The 17th Organic World Congress (OWC) of the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM), held in Gyeonggi Paldang, South Korea from September 26 to October 1, attracted close to 2000 participants from 76 countries.
The conference was hosted by the Gyeonggi Province, Namyangju City and the Korean Federation for Sustainable Agriculture (KFSA).
Together with the IFOAM World Congress the third conference of the International Society of Organic Agriculture Research (ISOFAR) was held.
The various side events, including the organic world fair and festival, drew in some 250'000 visitors, making this conference the most successful OWC in terms of attendance.
Organic museum
Just before the start of the Organic World Congress the new organic museum was opened. The seeds of the Namyangju Organic Museum were sown in 2008 when it was decided that such an institution would reinvigorate organic farming and promote good health. Construction began in 2010. The museum’s exhibits cover soil, seasonal farming methods, the era of the green revolution and regeneration through organics. At this museum, the General Assembly of IFOAM was held.
IFOAM General Assembly
After the World Congress, the General Assembly of IFOAM took place. At the General Assembly 49 percent of the IFOAM membership was represented in person and by proxy. Apart from ruling on a number of motions, the membership also elected a new World Board for a term of three years (see picture).
IFOAM's new president is Andre Leu from Australia. The two vice presidents are Roberto Ugas from Peru and Gabi Soto from Costa Rica.
Next IFOAM World Congress
The next IFOAM Organic World Congress will take place in October 2014 in Istanbul, Turkey. It will be organized by the Bugday Association for Supporting Ecological Living (www.bugdayglobal.org).
Further information
Links
- KOWC2011.org: Website of the 17th IFOAM Organic World Congress
- ISOFAR.org: 3rd ISOFAR Scientific Conference in the frame of the 17th IFOAM Organic World Congress in Gyeonggi Paldang, Republic of Korea 28 September - 1 October 2011
- IFOAM.org: Website of the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements IFOAM
- BugdayGlobal.org: English website of Bugday Association for Supporting Ecological Living
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