Published August 2008
Newsletter 1

1st Nordic Organic Conference
May 18–19, Swedish Exhibition Centre, Göteborg

Focusing on food chain sustainability
The first Nordic Organic Conference is a joint Nordic effort with focus on research and development of organic and sustainable food production and consumption. Together with the conference the exhibition EkoNord will be arranged for the first time. This organic food fair is part of the every second year returning food fair Interfood. It will be the largest gathering in Scaninavia of organic producers and processors.

The aim of the Nordic Organic Conference (NOC) is to create a Nordic forum with the focus on organic food and sustainable food production and consumption. Through mutual exchanges of knowledge between researchers and other stakeholders, development towards increased sustainability in the food supply chain can be promoted.

Will Steffen and Nordic agriculture and food ministers
In the first plenary session Will Steffen will give his picture of how we impact the earth and the global eco system. On top of that the Nordic agriculture and food ministers are invited to give their perspective on environment, climate change and organic food and farming from a political point of view.
Read the preliminary programme

Food for quality of life
The meals we are eating can be seen as expressions for different values, such as a good environment, well-being, animal welfare, solidarity... To care for the food is to care for the surrounding world. But who has the power to decide what's on our plates? And is there knowledge and transparency enough to make enlightened choices? In this "kitchen-on-stage-session" we will cook a warming and nourishing soup out of organic ingredients, knowledge and insights.
Read the preliminary programme

Show – the organic picture
What will the world look like when organic production is mainstream? The panel paints the vision in words and simultaneously an artist will catch the vision on canvas. Terry Marsden has accepted to be part of the panel, he is an authority in the field of rural development, agro-food studies, sustainable development and planning, policy development and rural governance. Moderator is Søren Nilausen, Head of Organic Farming Department, Danish Agricultural Advisory Service.
Read the preliminary programme
Read about Terry Marsden

Full program
Besides the plenary sessions on Monday and Tuesday, May 18-19, there are three parallell lines with five sessions each. This means a total of eighteen sessions with exciting and relevant topics. The last day, Wednesday May 20, there are to be workshops and study tours. The programme will be filled with interesting speakers and seminars, follow the development on the web site. http://nordicorganic.org/Programme.html


The Interfood exhibition at the Swedish Exhibition Centre established Sweden's largest ever gathering place for organic food in September 2007. With NOC and Interfood side by side a completely new forum for organic food issues in the Nordic countries will be created. A unique meeting place where training, networking, products and interpersonal meetings will be the focus, a new Nordic platform where future and lasting contacts are made. Visit http://www.interfood.se to book a space or learn more about the exhibition.

The 1st NOC programme is planned by the Centre for sustainable agriculture (CUL) at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences in close cooperation with:

• Danish Agricultural Advisory Service and International Centre for Research in Organic Food Systems (ICROFS)
• Norwegian Institute for Agricultural and Environmental Research (Bioforsk Økologisk)
• MTT Agrifood Research Finland

The practical arrangements are coordinated by the Centre for sustainable agriculture in collaboration with The County Administrative Board of Västra Götaland and Interfood.

This newsletter is sent to you from Centre of sustainable agriculture, please spread the newsletter to other interested. If you want to subscribe or end the subscription please send a message to info@nordicorganic.org