6th SYMPOSIUM ON ORGANIC AGRICULTURE HELD IN IZMIR...

6th SYMPOSIUM ON ORGANIC AGRICULTURE

May 15-17, 2019, ECOLOGY Fair (Gaziemir / Izmir)

In Turkey, the Symposium on Organic Agriculture, bringing research and practitioners in the organic sector is organized since 1999 under the coordination of Association of Organic Agriculture Organizations (Ekolojik Tarım Organizasyonu (ETO)). 

The 6th Symposium on Organic Agriculture was held in Izmir on May 15-17, 2019 during the 10th Ecology (Ekoloji) Fair. İzmir is known as the capital of organic agriculture in Turkey since 1980s. Starting from 2019, the Symposium is open for international participants. The Symposium has created an opportunity to meet the organic community and various activities performed at the Ecology, the unique Fair in Turkey on organic agriculture. Ecology Fair Organizer (IZFAŞ), Aegean Exporters’ Associations and the Turkish Cooperation and Development Agency (TIKA) are partners of ETO in organization of the Symposium. Participants will surely find new opportunities to further networking.

The Symposium aimed to support scientific and innovative research work, to promote initiatives and cooperation, to discuss the implemented research results with stakeholders, to wide-spread best practices, and to share the problems faced in the organic sector with decision makers and researchers.

The Symposium was open for oral and poster presentations related to organic agriculture including papers on the current state-of art of organic agriculture or best practices. Two parallel sessions were organized for oral presentations on organic plant and animal production and trade with invited speakers. A Panel discussion of ‘Food Communities’ in Turkey has allowed to exchange experiences of different groups achieving direct link to the producers and develop shorter marketing channels for local agri-food products. 

The session on promotion of regional cooperation was held on May 17, 2019 and mainly focus on Eastern European, Central Asian and Middle-eastern countries. Representatives from IFOAM, FAO/REU and some target countries presented the current state of organic agriculture in the world and in respective countries. Regional structures in place for development of organic agriculture were also discussed. The following moderated discussion session aimed to identify common priorities and major tools to promote regional cooperation as well

Applications were open to all interested parties. 

Association of Organic Agriculture Organizations (Ekolojik Tarım Organizasyonu (ETO)