The designations employed and the presentation of materials contained in these Web sites do not imply the expression of any opinion on the part of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
Research and development
Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems (CIAS)
A sustainable agriculture research center at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The site contains information on resources, research, links and publications, mainly on sustainable agriculture but also on some organic subjects.
Centre National de Ressources en Agriculture Biologique (CNRAB) - French only
The National Center of Organic Agricultural Resources is jointly supported by the French Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries and the Technical Institute of Organic Agriculture. It collects, analyzes and disseminates technical and economic information related to organic agriculture. The site includes information on services, training, news, and contacts. Of particular interest is its database, BIOBASE, that reviews articles of over 130 agricultural magazines specialized in organic agriculture.
Danish Institute of Agricultural Sciences
Placed within the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, the Farming Systems Unit of the Danish Institute provides information on organic farming, namely: research area, yearbook including farm reports with descriptions of production, agronomic and economic annual results (so far, only for organic dairy farms), survey of ecological farming in Denmark (1997), publications, and projects.
European Network for Scientific Research Coordination in Organic Farming (ENOF)
The objective of ENOF, funded by the Commission of the European Communities and managed by the Direction General of Agriculture (DG VI), is to put in contact and establish collaborations in the field of education, research, experimentation, demonstration or diffusion of organic farming techniques within Europe. The following areas of research are included: crop production and weed control, soil fertility and environmental aspects, animal husbandry, grasslands and fodder production, legal and economical aspects, and crop protection.
European Initiative for Agricultural Research for Development InfoSys
The European Initiative for Agricultural Research for Development (EIARD) is an information and communication system which objective is to moderate hot topics in agricultural research for development. The site includes, among others, ecological agriculture: information about events, projects, experts, networks, publications and a mailing list.
Institute of Organic Agriculture (University of Bonn, Germany)
The Institute is at the University of Bonn, Germany. The site contains information on main research results and on-going research as well as publications and web-links.
Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF)
The site presents the foundation and organic agriculture, special events, procedures for grant application, OFRF-funded research, policy program, results, executive summaries of national surveys of US certified organic farmers for the years 1993, 1995, 1997, an information bulletin, farming conference calendar, financial support, web links (rich list of sites related to research and education, policy and government, organizations, farming general, marketing information, soil, water, pesticides and web surfing).
Permaculture Research Institute
The objective of the Institute is to support research and education in ecological design, environmental restoration, appropriate technology and sustainable agriculture. The website offers information on courses and workshops, international projects, emergency responses, research, consultancy services, books, links, etc.
Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL)
Swiss research institution involved in research projects on soils, plants, livestock, landscape and biodiversity, economics and standards. The site also features documentation and extension services, annual report, and information on the 13th IFOAM International Scientific Conference (2000) and accompanying events.
Scottish Agricultural College (SAC)
Contains information on the SAC Organic Farming Center and Farms, and its research projects. The site includes a rich selection of SAC publications on organic farming, classified into livestock, arable and grassland, environment, farming systems. SAC also operates an organic help-line, provides contacts for further information, offers education and training opportunities, offers an organic information pack including facts about conversion, prices, market outlets, costs of certification, and farming practices.
Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE)
Since 1988, USDA's SARE programme has funded projects, across the US and island protectorates, to identify practical methods to manage sustainable agricultural systems. It maintains a searchable database of projects containing details of research projects, of which over 300 projects on organic agriculture.
Welsh Institute of Rural Studies
The Welsh Institute is in the University of Wales, Aberystwyth. It offers Organic Farming and Agro-ecology pages, including: graphs detailing number of farms, land area and proportion of the agricultural sector in different European countries since 1985; education and training opportunities at the Welsh Institute; staff expertise and publications; and trade links.
Marketing and trade
Beta Pure Foods
Beta Pure Foods is an US-based food supplier broker, which "supplies and sources for all types of food companies, from the largest international firms to the smallest food firms." The site maintains a network of farmers and offers assistance in establishing organic certification programs and in conversion of conventional products to organic products.
BioFach -The World Organic Trade Fair
BioFach is the world’s biggest organic trade fair for producers and sale’s men, taking place in Germany. The site provides information for visitors, exhibitors and press about the next fair in February 2000.
Biofood.Net Business
Information and news platform for global and European organic markets, including: trade journal with offer/demand overview of food and non-food products; master guide with a specific search for companies, organizations and services related to food and non-food products; international news service on companies and new products (in preparation).
Green Trade Net
World-wide trade contacts for organic products including the GTZ/Protrade database that links exporters of organic products to importers all over the world. It offers simple handling from the raw material research to trade contacts. Overview on the actual offer of more than 720 organic products from 28 developing countries. Search possible by country, product or product’ group. Links to other market relevant web-sites.
Information Network For Organic Produce
Provides information about the production and marketing of organic goods. The site presents facts about regulations (EU /USA), organizations (Germany, France, USA), views and news and facts (further information sources, market access sectoral and trade barriers database, network and research, projects, events); offers of various organic goods (including prices, company and origin), marketing links; self-portrayals of producers and wholesalers and inspection bodies. Offers and demands are requested for publishing.
Market Briefs
The Foreign Affairs Service of US Department of Agriculture provides a number of world market and commodity analysis reports. As of March 2000, market briefs on organic agriculture are available for 27 countries.
Natural Resources and Ethical Trade (NRET)
The website provides information on socially and environmentally responsible business and management of ethical trading chains. The website contains information on ethical trade and horticulture including, among others, development of criteria and indicators for codes of practice, and fair trade and organic bananas. Other relevant features include a paper on ethical trade and agricultural standards, ethical trade and forest-dependent people, impact of fisheries certification, ethical trade and policy, impact of ethical investment and training opportunities.
Organic Trading and Information Centre
An international site for consumers and producers of organic foods and natural products. The site contains information on organic markets (i.e. statistics on organic imports by country in Germany; data on organic production and sales in Denmark), operating companies and organizations, an information library, buy/sell offers of products; and free listing possibilities.
Organic Farmers Marketing Association (OFMA)
OFMA "assists organic farmers in marketing, communication and public advocacy. In the spirit of such cooperation, this website has been created to bring together organic farmers, consumers and supporters of organic agriculture from all over the world." The US site contains many facts and reports on events concerning marketing and trade in North America; US public advocacy and policy statements; virtual marketplace for sourcing organic foods, information and services (including marketing opportunities for organic products, producer/consumer connections, inspector training); and information on certification and organic laws.
Organic Trade Association (OTA)
OTA represents the organic industry in Canada and the United States. It works on the promotion of organic products in the marketplace and protection of the integrity of organic standards. The web page presents information about the organization and organic subjects; publications list with order form; news and trends; links; events and opportunities; list of suppliers; and a directory for organic needs.
SANA - The Fair of Qualities
Italy’s International Exhibition of Health Food, Health, and Environment. Presentation of advertisers sectors events, press release, catalogue, merchandising etc.
Syndicat européen des transformateurs et distributeurs de l’agriculture biologique (SETRAB)
SETRAB is the first European professional union of processors and distributors of organic food. The site contains information on: organic European regulation; organic farming in France; organic news (French, European and others); members list; organic raw material search; and an organic ingredient open information exchange (under construction).
Standards and regulations
Australia National Standards
Australian national standards for organic and biodynamic produce.
California Certification Standards
Certification standards of the California Certified Organic Farmers.
Canadian General Standards Board (CGSB)
The National Standard of Canada for Organic Agriculture (CAN//CGSB-32.310) was developed by the CGSB of Public Works and Government Services Canada. The CGSB site presents an abstract of the Standards.
Codex Alimentarius Commission
FAO/WHO Guidelines for the production, processing, labelling and marketing of organically produced foods.
Council on Economic Priorities Accreditation Agency (CEPAA)
CEPAA, a non-profit organization, was incorporated in 1997 to develop and verify the implementation of voluntary corporate social responsibility standards, the first of which is Social Accountability 8000. The site contains SA 8000 normative elements and social accountability requirements, as well as certification and accreditation criteria, relevant publications, events, news, and courses.
Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI)
The ETI is an alliance of companies, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and trade union organisations committed to working together to identify and promote good practice in the implementation of codes of labour practice, including the monitoring and independent verification of the observance of code provisions. The website contains ETI code of labour practice - the 'Base Code' - reflecting the most relevant international standards with respect to labour practices that will be used as the basis of its work.
EU Organic Regulation
Council Regulation (ECC) No. 2092/91 of June 1991 on organic production of agricultural products and indications referring thereto on agricultural products and foodstuffs.
Fair Trade Labelling Organization/Max Havelaar
The site includes information related to fair trade labelling principles and conditions.
Japan Agricultural Standards for Organic
The US Foreign Agricultural Service Report contains an unofficial translation of the Japan Agricultural Standards For Organic Agricultural Products and their Processed Foods.
US National Organic Program
The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) informs about the National Organic Program, the Standards Board, the Proposed Rule of Dec. 1997, issue papers, comments on issue papers, resource materials.
Organic commodities
Organic Cotton
The site includes an exhibit featuring the cotton industry history, information on farming organic cotton, related production and processing procedures, directories, as well as description of a sustainable cotton project and organic cotton farm tours.
Organic Grapes into Wine Alliance (OGWA)
Includes standards for wines produced from organic grapes and certified growers in the US.
Organic Sugar
Florida Crystals, the largest organic sugar producer in the world, processes all enquiries for organic sugar.
Selected National and International Institutions
Biodynamic Farming and Gardening Association (BDA)
Provides information on biodynamic farming, related education (training, apprenticeship opportunities, calendars), food (links to Demeter certified products list and biodynamic food mail order service), discussion forum, conferences, literature, and advice.
Canberra Organic Growers Society (COGS)
The aim of this Australian non-profit organization is to provide "a forum for organic growers to exchange information, and encourage the general public to adopt organic growing methods." The page offers a wide and rich range of general information on organic farming, selected articles, web-links (Australia, USA and others), a discussion forum, a free expert question and answer service. It covers most information on organic agriculture in Australia, including events, resources, education, statistics, certification, products, contacts, etc.
Canadian Organic Growers (COG)
COG is the national information network for organic gardeners, farmers, & consumers in Canada. The site provides information on the organization and the membership, events, publications and news, an online resource library, a message board (for discussions), an eco-market database of growers, products and services, job and apprenticeships opportunities.
Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)
An "international non-profit organisation to support environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial, and economically viable management of the world's forests". The site gives general information on FSC, its international labelling scheme, certification and accreditation, and membership application. It also provides information on FSC national initiatives as well as a list of certified forests, list of accredited and applicant certification bodies, a document list, a world forest map of certified forest sites endorsed by FSC, news, etc.
Grupo de Agricultura Organica (GAO)
The Grupo de Agricultura Organica is the Cuban organic farming association which has been in the forefront of the country's transition from industrial to organic agriculture and winner of the 1999 Right Livelihood Award, commonly known as the "Alternative Nobel Prize". The site features the Cuban Organic Agriculture Exchange Program and links to the Institute for Food and Development Policy Programs, activities and publications.
Henry A. Wallace Institute for Alternative Agriculture
The Institute aims to "encourage and facilitate the adoption of low-cost, resource-conserving and environmentally sound farming systems" by providing "the leadership and policy research and analysis necessary to influence national agricultural policy." The site contains an overview of programs, projects and publications on sustainable agriculture, including among others, organic agriculture documents and an analysis of the US national organic program proposed rule.
International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM)
The world-wide umbrella organization of the organic agriculture movement, with about 750 member organizations and institutions in some 107 countries all over the world. IFOAM has a liaison status with the UN and FAO. The site gives information on general activities and aims, the IFOAM -Accreditation Programme (international equivalency of organic quality claims), the European Union Working Group (regulations and policy about organic agriculture and novel food), letters and publication orders, magazines and directory, links to some IFOAM members and co-operate partners, press releases, and the USDA Organic Proposed Rule. The page of the Standard Committee is still under construction.
Marine Stewardship Council (MSC)
Established by the World Wildlife Fund, MSC is a "charitable, not for profit, non-governmental, international organisation set-up to promote sustainable fisheries and responsible fishing practices worldwide, through developing long-term, market-based solutions, which meet the needs and objectives of both the environment and commerce". The site contains information on MSC, certification principles and criteria, the way the organization works, a library, a list of signatories and supporters, certifiers, news, contacts and links.
Network for Animal Health and Welfare in Organic Agriculture (NAHWOA)
The Network for Animal Health and Welfare in Organic Agriculture (NAHWOA) is a collaborative research forum on animal health and welfare in organic livestock production, funded by the EU. It is a concerted action project, bringing together experts from 17 research institutes in 13 European countries. This site hosts an international discussion forum on organic livestock farming. It also publishes the proceedings of NAHWOA's regular thematic workshops. The Network intends to hold three more thematic workshops over the next two years and will produce proceedings, publication lists and a book.
Organic Consumers Association (OCA)
OCA is a US consumer advocacy organization promoting organic food and fibre production and affiliated with the Campaign for Food Safety. The page provides book reviews (mainly on food safety), lists of US and Canadian food co-operatives and community-supported agriculture farms (by State), green pages, an eco-directory and sources of organic fertilizers, list of events, links and facts about organic agriculture, food safety and organic standards, OCA projects, and other information.
Pesticide Action Network North America Regional Center (PANNA)
Provides information on alternatives to pesticides, including among others, organic food and agriculture, standards, and organizations. Occasionally, the Updates Service (PANUPS) covers organic subjects.
Soil Association
The Soil Association is the "UK's leading campaigning and certification body for organic food and farming." The site contains information on activities and campaigns, publications, organic food, and international forestry certification.
News
OrganicInfo
News and contribution to organic information of the organic community are published monthly. The site also contains research information, organic education and courses opportunities, events and meetings, list of organic farms by country, job opportunities, laws and regulations, and useful links.
Organics in US
Features monthly newsletters containing reports on organics from around the world gleaned from U.S. attaché reports, trips made by organics staff, and other sources. The newsletter also covers items of interest about the U.S. national organic program and the domestic organic industry. A list of upcoming conferences, trade shows and other events is included in every issue.
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