Asia’s First Organic World Congress
Createdd 2011-07-22 Hit 753
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Asia’s First Organic World Congress
(July 12,2011)
Gyeonggi Province will host Asia’s first gathering of world organic food producers at its IFOAM Organic World Congress in the Paldang area from September 26th to October 5th, 2011.
Governor Kim Moon-Soo visited the IFOAM headquarters in Germany back in June 2007 to convey provincial interest in hosting the 17th Organic World Congress. In June 2008, the local government dispatched a promotional team to Modena, Italy, where the 16th Organic World Contest was taking place. After a stiff competition with other candidates, including Taiwan and the Philippines, Korea received 191 votes to become the next host.
IFOAM is a union of organic farmers, manufacturers, and distributors from around the world who are dedicated to producing safe food by promoting organic practices and preserving the environment. Their main activities include disseminating organic technologies, establishing international certification, and setting international standards for organic foods.
IFOAM was founded in France in 1972 and now has 110 member nations and 780 enlisted groups, 48 of which are Korean including the Korean Federation of Sustainable Agricultural Organizations, the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture, and Dankook University.
The IFOAM OWC is a symposium that moves from continent to continent every three years. Programs include themed conferences, organic food fairs, IFOAM general meetings, and more. The 15th event was held in Australia in 2005, followed by Italy in 2008, while the next event will be held in the Paldang area (Sports and Culture Center, Namyangju City).
The 17th Organic Food Congress is unique because, unlike other organic food events, it is managed via governance, a collaborative undertaking between the local government and the public. It is a new model in which consumers and producers come together. Many interactive programs are being prepared for the participants.
The symposium will take place from September 26th to 28th, and eight topics will be discussed at separate conferences, including organic liquor (Yangpyeong), organic ginseng (Pocheon), organic fabric/makeup (Namyangju), urban agriculture (Gyeonggi-do Agricultural Research & Extension Services), organic seafood (Uljin), organic breeds (Goesan/Heuksalim), and organic tea (Jeju Island), to promote the Organic Food Congress.
The opening ceremony will take place at the Sports and Culture Center, Namyangju, in front of over three thousand guests. The actual event will run from September 29th to October 1st, and will feature introductions, workshops, and theme presentations from local and overseas scholars, agricultural representatives, and consumers.
Nine hundred and sixty-four papers were registered for presentation at the upcoming congress, a 10% increase over the 880 registered for the last congress in Modena, Italy. Some 800 papers have been selected, 500 of which will be presented during the congress and 300 during the post session.
Three hundred and fifty representatives of the member organizations will attend the 20th IFOAM General Meeting on October 4th and 5th to vote for the next host city, select the next chairman and director, and set the future direction of world organic farming.
The public can attend the G-Food Show and Organic Fair at the Sports and Culture Center in Namyangju from September 28th to October 2nd. On display will be fresh organic produce, organic processed foods, organic makeup, organic fabrics, organic toys, and other goods from all over the world. It is expected that the exhibition will stimulate sales between participating companies.
Organic farms all over the nation are busily preparing for the upcoming event. There will be local tour programs on Korean traditional culture as well as a Korea-Japan-China organic tour program especially for participants from Europe and the Americas.
The organic tour will travel through Hongseong, Yangpyeong and Namyangju, and will also feature the Paju DMZ peace tour and temple stay experience during the event period. A Japan tour is also scheduled after the event (from October 6th to 9th).
Gyeonggi Province’s hosting of the IFOAM Organic World Congress represents a great chance to promote Korea’s organic farming, products and related technology. This will also be a great opportunity to foster further organic cultivation and consumption around the world, as well as to promote organic processed foods, organic toys, and organic daily products.
Over one thousand overseas visitors from 110 different countries and 20,000 local spectators are expected to attend the event. Gyeonggi Province will enjoy great PR, and the event is also expected to stimulate the local economy.
Gyeonggi Province has also founded an organic farming district to establish the infrastructure required for the future of organic farming. There will be long-term investments aimed at expanding organic food distribution and consumption. The Organic Produce Distribution Center is being built and more organic food will appear in cafeterias in the future.
The local government declared the
2020 Organic Vision to promote the Organic World Congress and will also host the East Asia Conference and International Organic Symposium. Gyeonggi Province also participated in Biofach Fairs in the US, Germany, China, and India to create a buzz on the upcoming event.
The government will review transportation, parking, food and beverage facilities, and other factors that will effect visitor convenience before the event. Gyeonggi Province will become much more engaged in terms of agriculture and lead the way to healthy eating through the success of the Organic World Congress.
Kim Jeong-han of the Gyeonggi Province Agricultural Administration Bureau said, “If the Organic World Congress is successful, then the local organic market will boom and the effects will lead to the expansion of the organic processed food, organic cosmetics, and other related industries. This will be a great boost for the local economy.” He invited Gyeonggi Province residents and all Korean citizens to come and visit the coming event to experience the benefits of organic goods.
Inquiries: Agricultural Products & Distribution Division +82-31-8008-4475
