Created and Presented by:

1. ORGANICS In the developing world Created and Presented by: Clara Everett, Sonia Foroudastan, James Bond(eson), and Andrew Johnson

2. ORGANICS: An Overview • Organic food is food that has been grown naturally, without the use of pesticides, growth hormones, or other chemicals or additives. • Organically grown foods are generally safer, healthier, and more environmentally-conscious than non-organic foods. • According to organicconsumers.org, “Eating organic has the potential to lower the incidence of autism, learning disorders, diabetes, cancer, coronary heart disease, allergies, osteoporosis, migraines, dementia, and hyperactivity.”

5. Why Developing Countries Should Go Organic? The Demand for organic agriculture produce in developed countries is growing rapidly According to the UNCTAD: In the US, sales of certified organic food were estimated to have grown by between 15 and 20 percent in recent years. In Europe, sales of certified organic foods in recent years have grown at more than double the rate of overall food sales. This presents opportunities for developing countries to export organic produce to the developed world. Materials for organic farming are more available to developing countries, and cheaper than buying synthetic farming materials. “Developing countries—where farmers may not have access to expensive fertilizers—could almost triple their yield by using organic methods without putting extra farmland into production” - Catherine Badgley, a research scientist at the Museum of Paleontology, at the University of Michigan

6. Economic Benefits Higher prices for certified organic produce and comparable or higher yields Revitalizes rural communities Improved Food Security Allows developing countries to play a role in international trade.

7. Environmental Benefits Less Pollution Improved Soil (Less soil erosion and increased water retention) Enhanced biodiversity Reduced Greenhouse Gas Emissions No genetic contamination Mitigated climate change Reduced energy consumption Restore Natural Resources

8. Improvements After Switching to Organic Agriculture 114 Case Studies in Africa were conducted by the UNCTAD about the conversion to organic farming The studies found: 116% increase in productivity Organic agriculture built human, social, natural, financial, and physical capital in Africa Organic systems produce 80% more than conventional farms in developing countries. Developing countries produce 95% of organic food sales. Developing countries have a say on trade agreements, and are able to have large influence on their litigations.

9. Recommendations on How to go Organic for Developing Countries Assess national organic sector and policies Review an Organic Action plan

10. Problems Developing Countries May Face When Going Organic They must receive organic certification and meet the different requirements to be considered organic that each different country they export to has. Limited information about organic methods and market opportunities Must compete against subsidized developed-country produce. Little or no government support

11. Organizations Working To Find Solutions For The Developing World The International Task Force on Harmonization and Equivalence in Organic Agriculture Started by The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development Main Goal: to harmonize and come up with a universal decision on what qualifies a product as “organic.” This will help developing countries to become certified as organic and export their goods to other countries. The Capacity Building Task Force on Trade, Environment and Development Project is another group working to help developing countries.

12. Conclusion “Over the past two decades the organic agro-food system has been transformed from a loosely coordinated local network of producers and consumers to a globalized system of formally regulated trade which links socially and spatially distant sites of production and consumption.” - Laura Raynalds, Colorado State University Article