Organized by Avalon in cooperation with IFOAM Organics International

You are cordially invited to join the conference on Organic Farming and Our Future Food System, taking place on Friday 12 October in Oosterwolde, The Netherlands. Register now. 

The organic farming concept and practice might not be the solution for all socio-economic and environmental problems that humankind faces today. But it is one of the “second-best” alternatives. A vast body of scientific evidence, as well as achievements from practice, indicate that organic farming scores quite well on major sustainability parameters. It delivers a range of public goods and services, while at the same time generating socio-economic benefits. It is farming for people, planet and profit. However, it still has to overcome several challenges, such as lower yields. 

Our future food can only be Soil Food, based on a healthy soil, and the farmer who produces this is the doctor of the future, who will heal the earth"

The organic sector has become part of the mainstream and is scaling-up. However, in doing this, it should strive to retain its integrity and remain committed to its basic principles. This is a delicate and challenging task. This conference will present the state-of-the-art of the organic farming sector and will discuss the way forward for future development and its consequences for society.

Objectives

The conference objectives are to:

1. Inform about the latest findings on potentials and challenges of organic farming in respect to its contribution to our future food system and to both human health and healthy ecosystems.
2. Discuss successful business cases, transition paths and policies fostering adoption of organic farming. 
3. Provide the opportunity to exchange ideas and visions on the future development of organic farming.
4. Discuss the feasibility and consequences of scaling-up organic farming.

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Who will attend?
The conference will bring together a range of stakeholders working on new approaches to food and farming: farmers, policy makers, NGOs, researchers, farm advisors, students, businessmen and others.
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Programme Highlights

​Going organic 100%: a myth or reality?
Dr Vandana Shiva Director, Navdanya (IND)

Contribution of organic farming in helping to solve global environmental and socio-economic problems 
Prof Hans Herren President, Millennium Institute (CH); World Board member IFOAM Organics International (D-CH)

Environmental, economic and health consequences of widespread conversion to organic farming: results from six case studies 
Dr Darko Znaor Principal Consultant, Avalon Foundation (NL-HR)

​Importance of soil organic matter and how to increase it - with special emphasis on contribution of organic farming
Prof Rattan Lal Director, Carbon Management and Sequestration Center, Ohio State University (USA); President, International Union of Soil Sciences

Organic farming and ecosystems
John Liu Commonland Foundation (NL-China)
Prof Jan Willem Erisman Director, Louis Bolk Institute (NL)
Prof Gerold Rahmann Professor, Thünen-Institute of Agricultural; Technology and Biosystems Engineering (D); World Board member IFOAM Organics International (D-CH)
Sonja Karoglan Todorović Director, Environmental Institute Ecologica (HR)

Organic Farming and Business
Volkert Engelsman CEO, Eosta (NL)
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​Contribution of organic farming to food quality and human health
Prof Tim Lang Professor, City University London (UK)

Organic farming and policy
Prof Nic Lampkin Executive Director, Organic Research Centre (UK)

Tickets are available for 150 EUR Special student rates available. Only 250 seats available

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Soil Food Week

The International Conference Organic Farming and our Future Food System is part of the Soil Food Week taking place from 10 - 13 October in Oosterwolde / Drachten. The symposium Symphony of Soils on 11 October and Festival B on the basis of your health on October 13 are part of this as well as the Frisian Day of Sustainability on 10 October. For more info: www.soilfoodweek.nl
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About the organizers
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Avalon
Avalon is an international foundation, based in the Netherlands. Since 1991 Avalon has been serving the organic movement in the countries with economies in transition. It has implemented over a hundred demonstration, research, education, policy making and organic farming awareness åraising projects related to organic farming and agri-environmental projects in almost 40 countries. Avalon has been providing technical, financial, policy and various other forms of support to ministries, universities, organic NGOs and other stakeholders. 
 
Avalon runs a vast network of nearly 200 organisations working on the mentioned themes. These are organic, environmental and nature protection NGOs, universities, research institutes, businesses, ministries and individuals from over 30 countries, who seek to unite their efforts in shaping an organic future. 
 
In 2018 part of Avalon's work was focused on the Netherlands. It implemented a major study on consequences of large-scale conversion to organic farming on economy, environment and health of the Northern Netherlands region. This is a comprehensive agronomic, economic and environmental assessment based on true cost accounting including externalities of farming, fertiliser and feedstuff industry.

www.avalon.nl

IFOAM Organics International
Founded in 1972, it is the only international umbrella organization for the organic world, uniting diverse range of stakeholders contributing to the organic vision.

Day by day, IFOAM Organics International works towards true sustainability in agriculture, from the field through the value chain to the consumer. From building awareness among the public and advocating for sustainable policy, to building capacity and facilitating the transition of farmers to organic agriculture, everything it does aims to strengthen the organic movement and lead it forward. IFOAM Organics International has Affiliates in more than 120 countries.

www.ifoam.bio