IFOAM and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
"Several of the management practices
evolved by the organic farming movement have a direct relevance to the
battle to achieve food security. Examples include diversification and
crop rotation, as well as the use of natural means to combat pests."
-Quote from Jacque Diouf, Director General of the FAO in IFOAM's 25th anniversary issue of its magazine Ecology & Farming.
IFOAM has been an FAO-accredited international organization since 1997.
IFOAM works with the FAO on a number of levels:
IFOAM's liaison office to the FAO is in constant communication
with FAO staff, facilitating dialogue and support for organic
agriculture.
IFOAM jointly organized the First World Conference on Organic
Seed with the FAO and the International Seed Federation, held at the
headquarters of the FAO in July 2004.
IFOAM participates as an observer at significant meetings of the
FAOs' committees, councils and treaty bodies to gain support for
organic agriculture.
IFOAM takes part in the FAO's program on Sustainable Agriculture
and Rural Development (SARD), and has done so since its establishment
in Rio in 1992.
IFOAM collaborates with the FAO's Priority Area for
Interdisciplinary Action on Organic Agriculture to increase
understanding of and support for organic agriculture within the FAO.
The FAO is increasingly recognizing the contribution of organic agriculture for achieving truly sustainable development
