Argentina will host for the first time the Assembly of the Inter-American Commission for Organic Agriculture

From 8th to August 10th, Argentina will host for the first time the Ordinary Meeting on Organic Production Food of the Inter-American Commission for Organic Agriculture (CIAO). In the eighth edition of this Assembly, to be held in Buenos Aires, the proposed work plan for the period 2016-2017 will be presented. After this event, on August 11, will take place the International Seminar on Organic Production, organized by the Ministry of Agro Industry of Argentina (Minagri).

In addition to the host country, this edition of the inter-American meeting on organic food production, which has been held since 2008, will be attended by representatives of Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Spain, United States, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras , Nicaragua, Mexico, Panama, Dominican Republic, Paraguay, Peru, Venezuela and Uruguay.

In this meeting also will participate officials of the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), an organization that develops the Executive Secretariat of the Commission.

The CIAO is formed by the competent authorities of Control and Development of Organic Agriculture in the countries involved, responsible for regulating the activity and ensure the organic status of products. Its functions include the cash register of producers, processors, traders, input manufacturers, inspectors, certifiers, etc. In addition, they have the obligation to audit them, keep statistics of the work and propose amendments to the rules of organic production, among others. All, with the support of IICA.

Currently, 19 member countries make up this Commission over Spain participating as an observer. This Commission was created by a resolution of the Inter-American Board of Agriculture, made up of the ministers of agriculture of the region, to the overriding need to contribute to the improvement of all instances comprising organic production chain.

High-Level Seminar

The international seminar on Organic Production as a strategy of adding value in the Agribusiness will be opened by the Minister of Agro Industry of Argentina, Ricardo Buryaile, with President of the National Health Service and Food Quality (SENASA), Jorge Dillon, and the representative of IICA in Argentina, Gino Buzzetti.

The meeting, which is free and open, will feature various lectures and the presence of expert speakers in the field, and aims to become an interdisciplinary space and update for professionals, producers, officials and audiences around the country who are interested in this type of production. It is also intended as a value-added strategy, which differentiates agro-industrial production and improve their market positioning.

In the words of Secretary of Added Value of Argertina Nestor Roulet, “the Argentine organic food is a new alternative to show the world with quality products, differentiated and sustainable. Argentina is the main regional benchmark in the field and is proud to be the host country at a meeting of these characteristics. ”

Meanwhile, the undersecretary of Food and Beverage, Mercedes Nimo said that “the presence of representatives of organic production in the different countries of America opens great opportunities to promote this tool of added value. Our country is again inserted into the world and what better way than our neighbors know the producers and the quality of the food we produce. We are an example for Latin America. ”

The seminar will feature the following subject areas:

• Institutional Strengthening: Advisory Commission for Organic Production and Inter-American Commission for Organic Agriculture (CIAO).
• Institutional Development of Organic Agriculture Strategies.
• Experiences of policies for the promotion and development of Organic Agriculture.
• Experiences of innovation in Organic Production.
• exhibition space with 20 processors that will showcase their different products.

Organic Production in Argentina

Argentina has more than 3 million certified hectares, 2nd in world rankings after Australia, with a variety of products (more than 110) and production areas in all provinces of our country.

Argentine organic food, which has a distinctive national seal (Organic Argentina), are exported with more than 160,000 tonnes, many of which are products from industrialized and regional economies. 99% goes to more than 50 countries, since there is great potential for growth to an unmet, diversified and external demand against season. But the domestic market is also growing strongly and demands products with high added value.

According to the latest official statistics by SENASA, the offer is atomised into 1,074 producers, 313 processors and 109 specialized retailers, mostly SMEs, with the presence of cooperatives and a strong sectoral representation by the Argentine Movement for Organic Production (MAPO) which is actively involved in defining policies with public institutions involved.

Source: IICA and Minagri