Holmbeck EcoConsult * Organic policy & market strategies * IFOAM World Board Member * Climate & Food Security
IFOAM - Organics International represents organic farmers around the world. Not least the millions of smallholder farmers in the global south, often women, who farm just an acre or two, or three. We have taken a stand in a lawsuit against the USDA where the result could threaten an accessible, affordable and robust organic certification of "grower groups" that gives millions of organic farmers, most all in the global south, access to global markets while ensuring the integrity of organic labelling. The case is brought by a hazelnut farmer in the US, who believes that the certifications risk fraud. While we also see ways that grower group certification can be improved and have fought for decades to create the global organic certification that gives a strong guarantee to consumers (and producers), this is one baby we will not throw out with the bathwater. As is often the case, the debate has gone off the rails in the US, with watchdogs seeing conspiracy, and too many forgetting the millions of smallholder organic farmers and their family members and communities being impacted. As IFOAM president Karen Mapusua, Fiji, writes: “Grower groups play a key role in supporting organic farming and provide organic market access for millions of honest, hard-working smallholder farmers that care for the land and provide ecological benefits. As a result, they should be considered a strong force for good in rapidly scaling climate and nature-friendly farming that mitigates and addresses the biggest crises of our times.” Karen adds: "There is no place for fraud in the organic sector. The allegations made in the complaint deserve a thorough investigation using the stringent processes built into organic guarantee systems designed to detect and tackle fraud where it occurs. If fraud is uncovered, those perpetrating it should be dealt with to the full extent of the law to protect the integrity and reputation of organic agriculture worldwide." See the full statement, and an “explainer” about grower group certification for smallholder organic farmers here: https://lnkd.in/dhMJCbhi See how we work with grower group certification and training here: https://lnkd.in/dkPfYXYa And guidelines here: https://lnkd.in/dA5G35j4 La Via Campesina, IFOAM Organics Europe, Organic Trade Association, Real Organic Project, Ryan Zinn, Dr. Bronner's, Vladyslav Zhmailo, Organic Insider, Agroecology Coalition, National Organic Agricultural Movement of Uganda. TOAM TANZANIA ORGANIC AGRICULTURE MOVEMENT, Rwanda Organic Agriculture Movement (ROAM), Markus Arbenz, Konrad Hauptfleisch, Flávia Moura e Castro, Naturland - Association for Organic Agriculture, Tradin Organic https://lnkd.in/dhMJCbhi
