CIHEAMIAMB Mediterranean Organic Agriculture Network MOAN History and
CIHEAM-IAMB Mediterranean Organic Agriculture Network (MOAN) History and scope for a new organisation Lina AL BITAR IAMB First meeting November 23 – 25, 2006 Bari - Italy
Background • Organic farming, in the last years, has continuously attracted much interest and consent, and by now it involves quite all the Mediterranean countries. • Despite its progressive development, the evolution of the organic sector in the Mediterranean region is constrained by some critical points.
Factors limiting the development of the Mediterranean organic agriculture Information-training deficiency - Poor technical-scientific knowledge; - Lack of statistics and unreliability of data o Institutional deficiency - Regulations unsuitable for the territorial peculiarities and problems of equivalence - Lack and inadequacy of support policy Degradation of the natural resources - Fragility of the agroecological system; - Soil desertification; - Simplification and homogenisation of vegetation; - Degradation by salinisation, laterization and erosion; - Water and soil pollution; Socio-economic and cultural desertification
MOAN launching In 1999, IAMB launched a network of experts with the objective of furthering organic agriculture in the CIHEAM member states. Network on Mediterranean Organic Agriculture www. organicmedit. org
Scientific Network on Organic Agriculture CIHEAM Funds STRATEGY “a” Deepening knowledge on Organic Agriculture in the Mediterranean Region Data collection Litterature & Research reviews Database Courses for trainers and for students Preparation of proposals for new funding Workshops - seminars National & International Donors (EC, …. ) Input from Strategy “a” STRATEGY “b” Institutional strengthening STRATEGY “c” Support for farmers research & experimentation Disposal of new funds
Partners Albania Algeria Egypt France Greece Italy Lebanon Malta Morocco Portugal Tunisia Turkey International Institution: IFOAM ABM University of Tirana University of Blida Ain Shams University GRAB MAICH Bari University Ministry of Agriculture IAV-Hassan II Ministry of Agriculture CTAB Ege University
2004 2002
MOAN evolution Following the Euro-Med Conference recommendation (Venice, 2003) IAMB has decided to re-organize MOAN, by making it an institutional governmental Network and by enlarging it to all Euro-Med countries.
Partner Countries European • Cyprus • France • Greece • Italy • Malta • Portugal • Spain • Slovenia Eastern Adriatic • Albania • Bi. H - Federation Bosnia & Herzegovina - Rep. Srpska • Croatia • Macedonia • Serbia • Montenegro Mashrek • Egypt • Jordan • Lebanon • Palestine • Syria • Turkey Maghreb • Algeria • Libya • Morocco • Tunisia Network on Mediterranean Organic Agriculture www. iamb. it
Flowchart Coordinator IAMB Steering committee Partners Ministries of Agriculture
Objective s 1. Creating a partnership to discuss at regional level all the problems related to the institutional organization of the sector and look for common strategies for its development. 2. Strengthening the relations among organic communities (especially among official institutions like Ministries) in the Mediterranean region. 3. Valorisation of the potential of organic agriculture in the region. 4. Become a reference point for policy makers at international level.
Activities • Organisation of an annual meeting to discuss problems and share common strategies; • Organisation of country-specific workshops to encourage national sub-networks, enhance the visibility of the host country and raise its profile in the Mediterranean organic context; • Organisation of international conferences and publication of scientific works, periodical reports on the state-of-the-art of OA in the region with the aim to bring the Mediterranean organic perspective in the global debate • Creation and management of a website on Mediterranean OA with special sections on country profiles and events. Website presentation
CIHEAM-IAMB Organic Agriculture in the Mediterranean Statistics and main trends
Organic agriculture in the Mediterranean • Total area about 4 000 ha • Total number of farms about 114 000 Source: SIAB, MOAN, ONAB (IAMB)
Organic agriculture in the Mediterranean
Organic agriculture in the Mediterranean
Organic agriculture in the Mediterranean Serbia 7%
Organic agriculture in the Mediterranean Maghreb Country Organic policy National legislation Algeria Draft Yes Action Plan No Morocco Draft No Tunisia Yes Egypt No No No Turkey Yes Draft Lebanon Draft Yes Syria No Palestine Financial support Mashrek Eastern Mediterra nean countries EU countries Certification bodies Market Producers’ association local 1 No 2 foreign 1 local 2 foreign Yes 4 foreign various + national federation 8 Yes 5 growing No 7 foreign 3 local 2 No Draft No - mostly local and regional Limited No - - 1 foreign Jordan No No Yes 1 foreign Albania Yes No Draft B&H Yes (rep. Srpska) No Croatia Yes Macedonia 2 export Yes (very limited) yes Strongly exportoriented Very limited growing Export-oriented 3 Foreign 1 Local Yes Limited No Local & Foreign Yes Limited Export-oriented Yes Draft 5 local 1 Foreign Yes Yes No Draft Foreign & Local Yes Serbia Yes No No 3 Montenegro Yes No 1 Foreign 3 Portugal Yes Yes France Yes Yes Greece Yes 2 1 1 5 3 Italy Yes Spain Yes Malta Export-oriented Yes Yes mature Yes emerging yes Yes mature Yes No Yes emerging yes Draft Yes 1 Local No yes limited Cyprus Yes Draft 2 Yes Limited yes Slovenia Yes Yes 1 Local 1 Foreign 2 Local 10 Yes Foreign Local
Organic agriculture in the Mediterranean Critical issues • • • Heterogeneity and unreliability of data Difficulty in finding statistical information Insufficient training and technical know-how Insufficient research and support policies Inadequat regulations and problems of equivalency Perspectives • • Economic development Preservation of natural resources Income generating Strengthening the Euro-Mediterranean relationships
Conclusions and future prospects • Develop a local culture of organic farming • Set up action plans and support policies • Harmonization of international rules and norms • Different actions should be undertaken such as: Ø The creation of databases for the collection and diffusion of information; Ø Institutional capacity building; Ø Activities of research and experimentation; and Ø Networking.
Thank you for your attention and welcome at IAMB
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