For ten years, FAO, IFOAM and UNCTAD have worked in partnership to address and reduce barriers to trade of organic products resulting from the global proliferation of organic standards and technical regulations. At this high-level International Conference, scheduled for 13 and 14 February at Nuremberg Messe (just prior to BioFach) the partners draw together a distinguished group of public and private sector leaders to examine the past, present and future of organic market access relative to systems of organic standards and conformity assessment. The conference looks at emerging issues, such as the potential for organic standards to promote the growth of organic agriculture vis-à-vis their potential to stifle growth. Developments and challenges for dominant and emerging exporting/importing economies and for still-developing countries are highlighted and discussed. Models of public-private and regional cooperation are considered as potential pathways for global solutions to the challenges.
The following eminent keynote speakers (three confirmed and one invited as of this newsletter) are featured in the Conference:
- Harsha Singh, Deputy Director-General, World Trade Organization (confirmed)
Dr. Singh’s scope of oversight at WTO is the Agriculture and Commodities Division, Trade and Environment He has served in his post since 2005. Dr. Singh was also a member of several High Level WTO Committees and served as Chair of several high-profile WTO dispute settlement panels.
- Kathleen Merrigan, Deputy Secretary, United States Department of Agriculture (confirmed)
Dr. Merrigan works alongside Secretary Tom Vilsack to oversee the day-to-day operation of USDA’s many programs and spearheads the $149 billion USDA budget process. She serves on the President’s Management Council, working with other Cabinet Deputies to improve accountability and performance across the federal government. Under an appointment by President Bill Clinton, Merrigan was Administrator of the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service from 1999 to 2001, where she oversaw the development of the final National Organic Program regulation.
- Franz Fischler, President, Eco-Social Forum and former Commissioner of Agicultur, Rural Development and Fisheries, European Union (confirmed)
Franz Fischler, former Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development and Fisheries of the European Union, has been the President of the Eco Social Forum Europe since December 2004. He also runs his own consultancy business and is a lecturer in great demand. Dr. Fischler was recently one of the six candidates for the post of Director-General for the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
- Tumusiime Rhoda Peace, Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture African Union Commission (invited)
The portfolio of Her Excellency Tumusiime Rhoda Peace, the African Union’s Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture covers multiple sectors ranging from crop agriculture, livestock, fisheries, forestry, land, water, environment, climate change, climate services, disaster risk reduction to rural development. She has closely worked with other Pan African Institutions and Development Partner Agencies in all those areas to secure and provide support to AU Member States, increasing responses in the framework of the Comprehensive African Agriculture Programme (CAADP).
In addition to the keynote speakers, participants are afforded an opportunity to discuss key issues with distinguished government and private-sector speakers from Bhutan, Brazil, Canada, Costa Rica, China, Great Britain, France, India, the Netherlands, Sri Lanka and United States. Representatives of intergovernmental and international organizations such as The European Commission, International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements, International Trade Commission, International Organic Accreditation Service and Pacific Islands Community are also expected also contribute to the presentations and discussions.
Program information and registration
A detailed program and registration information will be available on the GOMA website in September. Inquiries can be sent to goma-conference@ifoam.org.