ORGANIC (Ltd) - Directory

Fri, 16 Apr 2004 11:00:00 GMT

Online Organic Directory. (organic.com.au/directory)

Biodiversity Conservation Information System

BCIS A consortium of ten international conservation organisations and programs of IUCN-The World Conservation Union.

BCIS Members collectively represent the single greatest global source of biodiversity conservation information in the world.

BCIS is a framework within which the Members' networks work together toward a common goal: to support environmentally sound decision-making and action by facilitating access to biodiversity data and information.

Biodiversity Hot Spots

The hotspots strategy focuses human and financial resources on diverse and irreplaceable regions that are most likely to disappear without immediate conservation action. Identifying biodiversity hotspots requires knowledge of where unique species are concentrated and which areas are facing the greatest risk of biodiversity loss. Setting targets for avoiding species extinctions relies on scientific evaluations of the threatened status of species. Similarly, determining which areas should be protected requires an assessment of remaining habitat and trends in habitat loss. In short, science underpins hotspots conservation.

Biodiversity New Zealand

Provides information about Aotearoa New Zealand's native biodiversity, what is being done to help conserve and manage it, and who is involved. The information and work programmes covered in this site are part of New Zealand's long-term commitment to conserve its natural heritage under the New Zealand Biodiversity Strategy.

Biowatch South Africa

Biowatch South Africa is a national non-governmental organisation dedicated to publicising, monitoring and researching issues of biological diversity, genetic engineering and sustainable livelihoods.

Convention on Biological Diversity

The objectives of this Convention, to be pursued in accordance with its relevant provisions, are the conservation of biological diversity, the sustainable use of its components and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources, including by appropriate access to genetic resources and by appropriate transfer of relevant technologies, taking into account all rights over those resources and to technologies, and by appropriate funding.

CORE Organic

CORE Organic (Coordination of European Transnational Research in Organic Food and Farming) is a 3-year Coordination Action in organic food and farming.

The overall objective is to gather the critical mass and enhance quality, relevance and utilisation of resources in European research in organic food and farming. The final goal is to establish a joint research programme.

DEFRA Genetic Modification

Defra (Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs) is responsible for the control of the deliberate release of genetically modified organisms (GMOs), and for national (United Kingdom), EU and international policy on the environmental safety of GMOs.

European Union - European Commission - Food Additives

Federation of European Food Additives and Enzymes

Food Standards Agency (United Kingdom)

Food Standards Australia New Zealand

Forschungsinstitut fur Biologischen Landbau

The Research Institute of Organic Agriculture FiBL, Frick (Switzerland) and FiBL Berlin e.V. (Germany) are leading competence centres for research and consultancy on organic agriculture in Europe.

FiBL Frick, founded back in 1973, is the world's largest research establishment for organic agriculture. The close links between different fields of research and the rapid transfer of knowledge from research to advisory work and agricultural practice are FiBL's strengths.

FiBL Frick employs over 100 members of staff with a volume of project funding totalling some 8.5 million Euro in the year 2003. The German sister-institute FiBL Berlin was founded in 2001.

GM Free Britain

A friends of the Earth campaign that works to spur local authorities around the country.code to declare themselves GM-free. The rationale being that the more self-declared GM-free areas there are in the UK, the harder it will be for the Government to introduce commercial growing of GM crops. The local GM-Free Britain campaign involves: - Directly engaging with local councils - Getting local business and organisations on side - Encouraging local people to show support - Generating local media coverage

GM Watch

GM Watch developed out of the Norfolk Genetic Information Network - a news and research service founded in Norfolk, UK in the spring of 1998 to report on the growing concerns about genetic engineering, also known as genetic modification. GM Watch has developed a particular focus on the use of hype, propaganda and spin to promote this technology, and on exposing the role played by corporate-friendly scientists, industry front groups, PR companies, lobbyists, and political groups.

Grain

GRAIN is an international non-governmental organisation which promotes the sustainable management and use of agricultural biodiversity based on people's control over genetic resources and local knowledge.

GRAIN was established at the beginning of the 1990s to launch a decade of popular action against one of the most pervasive threats to world food security: genetic erosion. The loss of biological diversity, undermines the very sense of "sustainable development" as it destroys options for the future and robs people of a key resource base for survival. Genetic erosion means more than just the loss of genetic diversity. In essence it is an erosion of options for development. Central to our approach is the conviction that the conservation and use of genetic resources is too important to leave to scientists, governments and industry alone. Farmers and community organisations have nurtured genetic diversity for millennia, and continue to do so. Any effort in this field should take their experience as a starting point.

Now entering its 15th year of work, GRAIN has witnessed and contributed to an enormous and ever-growing momentum of international concern, debate and action to redress the imbalances in the management and control of biodiversity. What started as a small and Euro-centred outfit in the early 1990s, has now grown into a dynamic and mature organisation with fourteen staff in ten countries and spread across 5 continents, carrying out a broad and challenging programme on local and global management of genetic diversity and the impacts of biotechnology on world agriculture, particularly in developing countries.

This evolution would not have been possible without permanent efforts to strengthen the growing network of partner groups in every continent of the world. The foundations of our work lie in the daily networking, communications and information activities of our small organisation. It is on this basis that we able to strengthen our capacities and those of our many partners the world over in mobilising popular concern and constructive action for the safeguarding of the world's genetic diversity.

Henry Doubleday Research Association

HDRA is a registered charity, and Europe's largest organic membership organisation. It is dedicated to researching and promoting organic gardening, farming and food.

HDRA began in 1954 as a result of the inspiration and initiative of one man, Lawrence Hills.

Henry Doubleday Research Association - Australia

The Aim of Henry Doubleday Research Association Australia is to promote and encourage the adoption in Austalia (and elsewhere) of farm practices based on the Organic Method.

To encourage research and experimentation in the application to agriculture and horticulture of the organic method and to undertake the publication and dissemination to farmers,home gardeners,educational institutions and the community at large.

International POPs Elimination Network

The International POPs Elimination Network is a global network of public interest non-governmental organisations united in support of a common POPs elimination goal. The mission of IPEN, achieved through its participating organisations, is to work for the global elimination of persistent organic pollutants, on an expedited yet socially equitable basis.

International Research Association for Organic Food Quality and Health

Aims to establish a network of research institutions specialized in the background of organic food and its effect on human health. Interdisciplinary as well as specialised investigations on organic food quality concepts and novel research methods to study the influence of organic food on human health will be promoted.

International Society of Organic Agriculture Research

The International Society of Organic Agriculture Research (ISOFAR) promotes and supports research in all areas of Organic Agriculture by facilitating global co-operation in research, methodological development, education and knowledge exchange; supporting individual researchers through membership services, publications and events and integrating stakeholders in the research process.

Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives

The Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) is an international expert scientific committee that is administered jointly by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO). It has been meeting since 1956, initially to evaluate the safety of food additives. Its work now also includes the evaluation of contaminants, naturally occurring toxicants and residues of veterinary drugs in food.

Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Flavours

Natural Resources Defence Council

Studies the health effects of pesticides and fights to take the most dangerous chemicals out of use. At the same time, we promote farming methods that reduce the use of chemical pesticides. We monitor the federal government's actions to safeguard the food supply from pesticide residues. We also participate in numerous national advisory committees on the effects of pesticides and other chemicals, as well as on strategies for reducing pesticide exposure and related illnesses.

Network of Concerned Farmers

The network of concerned farmers is a loose network of farmers who are concerned about the economic, environmental and social impacts of Genetic Engineering. The network aims to protect the rights of farmers to grow non GE crops in Australia.

Organic ePrints

The Organic Eprints archive is a tool to further develop research in organic agriculture. The main objectives are to facilitate the communication of research papers and proposals, to improve the dissemination and impact of research findings, and to document the research effort. In accordance with these objectives the archive is designed to facilitate international use and cooperation.

The Organic Eprints archive has been developed by the Danish Research Centre for Organic Farming, DARCOF, since 2002. In 2003 the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture, FiBL, (Germany) joined the project as its first international partner with editorial responsibilities for the German language region and responsibility for the German language version of Organic Eprints.

Organic Europe

Organic Europe was set up by Stiftung Ökologie & Landbau, Germany in 2000, and co-funded by the EU-Commision, Agriculture Directorate-General.

Since 2002 the Site has been maintained by the Swiss Research Institute of Organic Agriculture - Forschungsinstitut für biologischen Landbau (FiBL).

Pesticide Action Network - United Kingdom

Promotes healthy food, agriculture and an environment which will provide food and meet public health needs without dependence on toxic chemicals, and without harm to food producers and agricultural workers. PAN UK is an independent, non-profit organisation. We work nationally and internationally with like-minded groups and individuals concerned with health, environment and development to: Eliminate the hazards of pesticides; Reduce dependence on pesticides and prevent unnecessary expansion of use; Increase the sustainable and ecological alternatives to chemical pest control.

Pesticide Safety Directorate - United Kingdom

An Executive Agency of the United Kingdom's Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, administers the regulation of agricultural, horticultural, forestry, food storage and home garden pesticides. The principal functions of PSD are to evaluate and process applications for approval of pesticide products for use in Great Britain and provide advice to Government on pesticides policy. Our Aims are: To ensure the safe use of pesticides for people and the environment. As part of the strategy for sustainable food and farming, to reduce negative impacts of pesticides, encouraging reductions in their use, taking account of best practice, and the development and introduction of alternative control measures. To harmonise pesticide regulation within Europe and provide a level playing field for crop protection. We will meet these aims by regulation and other means. An Executive Agency of the United Kingdom's Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, administers the regulation of agricultural, horticultural, forestry, food storage and home garden pesticides. The principal functions of PSD are to evaluate and process applications for approval of pesticide products for use in Great Britain and provide advice to Government on pesticides policy. Our Aims are: To ensure the safe use of pesticides for people and the environment. As part of the strategy for sustainable food and farming, to reduce negative impacts of pesticides, encouraging reductions in their use, taking account of best practice, and the development and introduction of alternative control measures. To harmonise pesticide regulation within Europe and provide a level playing field for crop protection. We will meet these aims by regulation and other means.

Policy Comparison New Zealand

Policy.net.nz is an independent resource that compares New Zealand policy standpoints from all political parties. The intention is to link to original policy material so that the public can form their own informed opinions.

Prior Informed Consent - The Rotterdam Convention

Governments started to address the problem of toxic pesticides and other hazardous chemicals in the 1980s by establishing a voluntary Prior Informed Consent procedure. PIC required exporters trading in a list of hazardous substances to obtain the prior informed consent of importers before proceeding with the trade.

In 1998, governments decided to strengthen the procedure by adopting the Rotterdam Convention, which makes PIC legally binding. The Convention establishes a first line of defense by giving importing countries the tools and information they need to identify potential hazards and exclude chemicals they cannot manage safely. If a country agrees to import chemicals, the Convention promotes their safe use through labeling standards, technical assistance, and other forms of support. It also ensures that exporters comply with the requirements. The Rotterdam Convention entered into force on 24 February 2004.

RIRDC - The Organic Produce Program

The Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation has established the Organic Produce Program to facilitate the development of a viable organic industry through increasing adoption of sustainable organic farming systems.

Stokholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants

The Stockholm Convention is a global treaty to protect human health and the environment from persistent organic pollutants (POPs). POPs are chemicals that remain intact in the environment for long periods, become widely distributed geographically, accumulate in the fatty tissue of living organisms and are toxic to humans and wildlife. POPs circulate globally and can cause damage wherever they travel. In implementing the Convention, Governments will take measures to eliminate or reduce the release of POPs into the environment.

The FSA GM Debate

The Food Standards Agency in the United Kingdom has been supporting a range of innovative events and activities to independently assess people's views of genetically modified food. This independent assessment of consumer opinion on the acceptability of GM food and how this relates to consumer choice is the Agency's contribution to the Government's public debate on GM. At the 8 May open meeting of the FSA Board, members reviewed and evaluated the range of information and views on GM food collated by the Agency. Following this discussion, the Agency will submit its views to Government.

The GM Economic Debate

The Strategy Unit study is the third strand of the GM dialogue and, along with the science review, will feed into the public debate. The Strategy Unit study will consider a full range of possible scenarios for the future development of GM crops in the United Kingdom, including a "no GM" scenario. Hence the study will look at crops currently in trial and also at those in development that could be available within a ten-year timeframe. It is currently envisaged that the final report will be published in June 2003 as a contribution to the public debate, with comments invited.

The GM Public Debate

The GM public debate is one strand of the national GM dialogue in the United Kingdom. The recommendation that there should be a national debate stems from the report Crops on Trial published by the Agriculture and Environment Biotechnology Commission (AEBC) in September 2001. Government accepted the AEBC's advice. Announcing the debate, Environment Secretary Margaret Beckett said: "The Government wants a genuinely open and balanced discussion on GM. There is clearly a wide range of views on this issue and we want to ensure all voices are heard."

The GM Science Debate

The second strand of the United Kingdom's GM debate is the expert Science Review Panel, chaired by Professor Sir David King. It has two principal functions: to monitor the progress and credibility of the Science Review and, towards the end of the review, summarise the state of scientific knowledge, consensus and areas of uncertainty on each key issue. The panel will operate in an open and transparent way; it will meet in public. The draft report inviting comments, as well as the final summary report, will be placed on this website. The report will be for Government, for the Scientific Community, and for the interested public, and will be written with public accessibility in mind.

The True Food Guide

In the True Food Guide for Australia, foods are listed in common categories and displayed in coloured columns according to the genetically modified status of the companies that produce them. In each section, the brand of the food is listed, followed by the company name where relevant. The True food Guide is now online and members can create a shopping list that is free from GM products.

USA Food & Drug Administration