FLO, Earthoil, AgroFair and others.

Sustainable foods summit

8. Natural cosmetics on the up in the hotel trade

The Bio-Hotel Group, Europe’s only association of organic hotels, has
acquired 62 member hotels since it was founded eight years ago,
according to a report in the Welt. 34 of the Bio-Hotels are in Germany,
17 in Austria, 5 in Switzerland, 4 in Italy, and one each in Ireland and
France.
The logo with “BIO HOTELS” in red and a white figure on a green leaf
decorates hotels that guarantee their guests (almost) exclusively
organic food. Each hotel is obliged to use natural cosmetics from
selected manufacturers. Otherwise there are no binding standards apart
from food, but many Bio-Hotels use renewable energy and rainwater, are
insulated with natural materials, have rooms with metal-free beds, use
natural textiles and generate no electric smog.

Nachrichten und aktuelle Informationen aus Politik, Wirtschaft, Sport und Kultur - WELT ONLINE
(Grüne Welle in der Hotellerie - DIE WELT - WELT ONLINE)

www.bio-hotels.info

9. Publication of COSMOS standard

After six years of intensive work and an international public
consultation of three months, the European Cosmetics Standards Working
Group is pleased to release the final outcome with the publication of
COSMOS standard. The objective of this new Standard is ambitious and
goes beyond the harmonization of minimum requirements for organic and
natural cosmetics.
Recognising the challenges of maintaining the natural balance of the
planet and the responsibility of the 1,000 certified companies they
account for, the European group clearly shows its ambition to go further
with the setting of an internationally accepted standard for organic and
natural cosmetics.

COSMOS-standard.org

Events:

First IFOAM conference on organic animal and plant breeding

The Breeding Diversity Conference is the first IFOAM conference on
organic animal and plant breeding and takes place from the 25-28th of
August in Santa Fe, New Mexico/USA. After an intense period of revising
and evaluating a considerable number of submissions and workshop
proposals, the Program Committee of the Breeding Diversity Conference is
proud to announce the publication of the conference program.
Contributions from all over the world will be given to ensure a real
exchange of information and a basis for a multifaceted view on one of
the most crucial topics of Organic Production.

ifoam.org | International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM |)