Veena Annadana
Well-Known Member
1. Jamaica: Natural and organic agriculture policy being planned
Head of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries' Agro-Investment
Corporation, Dr. David Lowe, has said that there is scope for the
development and growth of natural and organic agriculture in Jamaica
through a national policy framework for the sector. He was speaking at
the opening session of a two-day workshop on business opportunities in
the European natural and organic products market. The workshop was
organized by the Jamaica Wellness Cluster in collaboration with Organic
Monitor. The Cluster's objectives are to identify new and competitive
products, and to brand Jamaica as a premier location for health and
wellness. The workshop was conducted by Founder and Director of Organic
Monitor, Amarjit Sahota. Topics discussed at the workshop included:
Major Product Groups and Categories, Market Drivers and Restraints,
Product Trends, Standards and Certification Issues and Market Entry
Routes.
Government of Jamaica, Jamaica Information Service
2. Malaysia: Organic certification scheme to boost local aquaculture
The Fisheries Department is developing an organic certification scheme
under the Malaysian Aquaculture Farm Certification Scheme to help boost
the local aquaculture industry. Its Director-General, Datuk Junaidi Che
Ayub, said the move was in line with the government's aim to be among
the main contributors of organic fish and shrimps in Asean. Currently
all farms producing aquaculture products under the Common Fund for
Commodities/Food and Agriculture Organisation/INFOFISH -
CFC/FAO/INFOFISH Organic Aquaculture Project were getting certification
from Thailand's Organic Aquaculture Farms and Products Certification
Centre (OAPC), he said.
Malaysian National News Agency :: BERNAMA
3. Switzerland: Helvetas campaign for organic cotton
The development organization Helvetas organized a campaign in mid
October to attract attention to the fact that thousands of people die
every year due to pesticides used on cotton fields. It called upon
fashion suppliers and consumers to support organic cotton. The staff of
Helvetas had laid out some 30 stylized corpses of white cotton material
in the city centre of Bern. “20,000 people a year die as a result of
pesticides used on cotton fields,” was written in blood-red letters on
the symbolic victims. The organization has developed an online card tool
to help consumers find shops that stock clothing made of organic and
fair trade cotton.
Helvetas - Schweizer Gesellschaft für internationale Zusammenarbeit (Helvetas - Schweizer Gesellschaft für internationale Zusammenarbeit) and BIO-FAIR.ch | Fashion shop finder
(BIO-FAIR.ch | Fashion shop finder)
4. MUNDUSvini BioFach International Organic Wine Award
The MUNDUSvini BioFach International Organic Wine Award will be
presented for the first time at BioFach 2010. NürnbergMesse, the
organizer of BioFach, and the MUNDUSvini Wine Academy are combining
their expertise and interests to organize this competition.
MUNDUSvini is the biggest international wine competition in Germany and
the aim of the award is to boost communication of the outstanding
qualities of wine from all the winegrowing regions of the world.
All producers of organic wines have this unique opportunity to use an
international wine award to present their wine to the public. The
closing date for entries is 7.11.2009. The advantages: a sensory
assessment by international tasters and presentation of the
award-winning wines at BioFach and in a variety of trade publications.
Online registration is possible at www.webpass-online.com
(http://www.webpass-online.com).
Information: +49 (0)63 21 89 08 95 00
MUNDUS Vini
5. IFOAM: How to feed the world in 2050
On the occasion of the World Food Day, the agro-industry proposes a
second green revolution based on genetic engineering. This suits their
interests but does not contribute to feeding the poor. Organic
Agriculture based on its encouraging concepts, experience and examples
proposes a paradigm shift in food security policies to ensure that
hunger is history by 2050. IFOAM advocates a paradigm shift in
agricultural policies and offers its practices and systems to policy
makers for adoption especially in the global south and for regions with
food insecurity. Organic Agriculture puts the needs of rural people and
the sustainable use of natural resources at the centre of the farming
system. The slightly lower yields of Organic Agriculture in favorable,
temperate zones are compensated with approximately 10 - 20% higher
yields in difficult environments such as arid areas.
ifoam.org | International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements
6. USA: New data on organic supply chain
Unlike conventionally grown agricultural products, there is very little
information on organic production and marketing channels. Thus, many
organic producers are required to make decisions based on incomplete
information. The USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS) has released
data results from their 2004 and 2007 Nationwide Surveys of Organic
Manufacturers, Processors and Distributors. The survey covers a variety
of topics related to the procurement and contracting of organic products
and ingredients. Data is available for nine commodity groups and 45
commodities. The procurement data also includes information from 1,038
facilities in 2004 and 1,013 facilities in 2007 and details what
handlers are looking for from their suppliers, as well as what
assistance they offer to their suppliers. The data makes it possible for
farmers to better manage their marketing risk, while also giving
policymakers and researchers the first systematic look at the organic
supply chain.
USDA Economic Research Service - Home Page
7. Association founded for organic pesticides
The manufacturers of organic pesticides in Germany and Austria have
founded their own German-speaking national association within the
International Biocontrol Manufacturers Association (IBMA). Some 350
people work in the production of organic pesticides in Germany and
Austria alone. The customers not only include organic farms, but also
the areas used for the rest of agricultural production and for
ornamental plants and horticulture. The 19 association members are
innovative, mostly small enterprises, often spin-offs of universities,
which have initiated a dynamic, global interest group within the IBMA.
IBMA-D/A
8. dm drugstore turnover up 11 %
The drugstore chain dm completed another successful year of business in
2008/2009 at the end of September. The subgroup Austria together with
the associated countries in Central and Southeast Europe achieved a
turnover of 1.4 billion EUR, which is up 11.7 % (currency-adjusted). The
company operates in Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia,
Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Romania and Bulgaria and also
stocks a wide range of organic groceries in these countries.
The subsidiaries in Southeast Europe with a turnover of 884 million EUR
already contribute 60 % of the subgroup turnover in Austria. The
turnover of the whole group grew by more than 11.6 % to 5.2 billion EUR.
ots.at: dm drogerie markt zieht erfolgreiche Geschäftsjahresbilanz - ANHÄNGE =
9. Household goods of renewable raw materials
The newly developed material PROGANIC® offers an ecological alternative
to conventional plastic products. The wear-resistant biopolymer consists
of renewable raw materials and minerals, so it can be recycled naturally
without residues. The pilot product line from Propper comprises a
classic indoor watering can and decorative plant pots in various sizes
and colours. The material is water-resistant, approved for use with food
and can replace all common plastic household products. The new organic
line PROGANIC® is to be launched globally in spring/summer 2010.
Propper - Klebehaken, Verschlüsse, Giesskannen und vieles mehr...
10. Cross-border organic farming initiative
Organic associations from Baden-Württemberg and Alsace have launched a
cross-border initiative for developing joint statistics on the
profitability of organic farming (e.g. dairy farmers, winegrowers). The
data originate from 50 German and 50 French farms and vineyards from the
region and are to serve as the basis for persuading more conventional
growers to convert to organic. The number of organic units in Alsace
increased by almost 24 % in 2008 compared with the previous year. More
than 1,260 hectares – approx. 10 % – of the vineyards there are
cultivated to organic standards.
DailyGreen.de - Ökostrom, Biogas, Hybrid-Antrieb, Biosprit
11. Italy: Natural cosmetics benefit from Bio Eco Cosmesi certification
Italian consumers are discovering the value of natural and organic
beauty products: pharmacies and herbalist shops have actually recorded
growth (+3 % and +2 % respectively), while the cosmetics market as a
whole has experienced a setback in the first half of 2009. ICEA launched
the Bio Eco Cosmesi standard in 2002 (in the same period that the Soil
Association presented its own standard) and it was soon welcomed by AIAB
(Italian organic agriculture association). Today the turnover generated
by companies certified by Bio Eco Cosmesi (113 in Italy and 30 abroad,
also present in Japan and the U.S., for a total of 2,774 products) is
worth about 7 million euros. In line with the forecasts of Uniparo
(Italian association of cosmetics businesses), their market share is
growing.
Greenplanet.net - organic food natural lifestyle
12. Latvian ecological cosmetics brand successful in Japan
The Latvian brand Madara Ecological Cosmetics successfully entered the
Japanese market in 2009. Lotte Tisenkopfa-Iltnere, Cosmetics Director
and co-owner of the ecological cosmetics producer Madara, said the
company has established contacts with its cooperation partner in Japan,
Mitoku Co. Madara products are currently sold in Japanese department
stores and ecological cosmetics outlets. The Japanese customers value
Madara products for their quality and design. Japan is the country from
which Madara has received the most distribution offers.
The Baltic Course | Baltic States news & analytics
Head of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries' Agro-Investment
Corporation, Dr. David Lowe, has said that there is scope for the
development and growth of natural and organic agriculture in Jamaica
through a national policy framework for the sector. He was speaking at
the opening session of a two-day workshop on business opportunities in
the European natural and organic products market. The workshop was
organized by the Jamaica Wellness Cluster in collaboration with Organic
Monitor. The Cluster's objectives are to identify new and competitive
products, and to brand Jamaica as a premier location for health and
wellness. The workshop was conducted by Founder and Director of Organic
Monitor, Amarjit Sahota. Topics discussed at the workshop included:
Major Product Groups and Categories, Market Drivers and Restraints,
Product Trends, Standards and Certification Issues and Market Entry
Routes.
Government of Jamaica, Jamaica Information Service
2. Malaysia: Organic certification scheme to boost local aquaculture
The Fisheries Department is developing an organic certification scheme
under the Malaysian Aquaculture Farm Certification Scheme to help boost
the local aquaculture industry. Its Director-General, Datuk Junaidi Che
Ayub, said the move was in line with the government's aim to be among
the main contributors of organic fish and shrimps in Asean. Currently
all farms producing aquaculture products under the Common Fund for
Commodities/Food and Agriculture Organisation/INFOFISH -
CFC/FAO/INFOFISH Organic Aquaculture Project were getting certification
from Thailand's Organic Aquaculture Farms and Products Certification
Centre (OAPC), he said.
Malaysian National News Agency :: BERNAMA
3. Switzerland: Helvetas campaign for organic cotton
The development organization Helvetas organized a campaign in mid
October to attract attention to the fact that thousands of people die
every year due to pesticides used on cotton fields. It called upon
fashion suppliers and consumers to support organic cotton. The staff of
Helvetas had laid out some 30 stylized corpses of white cotton material
in the city centre of Bern. “20,000 people a year die as a result of
pesticides used on cotton fields,” was written in blood-red letters on
the symbolic victims. The organization has developed an online card tool
to help consumers find shops that stock clothing made of organic and
fair trade cotton.
Helvetas - Schweizer Gesellschaft für internationale Zusammenarbeit (Helvetas - Schweizer Gesellschaft für internationale Zusammenarbeit) and BIO-FAIR.ch | Fashion shop finder
(BIO-FAIR.ch | Fashion shop finder)
4. MUNDUSvini BioFach International Organic Wine Award
The MUNDUSvini BioFach International Organic Wine Award will be
presented for the first time at BioFach 2010. NürnbergMesse, the
organizer of BioFach, and the MUNDUSvini Wine Academy are combining
their expertise and interests to organize this competition.
MUNDUSvini is the biggest international wine competition in Germany and
the aim of the award is to boost communication of the outstanding
qualities of wine from all the winegrowing regions of the world.
All producers of organic wines have this unique opportunity to use an
international wine award to present their wine to the public. The
closing date for entries is 7.11.2009. The advantages: a sensory
assessment by international tasters and presentation of the
award-winning wines at BioFach and in a variety of trade publications.
Online registration is possible at www.webpass-online.com
(http://www.webpass-online.com).
Information: +49 (0)63 21 89 08 95 00
MUNDUS Vini
5. IFOAM: How to feed the world in 2050
On the occasion of the World Food Day, the agro-industry proposes a
second green revolution based on genetic engineering. This suits their
interests but does not contribute to feeding the poor. Organic
Agriculture based on its encouraging concepts, experience and examples
proposes a paradigm shift in food security policies to ensure that
hunger is history by 2050. IFOAM advocates a paradigm shift in
agricultural policies and offers its practices and systems to policy
makers for adoption especially in the global south and for regions with
food insecurity. Organic Agriculture puts the needs of rural people and
the sustainable use of natural resources at the centre of the farming
system. The slightly lower yields of Organic Agriculture in favorable,
temperate zones are compensated with approximately 10 - 20% higher
yields in difficult environments such as arid areas.
ifoam.org | International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements
6. USA: New data on organic supply chain
Unlike conventionally grown agricultural products, there is very little
information on organic production and marketing channels. Thus, many
organic producers are required to make decisions based on incomplete
information. The USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS) has released
data results from their 2004 and 2007 Nationwide Surveys of Organic
Manufacturers, Processors and Distributors. The survey covers a variety
of topics related to the procurement and contracting of organic products
and ingredients. Data is available for nine commodity groups and 45
commodities. The procurement data also includes information from 1,038
facilities in 2004 and 1,013 facilities in 2007 and details what
handlers are looking for from their suppliers, as well as what
assistance they offer to their suppliers. The data makes it possible for
farmers to better manage their marketing risk, while also giving
policymakers and researchers the first systematic look at the organic
supply chain.
USDA Economic Research Service - Home Page
7. Association founded for organic pesticides
The manufacturers of organic pesticides in Germany and Austria have
founded their own German-speaking national association within the
International Biocontrol Manufacturers Association (IBMA). Some 350
people work in the production of organic pesticides in Germany and
Austria alone. The customers not only include organic farms, but also
the areas used for the rest of agricultural production and for
ornamental plants and horticulture. The 19 association members are
innovative, mostly small enterprises, often spin-offs of universities,
which have initiated a dynamic, global interest group within the IBMA.
IBMA-D/A
8. dm drugstore turnover up 11 %
The drugstore chain dm completed another successful year of business in
2008/2009 at the end of September. The subgroup Austria together with
the associated countries in Central and Southeast Europe achieved a
turnover of 1.4 billion EUR, which is up 11.7 % (currency-adjusted). The
company operates in Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia,
Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Romania and Bulgaria and also
stocks a wide range of organic groceries in these countries.
The subsidiaries in Southeast Europe with a turnover of 884 million EUR
already contribute 60 % of the subgroup turnover in Austria. The
turnover of the whole group grew by more than 11.6 % to 5.2 billion EUR.
ots.at: dm drogerie markt zieht erfolgreiche Geschäftsjahresbilanz - ANHÄNGE =
9. Household goods of renewable raw materials
The newly developed material PROGANIC® offers an ecological alternative
to conventional plastic products. The wear-resistant biopolymer consists
of renewable raw materials and minerals, so it can be recycled naturally
without residues. The pilot product line from Propper comprises a
classic indoor watering can and decorative plant pots in various sizes
and colours. The material is water-resistant, approved for use with food
and can replace all common plastic household products. The new organic
line PROGANIC® is to be launched globally in spring/summer 2010.
Propper - Klebehaken, Verschlüsse, Giesskannen und vieles mehr...
10. Cross-border organic farming initiative
Organic associations from Baden-Württemberg and Alsace have launched a
cross-border initiative for developing joint statistics on the
profitability of organic farming (e.g. dairy farmers, winegrowers). The
data originate from 50 German and 50 French farms and vineyards from the
region and are to serve as the basis for persuading more conventional
growers to convert to organic. The number of organic units in Alsace
increased by almost 24 % in 2008 compared with the previous year. More
than 1,260 hectares – approx. 10 % – of the vineyards there are
cultivated to organic standards.
DailyGreen.de - Ökostrom, Biogas, Hybrid-Antrieb, Biosprit
11. Italy: Natural cosmetics benefit from Bio Eco Cosmesi certification
Italian consumers are discovering the value of natural and organic
beauty products: pharmacies and herbalist shops have actually recorded
growth (+3 % and +2 % respectively), while the cosmetics market as a
whole has experienced a setback in the first half of 2009. ICEA launched
the Bio Eco Cosmesi standard in 2002 (in the same period that the Soil
Association presented its own standard) and it was soon welcomed by AIAB
(Italian organic agriculture association). Today the turnover generated
by companies certified by Bio Eco Cosmesi (113 in Italy and 30 abroad,
also present in Japan and the U.S., for a total of 2,774 products) is
worth about 7 million euros. In line with the forecasts of Uniparo
(Italian association of cosmetics businesses), their market share is
growing.
Greenplanet.net - organic food natural lifestyle
12. Latvian ecological cosmetics brand successful in Japan
The Latvian brand Madara Ecological Cosmetics successfully entered the
Japanese market in 2009. Lotte Tisenkopfa-Iltnere, Cosmetics Director
and co-owner of the ecological cosmetics producer Madara, said the
company has established contacts with its cooperation partner in Japan,
Mitoku Co. Madara products are currently sold in Japanese department
stores and ecological cosmetics outlets. The Japanese customers value
Madara products for their quality and design. Japan is the country from
which Madara has received the most distribution offers.
The Baltic Course | Baltic States news & analytics