IFOAM – Organics International needs to become more widely known and impactful. In order to grow substantially, it needs to build and procure strategic partnerships with enterprises in the field of communal feeding (e.g. hospitals, nursing homes, wellness hotels etc.) as well as with influential, forward-thinking and open-minded organisations like Friday for Future.

Embedded in such a strong global network, it would be easier for all fellow campaigners to reach the goal of a global paradigm shift.

Rationale:

The Lancet EAT Study from January 2019 calls for a transformation of the global food system through sound science, impatient disruption and novel partnerships. IFOAM – Organics International can play an essential part in this transformation and gain more influence (thus more members and higher budgets). The attempt should be made to address and invite not only members to the GA, but to also reach and embrace representatives of possible powerful partners/quantity buyers with a strong interest in organic and healthy nutrition.

IFOAM – Organics International should offer its platform and services to procure organic food and raw materials for these potential partners. Additionally, IFOAM – Organics International could promote the UN’s SDG 3 on Good Health and Well-being more, linking it to organic nutrition and ensuring healthy lives and well-being for all of all ages. We are aware that this motion is similar to the one from 2017 but we feel that more progress is necessary. We are mandating the World Board to implement this strategy.

Price Tag:

50,000€ for advocacy staff costs over three years

WB Response:

The World Board proposes to vote against. The motion is beyond the scope of IFOAM - Organics International. IFOAM - Organics International will continue to highlight health in its communication.

How to suggest an amendment?

Amendments must be formatted correctly to clearly indicate to the motioner what you are suggesting to amend. Please read these guidelines or watch the video before suggesting amendments.

All amendments must be seconded by another member organisation. This can only be done if another member writes "I second this amendment" as a reply to the amendment.

We cannot answer all questions of procedure in the forum, therefore, please email ga@ifoam.bio in case of any such questions.

IFOAM - Organics International will launch a membership discussion and position development on what should be considered “organic” (and defined accordingly through standards) beyond the current scope of the COROS, and what level of work and official endorsement should/could IFOAM - Organics International provide in these other sectors. The discussion would include, for example, textile and cosmetic processing, cleaning products, mineral and spring water, salt, eco-construction products, and others. This work should/could begin with mineral and spring water.

Rationale:

Regulation (EU) 2018/848 on organic production and labelling of organic products is defining its scope in article 2 (1), also applying to certain other products closely linked to agriculture as listed in Annex I to this regulation. Salt was already listed as one of these other products. The Organic Mineral Water Quality Association, founded in 2008, developed the first private standard for organic mineral water based on the four IFOAM principles of organic agriculture, understanding mineral water as a product of the soil.

Currently, 12 German family-owned companies are labelling their products as organic according to this standard. Since 2016, big European companies of the water business have tried to establish their own standard for a “premium mineral water in organic quality”, far away from any organic principles. There are also efforts to regulate the term “organic mineral water” in EU mineral water regulation. Therefore, it’s necessary to start the process of discussing what should be considered “organic” now, to keep IFOAM - Organics International in a decisive role in this process.

Price Tag:

8,000€

WB Response:

Vote in Favour

Supporting Video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thZs9I0oXDw

How to suggest an amendment?

Amendments must be formatted correctly to clearly indicate to the motioner what you are suggesting to amend. Please read these guidelines or watch the video before suggesting amendments.

All amendments must be seconded by another member organisation. This can only be done if another member writes "I second this amendment" as a reply to the amendment.

We cannot answer all questions of procedure in the forum, therefore, please email ga@ifoam.bio in case of any such questions.

The IFOAM General Assembly demands the Board to revise and reformulate policy 23 regarding regional bodies to guarantee IFOAM members who are automatically members of their regional bodies a fair and fruitful participation in the RB’s work, its structure and democratic and transparent proceedings in general assemblies, commissions, committees and election processes, and cancel, renew and reform existing contracts to comply the rules and procedures of a revised policy 23.

Rationale:

Transparent democratic procedures have to rule general assemblies and elections in the RBs in order not to allow doubtful processes and results that do not necessarily reflect the intentions of the membership. The current situation hinders a better, fruitful, active work of the RB, because personal liaisons and preferences may not allow the cooperation of the whole membership, their creativity and enthusiasm.

The autonomy of the RB to self define procedures, statutes, and membership must be limited and supervised by the Federation: Every membership organisation in a region is obligatorily a member of the RB; its rights to participate in promoting organic agriculture, to develop its structure and do elections, assemblies etc. must be guarded by the Federation, e.g. the WB; otherwise any member organisation may become a victim of personal preferences inside the RB. The single membership organisation therefore must be protected. Individuals with voting rights must be discontinued.

Price Tag:

0€

WB Response:

The World Board proposes to vote against. This motion addresses procedures beyond the mandate of the WB. The new Policy 23 on Self-organised Structures (SoS) was just revised by a participatory process with the SoS. It is the new guiding policy for the cooperation in the IFOAM Network and includes the commitment of all Network Members to the principles of organic agriculture and the IFOAM landmarks (positions, policy briefs, organic 3.0, family of standards, etc.). Complaints procedure in each SoS should describe procedures about implementing this commitment. In case there is no specific procedure in place, the IFOAM - Organics International procedure applies.

How to suggest an amendment?

Amendments must be formatted correctly to clearly indicate to the motioner what you are suggesting to amend. Please read these guidelines or watch the video before suggesting amendments.

All amendments must be seconded by another member organisation. This can only be done if another member writes "I second this amendment" as a reply to the amendment.

We cannot answer all questions of procedure in the forum, therefore, please email ga@ifoam.bio in case of any such questions.

The GA mandates the World Board to revise the Affiliation Policy in regard to the Group Membership offer: the mother organisation to grant voting rights according to the membership criteria, the daughter organisations (branch offices) to grant Associate status (full visibility and involvement but no voting rights) no matter whether they fulfill the criteria for a voting member or not.

Rationale:

Looking at the example of Ecocert, one can easily identify in the Directory of IFOAM – Organics International that this certifier has many votes in the General Assembly. According to the group membership regulation, the branch offices have to pay only the annual minimum fee of 100 € to register as a member organisation with voting rights.

To increase fairness in regard to access to voting rights, the proposal is to automatically qualify all branch offices set up in the group membership as Associate members. Associates enjoy full visibility in the directory and all the other membership benefits, but no voting rights. This helps to implement the principle of fairness within IFOAM – Organics International.

Price Tag:

0€

WB Response:

Vote in Favour

How to suggest an amendment?

Amendments must be formatted correctly to clearly indicate to the motioner what you are suggesting to amend. Please read these guidelines or watch the video before suggesting amendments.

All amendments must be seconded by another member organisation. This can only be done if another member writes "I second this amendment" as a reply to the amendment.

We cannot answer all questions of procedure in the forum, therefore, please email ga@ifoam.bio in case of any such questions.

To do a mapping exercise on experiences that have developed benchmark programmes, indicators and metrics to measure progress towards best practice and sustainability impacts, with rewarding mechanisms through additional labels, or subsidies and incentives. It should explore the role that different references (including the IFOAM Standards and the Best Practices Guidelines) could play in providing a harmonised framework to support and recognise initiatives that go beyond the classical regulation and certification mechanism in an Organic 3.0 spirit

Rationale:

In an organic world landscape marked by more and more regulations and private standards, the great majority of them based on compliance, some new experiences inspired by the Organic 3.0 vision, such as the Humus Charter of Values and Best Practices, are coming out with a more progressive and impact-based system.

IFOAM - Organics International could offer (again) to be a point of reference worldwide in setting relevant and effective indicators and metrics for organic agriculture performances, facilitating development toward a better and stronger implementation of the IFOAM principles of organic agriculture in line with IFOAM - Organics International’s mission and goals.

Price Tag:

30,000€

WB Response:

Vote in Favour

How to suggest an amendment?

Amendments must be formatted correctly to clearly indicate to the motioner what you are suggesting to amend. Please read these guidelines or watch the video before suggesting amendments.

All amendments must be seconded by another member organisation. This can only be done if another member writes "I second this amendment" as a reply to the amendment.

We cannot answer all questions of procedure in the forum, therefore, please email ga@ifoam.bio in case of any such questions.

IFOAM – Organics International will:

• Advocate for social criteria in organic standards, in accordance with the International Labor Organization’s (ILO) Declaration of Fundamental Principles and Rights of Work and defined in 12 key ILO Norms.
• Set SMART objectives (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound) for IFOAM – Organics International Family of Standards’ standards to comply with the requirements for social justice, as included in the IFOAM Norms and ILO norms.
• Enter into dialogue with standard setters with a view to implementation of standards for social justice, verifiable by independent organic certification bodies

Rationale:

Provisions for social justice are included in the IFOAM – Organics International Norms for Organic Production and Processing, which include the Standards and the Common Objectives and Requirements of Organic Standards (COROS) (Version 2014). These provisions are not fully incorporated in the organic standards of the Family of Standards.

The Principle of Fairness consequently remains poorly implemented in practice. This is a weakness that must be addressed; the organic sector remains vulnerable to criticism. This motion will strengthen and support the delivery of the Principle of Fairness. ILO Norms are widely recognised and subject to enforcement in many countries. Reference to key ILO Norms that meet the criteria of the organic Norms, Standards and COROS will improve social justice in both organic farm production and processing.

Price Tag:

20,000€

WB Response:

Vote in Favour

Supporting Video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vzvF2KuC7Pg

How to suggest an amendment?

Amendments must be formatted correctly to clearly indicate to the motioner what you are suggesting to amend. Please read these guidelines or watch the video before suggesting amendments.

All amendments must be seconded by another member organisation. This can only be done if another member writes "I second this amendment" as a reply to the amendment.

We cannot answer all questions of procedure in the forum, therefore, please email ga@ifoam.bio in case of any such questions.

The General Assembly invites the self-organised Regional Bodies & Sector Platforms of IFOAM – Organics International to: 

• Conduct their own decentralised social justice consultations in each region of the world.
• Mandate delegates to send input from their thinking about the social aspects towards formulation of the IFOAM Social Justice position paper.
• Publish the result internally via affiliated and other grass-roots organisations and externally via policymakers, institutions, partners, events and media.

Rationale:

In order to nourish thought at worldwide level, as well as for the sake of sharing costs and relieving the pressure on the International Office of IFOAM - Organics International, the self-organised Regional Bodies & Sector Platforms of this International Federation are best placed to organise and collate their thinking at regional level about social aspects; mandate delegates to send collated input for the consultation at worldwide level; and to help publicise the resulting position paper. This decentralised process answers other needs: on the one hand internally, bringing together the whole movement into a collective dynamic (for economic equity, gender & class equality, fair trade or import substitution, equitable land access, local markets, against land grabbing...) ; on the other hand externally, affirming our positions and making known our support or disagreement regarding critical worldwide or regional situations with a social dimension.

FNAB, France:

With the support of IFOAM France, and the following organisations:

• Mouvement de l’Agriculture Bio-Dynamique (France)
• National Organic Coalition (USA)
• Northeast Organic Farming Association (USA)
• Nature & Progrès (France) 
• Biomas (France)
• ITAB (France)
• BioForum Vlaanderen (Belgium)

Price Tag:

0€

WB Response:

As this is an invite to IFOAM - Organics International Self-organized Structures (SoS), the WB has no mandate to support the motion. The WB welcomes the invitation towards the SoS to become more engaged in addressing social issues in organic agriculture.

How to suggest an amendment?

Amendments must be formatted correctly to clearly indicate to the motioner what you are suggesting to amend. Please read these guidelines or watch the video before suggesting amendments.

All amendments must be seconded by another member organisation. This can only be done if another member writes "I second this amendment" as a reply to the amendment.

We cannot answer all questions of procedure in the forum, therefore, please email ga@ifoam.bio in case of any such questions.

This assembly desires IFOAM – Organics International, as ethical standard-bearer of the movement, to:

• State its position on social justice & socio-economic implications of its production method
• Make it known to the public, policymakers, standard setters private & public
• Translate the resulting position & propose actions in consultation with all bodies of IFOAM – Organics International & related movements, all facing grave social challenges

The consultation shall identify themes to address including these problems involving organic farmers & the value chain:

• World Trade & “Free” Trade Agreements
• Land grabbing & monocultures

Rationale:

Because of the diversity of their scope, these questions of social justice concern the whole of the worldwide movement for organic agriculture. All the structures present in this International Federation are confronted by these questions (working conditions, equitable remuneration of farmers & farm workers, sharing of value all along the value chain, equity between genders and classes, access to land etc.) in which much progress could be made all over the world. For the organic agriculture movements to continue as an ethical standard-bearer, their International Federation must take the matter seriously and do so visibly.

A broad consultation facilitated by IFOAM – Organics International can include input on all social dimensions and can reflect on practical actions to be undertaken in facing the challenge. The consultation can identify the themes being debated within and around the worldwide movement. The aim is for the worldwide movement for organic agriculture and its International Federation to remain a pioneer of the best possible standards wherever the social implications of organic agriculture are concerned

FNAB, France:

With the support of IFOAM France, and the following organisations:

• Mouvement de l’Agriculture Bio-Dynamique (France)
• National Organic Coalition (USA)
• Northeast Organic Farming Association (USA)
• Nature & Progrès (France) 
• Biomas (France)
• ITAB (France)
• BioForum Vlaanderen (Belgium)

Price Tag:

18,000€

WB Response:

The World Board proposes to vote against. The WB agrees that social justice should be at the heart of all sustainable food systems, particularly those based on organic agriculture. This is exactly why IFOAM – Organics International addresses this issue in various documents already, such as the IFOAM Standard, the COROS, the IFOAM Best Practice Guidelines, the IFOAM Policy Briefs and the IFOAM Position Papers. This is also why we constantly advocate for food systems that are not only environmentally and economically sustainable, but also socially equitable and inclusive. The motion itself however has a very broad scope, including issues that we do not have a joint position on per se, such as world trade and free-trade agreements. A joint position on these would therefore require a broad consultation process. Seeing the probability of very differing views on world trade among members, the resource-efficiency of such a process is questionable (see price tag). What the WB sees as an area which IFOAM - Organics and, following that, its Regional Bodies could put more emphasis on, is doing policy advocacy for inclusion of social standards and stricter environmental requirements (to address the issue of monocultures) into organic regulations. In our opinion, this could have a much more concrete impact on practices.

How to suggest an amendment?

Amendments must be formatted correctly to clearly indicate to the motioner what you are suggesting to amend. Please read these guidelines or watch the video before suggesting amendments.

All amendments must be seconded by another member organisation. This can only be done if another member writes "I second this amendment" as a reply to the amendment.

We cannot answer all questions of procedure in the forum, therefore, please email ga@ifoam.bio in case of any such questions.

IFOAM - Organics International will evaluate and make recommendations for the inclusion of Agroecology criteria and parameters in the next review of the IFOAM Best Practice Guideline for Agriculture and Value Chains.

Rationale:

Organic 3.0 includes a roadmap to address agroecology criteria, however the parameters of this concept need more than ever to become reality in our current changing world. These therefore need to be deliberately evaluated in the IFOAM Best Practice Guidelines for Agriculture and Value Chains, including alignment with the FAO 10 elements for agroecology, which cover crucial productive and pragmatic aspects for sustainable Organic Production:

• Human rights & social values

• Culture & food traditions

• Diversity

• Responsible governance

• Economic solidarity

• Resilience

• Recycling

• Efficiency

• Synergies

• Co-creation & knowledge sharing

Price Tag:

40,000€

WB Response:

Vote in Favour

Supporting Video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qD1faF_ssPQ

How to suggest an amendment?

Amendments must be formatted correctly to clearly indicate to the motioner what you are suggesting to amend. Please read these guidelines or watch the video before suggesting amendments.

All amendments must be seconded by another member organisation. This can only be done if another member writes "I second this amendment" as a reply to the amendment.

We cannot answer all questions of procedure in the forum, therefore, please email ga@ifoam.bio in case of any such questions.

The IFOAM - Organics International Office and World Board should revise the Fairness Principle to incorporate Inclusiveness in the principle statement, and add Gender Equality and Social Inclusion language to the explanation text

Rationale:

Price Tag:

20,000 €

WB Response:

Vote in Favour

Supporting Video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pq2f_V3Ks1w

How to suggest an amendment?

Amendments must be formatted correctly to clearly indicate to the motioner what you are suggesting to amend. Please read these guidelines or watch the video before suggesting amendments.

All amendments must be seconded by another member organisation. This can only be done if another member writes "I second this amendment" as a reply to the amendment.

We cannot answer all questions of procedure in the forum, therefore, please email ga@ifoam.bio in case of any such questions.