Organic World Congress to Steal the Show!
(August 29, 2011)

IFOAM Vice President Andre Leu visits Korea for a last check.
“Korea is the future of world agriculture.”

– Andre Leu, Vice President of IFOAM, visited the Sports & Culture Center in, Namyangju where the event will take place. He also visited the organic museum and other locations for related events. He remarked that he is more than certain this event will be the best OWC yet. ( G News Plus)

“Korea’s small farms are proof that it is possible to produce efficiently with minimum resources.”

Andre Leu, Vice President of IFOAM, visited Korea between August 26th and 28th for a final check on preparations for the upcoming 17th OWC to be hosted by Gyeonggi Province. During his interview with G News Plus at Hotel Riviera in Cheongdam-dong, Seoul, he expressed his satisfaction with the progress so far and his certainty that the 2011 OWC will be a success.

Vice President Leu shared his enthusiasm for improving agriculture in developing countries as a means of solving chronic poverty. He saw new potential in Korea¢®?s small farms, stating that, “Korea’s agriculture is the future of world agriculture.”

Speaking about IFOAM, Leu also said that,”Government policies and support leans towards large agriculture groups, so we concentrate on small farming for the sake of balance. I am keen to develop and promote ecological agriculture that focuses on generating great harvests from limited resources. This will solve world poverty and food shortages”

-What were your thoughts on the 17th Organic World Congress site?

“I am very happy to be here in Korea where the congress will be held. After having a close look at how things are proceeding, I am certain that the 2011 event will be a smashing success. I was also very pleased by the hard work of the steering committee members. It is also great that the G-Food Show, the Farmer’s Market, and Slow Food event will be able to be run in conjunction with the main event. This year’s congress will boost sustainable agriculture and sustainable food systems.”

“People tend to think organic farming only upaccounts for a small portion of the food market. In fact, it is a KRW 60 trillion international market. I hope people will be able to see that organic agriculture is the fastest growing field in the world and that this event affects all parts of the world.

-How was Korea selected to host the 17th OWC from among all the other countries in Asia?

“Korea happened to have all the qualities we were looking for. The whole world is astonished at Asia’s explosive growth. By the looks of the general flow, Europe and North America’s economies are collapsing whereas the whole Asian region, including Australia, is experiencing unprecedented growth. I believe it is time they show the world that they are fit to become the next leader. It was not a coincidence that an Asian country was chosen as the next host at the Modena Conference in Italy three years ago. This is a great opportunity to show the world an Asian model.”

“Another important reason the event is being hosted in Korea is its potential as a new international model. Korea is very competitive in the IT, motor, and machinery industries. The nation’s growing small-scale and high-efficiency agriculture system is worth looking into. Korea can become a benchmark for developing countries such as Cambodia, Myanmar, Uganda, Rwanda, and Tanzania. This is the future of world agriculture – it will end poverty and improve the quality of human life.”

-How would you rate Korea’s organic agriculture?

“Korea’s small farming is quite astonishing because a small piece of land can produce so much. I praise Koreans as being the best farmers. The farmers are doing great, but it is important to stay humble and to continue to progress in order to stay at the front of the line. I hope we can share technology and information with people from all parts of the world this OWC so that we can move forward in a better direction.”

-Vice President Andre Leu said, “I hope this event will mark a new beginning for its host, Gyeonggi Province, and the Korean organic agriculture. Korea’s central government should take notice of Gyeonggi Province’s activities and start getting involved in the organic farming movement.” ( G News Plus)

-You say that the organic agriculture market is worth KRW 60 trillion. What are your thoughts on how to expand it?

“Expanding the market is a difficult task. Most organic food consumers are parents. Most countries support agricultural management and agricultural economics instead of organic farming itself. They are more focused on making big profits through gene manipulation, which is a macroeconomic approach to the matter.”

“But organic culture takes a different approach. It is more about small farming and small economies. From an economic point of view it is much more efficient in terms of invested resources and the volume of produce.”

“Despite its small scale, government support is a must. Organic agriculture needs government support for the right policies to come into action. The government must set up criteria for investment in organic agriculture. Next is education. More people should have access to organic agriculture education in schools and local community centers because this will stimulate related R&D. That is why government policies are very important.”

-You are one of the strongest candidates for this year’s election of the next president. If you are elected, in what direction do you plan to take IFOAM?

“If I am elected president by the world congress, I want to contribute to small farming by concentrating on developing ecological agriculture that maximizes resource efficiency. I believe this will help solve the food shortages that are plaguing the world.”

“Other important issues would be education, the organic agriculture environment, climate change, and the general health of fellow human beings. The next issue is trading. There is too much red tape regarding organic produce or agricultural produce in general. I want to remove those barriers. The only way small-scale farmers can tap into a potential market is through trade. They must have better access to wealthy economies for better rewards and they must improve their working conditions.”

“Again, the focus is on small farming, community, and ‘locality. Most farmers in developing countries are self-sufficient. They are unable to create a profit because of their inability to produce more than to meet their needs. I want to see them gain wealth, send their children to school, and think about health. It would be a great improvement to their lives.”

“For this reason, Korea is an important model because it is already doing what I mentioned. It will be a good example for us to learn from.”

-How would you sum up this event for a newcomer?

“The OWC is not only for farmers, consumers, and distributors. Anyone is invited to come to this event. We want to draw a big picture of what we are trying to do.”

“The OWC is also called ‘the World Organic Olympics,’ because people of all trades come together under one organization to share information. Farmers will get information on produce. Consumers will get more information on products. We are like friends that are scattered around the planet. In other words, this is a perfect chance for networking.”

– Andre Leu visited the 17th OWC site during his stay in Korea. He is reviewing the bird’s-eye view of the event as part of his duty to check pre-event preparations. ( G News Plus
)

-Many local organizations from Gyeonggi Province, such as Namyangju City and Yangpyeong County, will take part in hosting the show. Gyeonggi Province has long been investing in organic agriculture. What do you think of their achievements?

“I am very glad to hear that these local organizations are supporting the congress. I hope this can attract other organizations other than government-related ones and establish a positive relationship with IFOAM. If this event can spark a new organic agriculture movement in Korea, it would be most ideal. Korea’s central government should learn from Gyeonggi Province and host similar events of its own.”

-You gave a speech at a volunteer education program during your stay. What was your speech about?

“First, I thanked them for the opportunity, and then I explained how they will be ambassadors of Korea at this international event. This will be their chance to promote and give a good impression of Korea to others.”

-Some point out that your organization stops at supporting small-scale organic farmers and not paying enough attention to bigger operations.

“We need both large and small-scale farming. In Australia, rice and carrots are grown on thousands of hectares because there is a demand in the cities. We are more concerned about the small-scale farmers around the world who are not eligible to reap the benefits of government and public facilities. Small-scale farming is the most efficient form of agriculture. Because economic policies concentrate on major farming, we intend to turn to small farms for the sake of balance. Korea is a good example of amplified production.”

-What made you become part of the IFOAM movement after having been a scholar? What gives you a sense of fulfillment?

“I have a master’s degree in Education. I was a farmer for four years, but I had to fight chronic asthma. During my time on the farm, I realized how important it is to eat healthy. That’s how I started participating in the organic movement.”

“Now is the moment I feel most rewarded! Thirty years ago we were treated as outsiders, and misunderstood as being against science. Our ‘ecological science’ approach was new in those days, but it has become a major trend. I think the current agriculture system is firmly based on science.”

Vice President Andre Leu studied at the University of Technology, Sydney, and is now an expert on organic tropical fruits and has his own orchard. He is also the world’s leading researcher on lotuses. He served Gyeonggi Province as an advisor when the Dumulmeori ecological park of Semiwon in Yangpyeong was being developed back in 2007, and was declared an honorary citizen as of Gyeonggi Province’s in July of 2009.

IFOAM was first established in France in 1972 as an international organization for organic producers, processors, distributors, and scholars. There are 700 registered member groups from 130 countries.

IFOAM OWC is an international symposium that tours the continents every three years. The 17th OWC will be led by organizers consisting of local organizations and private groups, unlike its predecessors, which were all private

– Vice President Andre Leu is encourages steering committee members and other related personnel after his tour around the 17th OWC site.( G News Plus)

How will the 17th OWC be organized?

The OWC, also known as the “Olympics of Agriculture,” will be held September 16th to October 5th -– 10 days in total –- at the Sports & Culture Center, of Namyangju City and at Semiwon in Yangpyeong County.

It is the first congress to be hosted in Asia. It is expected that 1,100 people from 110 countries will come to participate in the event in Gyeonggi Province along with over 20,000 local visitors.

The congress will be accompanied by the presentation of 982 academic theses from 72 countries. This year’s general congress will determine the IFOAM certification criteria and decide the OWC’s next destination at the Sports & Culture Center, Namyangju, and the Namyangju Organic Museum.

There are numerousof things for visitors to see and do. The organic fair, organic tour, organic theme park, the 5th Gyeonggi Province G-Food Show, the national rice cake mastery competition, Ssamzi Rock Festival, and the Slow Food Contest are just a few of the things that will be going on.

The organic fair and the G-Food Show will feature 400 booths operated by 100 companies from 30 different countries. Local companies will have the opportunity to introduce their fresh agricultural produce, processed foods, organic makeup, fabrics, and toys for foreign export.

The Ssamzi Rock Festival, a noon concert, and an organic film festival are also among the events that visitors may find interesting.

– G News Plus News | Lim Jeong-seon isim123@hanmail.net

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