Prince of Wales Opens International Organic Conference
Prince Charles opened the 14th International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM) conference in Victoria,
Canada today.
Prince Charles in a spirited delivery commended the conference’s theme of ‘cultivating communities’ commenting that,
“Organics is the most sustainable form of agriculture the world has. It is inherently about self reliance, delivers what
people want and brings culture back into agriculture .”
The three day event, brings together over 1000 world leaders of Organic practice, science and philosophy. “It is one of
the few winners in sustainability over the past decade” commented Gunner Rudgren, President of IFOAM. “We deliver more
than the typical economic, social and environmental benefits of sustainability. Organics redesigns our food system,
using innovation and creativity This is a platform of cultivating communities.”
The conference has a delegation of 10 New Zelanders, several of whom are delivering papers and chairing sessions. “We
are seen internationally as holding genuine innovation by offering progressive solutions to real global solutions.”
Brendan Hoare a senior lecturer at UNITEC and co-convenor of Organic Federation of Aotearoa New Zealand said. “Few
countries in the world can deliver a clean green GE free environment, it is seen as a haven.”
“Organic crops have been shown to be contaminated by GE and companies responsible should be liable.” commented the
Prince of Wales.
Mr Hoare leaves IFOAM on 24 August for the WSSD. He will be corresponding regularly via email and be offering an
international perspective to New Zealand’s performance at the WSSD.
Brendan Hoare bhoare@unitec.ac.nz
Ph 64 9 854321 x 7294