The global organic community will gather – in person and virtually – in just under two weeks for the 2021 World Organic Congress (6-10 September). Billed as the ‘international reference event for organic agriculture’ the event will take place for the first time in France (in Rennes, Brittany).
The Organic World Congress – co-organised this year by IFOAM – Organics International and leading French organic and agricultural bodies – will address the crucial issues around the interconnections between human, animal and environmental health on the global scale. It aims to create a platform to promote organic agriculture as a solution to the multiple environmental and heath challenges the world faces, and the “need to feed the world’s population in a healthy manner and in sufficient quantity, climate change, loss of biodiversity, fair remuneration of professionals in the food sector”.
The Congress organisers have identified six major issues that this year’s event will be structured around:
1. Acting for societal transformation through awareness and empowerment for increased sustainability
2. Supporting the change of scale of organic agriculture towards food sovereignty for all
3. Develop organic and sustainable production systems (plants, animals, food and non-food products) that fulfill their mission in a holistic manner
4. Building resilience resilience to enable climate change adaptation and ecosystem recovery
5. Promoting biodiversity and diversity at multiple scales
6. Working together for healthy food and for the health of the soil, people and the planet
The Congress programme – full details are available at the official Congress website – is designed to be highly relevant to all organic actors, including farmers, researchers, technicians, processing and distribution entrepreneurs, coaches and political decision-makers.
Confirmed speakers include:
- Nicolas Hulot, , Sponsor of the World Organic Congress 2021, Honorary President of the Nicolas Hulot Foundation for Nature and Mankind, former Minister of Ecological Transition and Solidarity
• Janusz Wojciechowski, European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development
• Rasmus Prehn, Danish Minister of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries
• Sandrine le Feur, Member of Parliament for Finistère and organic producer in Brittany
• Jan Plagge, President of IFOAM Organics Europe
• Peggy Miars, resident of Ifoam – Organics International
• Louise Luttikholt, Executive Director of IFOAM – Organics International
• Shamika Mone, President of INOFO (Intercontinental Network of Organic Farmers’ Organisations)
• Phil Howard, Professor at Michigan State University and member of the International Panel on Sustainable Food Systems
• Johan Rockström, Director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research and Professor of Earth System Science at the University of Potsdam.
More information on the Congress, and details on how to register are available here.
