ARGENCERT DIRECTOR’s CORNER

ARGENCERT - Life History and Growth Dear friends: ARGENCERT celebrated its 20 years of continuous support of Organic Agriculture. Read more

ARGENCERT NEWS

* ARGENCERT: NOP ACCREDITATION, EXTENDED Extended until 2012! Read more

* ARGENCERT BETS ON CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT To optimize internal information circuits for continuously improved service efficiency. Read more

NEWS FROM CHILE

* CHILE: ORGANIC PRODUCTS CLASSIFIED Specific classification for the export sales of organic or ecologic products. Read more

* TRANSPARENCY ON THE LOCATION OF TRANSGENIC CROPS IN THE COUNTRY The secrecy about location of GMO crops affects the interests of organic producers and other interested parties. Read more

* ORGANIC TRADE MISSION TO SWEDEN AND DENMARK. Financially supported by ProChile. Read more

NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL ORGANIC POLICY

* TIME TO IMPLEMENT BIODIVERSITY CONTROLS NOSB paper proposing actions to fully implement the NOP biodiversity standards. Read more

* COUNTRIES FUNDED TO PLAN FOREST PROTECTION Five developing countries received funds to protect forests and reduce deforestation. Read more

NATIONAL NEWS

* AGRICULTURE: CONVENTIONAL VS. SUSTAINABLE Visit of agroecology expert Miguel Altieri to Argentina. Read more

* OFFICIAL FUNDI G FOR THE PROTECTION AND CONSERVATION OF NATIVE FORESTS
For those provinces that completed the territorial ordering required by the new National Forestry Law. Read more

* THE GROWTH OF PESTICIDES: TOXICS ON THE RISE Denounciations are mostly against glyphosate, but the agrotoxic problem is much wider. Read more

* SEMINAR ON RURAL TOURISM Offered basic knowledge for the creation of green spaces with native plants and local fauna. Read more

* PROFRUTAL 2009: COUNTDOWN BEGINS First itinerant exhibition of fresh fruits in Argentina.

* RURAL COMMUNITY TOURISM Promotin of rural communities through community managed tourism. Read more

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

* USDA PUTS ORGANICS IN THE SPOTLIGHT It will run a survey to assess the actual situation of the organic agriculture in the US. Read more

* ORGANIC MONITOR GIVES 2009 PREDICTIONS They are about the organic food and non-food organic products markets. Read more

* EUROPE PASSED NORTH AMERICA AS THE MAIN REGION FOR NEW ORGANIC PRODUCTS Europe accounted for over 45% of launches in 2008, while North America boasted 41% of new organic products. Read more

* USA: NOW ALSO ORGANIC SPIRITS Vodkas, beers and mixers made with 100% organic ingredients and Packaged in environmentally friendly packaging. Read more

* US AND CANADA TO AGREE ON ORGANIC EQUIVALENCY BY SUMMER Ut there still are some glitches to overcome. Read more

* USA. THE PROPOSED ENERGY LAW WILL INCLUDE MEASURES AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE The project may include the controversial purchase and sale of carbon dioxide as a measure to reduce the emissions to the atmosphere, Read more

* SEVEN REASONS WHY CHINA IS WORTH EXPLORING It is not as out of the organic market as it would seem. Read more

* INDIA: YES BANK PROMOTES ORGANIC COTTON CULTIVATION Supports farmers’ groups to profit from a very big market potential. Read more

* CLAIMS OF THE ‘LANDLESS’ IN BRAZIL Present agricultural model of monocultures predates the environment and promotes farmers’ uprooting. Read more

* FAIRTRADE IS PURCHASE PRE-REQUISITE FOR MANY, SURVEY INDICATES Consumers don’t just expect companies to do no harm in communities they source from, but to actually contribute to development. Read more

* SPAIN REACHES THE FIRST PLACE (IN THE EU) IN ORGANIC SURFACE AREA Grewbetween 25 and 33% according to crops or races. Read more

* TOWARDS THE DEVELOPMENT OF A SUSTAINABLE FASHION The fashion industry,know both for its capacity and for its poor working conditions, creates a network to try to improve the situation. Read more

GMOS, hormones, nanotechnology, and not accepted Technologies

* GLYPHOSATE: SCIENTIFIC SCANDAL IN ARGENTINA Intents of disqualification of a known embryo researcher work in the media. Read more

* GMO: APPEAL FROM THE EU REGIONAL GROUP FOR A ‘SUSTAINABLE COEXISTENCE’ Workshop in Brussels that defended the regional decisions instead of those taken at the individual farm level. Read more

* FRANCE: LABEL „RAISED WITHOUT GMOS“ IN DISCUSSION A choice for consumers or the consolidation of the 0,1% contamination threshold? Read more

* ADVANTA AND ARCADIA CREATE A TRANSGENIC SORGHUM salt resistant transgenic sorghum expected to reduce the requirements of soft water for cultivation and to improve yields in areas of high salt impact. Read more

* MEXICO CITY VOWS TO PROTECT HISTORIC MAIZE VARIETIES Will take steps to protect more than 60 maize breeds known to grow in its territory. Read more

* CONGRESS IS REQUIRED TO TRACK CLONED ANIMALS USDA asked to develop a DNA-based tracking system, otherwise food processors will not be able to tell and avoid their products. Read more

* OBAMA ADMINISTRATION UPHOLDS GM SUGARBEET DEREGULATION Environmental activists say that this is not the ‘change’ the Obama Administration promised. Read more

* MORE ON US LEGISLATION TO FAVOR GMOs GMOs: a Trojan Horse in the fight against global poverty and hunger? Read more

* SWITZERLAND: A MORATORIUM AGAINST GMOs One of the points to be debated in the European Conference of Regions Free of OGM “Food and Democracy” that will take place in Luzern, Switzerland. Read more

* SYNTHETIC GROWTH HORMONES: ORGANIC LABEL ONLY WAY TO BE SURE Some US state laws prevent consumers’ right to be informed and to choose. Read more

* rBGH LABELING BILL VETOED! At last some authority with some common sense!

* SPAIN: REGULATORY DECREE FOR GMO CROPS GMO regulation that guarantees effective protection of non-GMO farmers. Read more

TECHNICAL NEWS

* WITH HOMEOPATHY, 80% LESS PATHOLOGIES IN LIVESTOCK PRODUCTIONS Italian research proves efficiency of homeopathy in treating some livestock common maladies. Read more

* NEW FORMULA FOR US-SOUTH RESEARCH FUNDING North–South agricultural research partnerships will gain another source of funding. Read more

* EPA WILL MANDATE TESTS ON SUSPECTED ENDOCRINE DISRUPTORS Finally the EPA is requiring pesticide manufacturers to test a number of widely used chemicals to determine whether or not they disrupt the endocrine system. Read more

EXHIBITIONS, CONGRESSES, COURSES

* DEMETER INTERNATIONAL – ANNUAL ASSEMBLY Will take place in June in Munsbach, near Luxemburg. Read more

* 5TH ANNUAL HISPANIC RETAIL 360 SUMMIT For retailers and marketers looking to do business with the Latino consumer market in the U.S. Read more