The international umbrella organization of worldwide organic agricultural movements, IFOAM, recently sponsored an event at a meeting of the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization’s (FAO) Committee on World Food Security, drawing attention to the potential of organic agriculture for achieving global food security.

Thomas Rath from the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) presented evidence of the impact of organic agriculture on rural development and thus poverty alleviation. Organic farming is seen as a promising alternative for small farmers, who in most cases can easily shift to organic production.

According to Alexander Müller, Assistant Director-General of FAO, many countries want information on organic agriculture and its contribution to food security. Thus, FAO plans to hold in 2007 an international conference on Organic Agriculture and Food Security, the report of which will be submitted to the Committee on World Food Security.