The Korean Organizing Committee for the 17th Organic World Congress of the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM OWC) in 2011, has been officially launched.

On Feb. 5, the 60 members of the organizing committee convened at the Gyeonggi Provincial Office. At the meeting, articles of association were made, officials were elected and business plans were approved. They also discussed detailed terms on the agreement for the 17th IFOAM OWC, which will be held in Nuremberg, Germany on the Feb. 20.

At the meeting, Governor Kim Moon-soo of Gyeonggi Province was appointed as chairman of the committee, Mayor Lee Seok-woo of Namyangju City and Chairman Cho Hyun-sun of the Korea Federation of Sustainable Agriculture Organizations, or KFSAO, as vice chairmen, and Professor Seo Jong-hyuk of Hankyong University, as executive commissioner.

The Korean organizing committee, made up of 59 (10 officials and counselors, 10 advisors, 12 board members and 24 executive committeemen) is in charge of preparing IFOAM WOC. A task force will be set up at the Gyeonggi Province Office.

Another conclusion from the meeting was the hosting of the Asia Organic Movement Congress between Oct. 20 and Oct. 24 with 50 Asian countries participating to promote the IFOAM WOC 2011.

The World Congress will be held for nine days from Sep. 27, 2011 to Oct. 5, 2011, in Paldang area, Namyangju City. Activities at the IFOAM WOC 2011 consist of organic congresses, seminars for the development of organic agriculture, organic exhibitions and the IFOAM General Assembly.

Governor Kim said in his welcoming statement, “The IFOAM OWC is extremely meaningful for our agricultural development and future. The event will definitely contribute to the development of organic agriculture both in and beyond Korea. Gyunggi Province will fully support the successful host of the Congress and development of organic agriculture.”

Mayor Lee said, “We need to take full advantage of human and material organic agricultural resources to host the event successfully. Let¡？s write a new chapter of organic agriculture history moving beyond what we have known so far.”