XV SEAE Technical Conference on Organic production in Mediterranean Basin Mallorca Spain 16-17 of Setember 2009

Call for papers :
You can present scientific and not scientific papers on the four topics of the Conference.Papers will be presented in a Poster format only also in english.You will find the instructions and template at the SEAE webpage (www.agroecologia.net).

Deadlines to remember
● 20th of May to send abstracts May
● 20th-30th of May Scientific Committee revision of presented abstracts
● 1st of June abstracts acceptation is communicated
● 17th of July full papers should be presented

Please send abstracts to the Permanent Secretary of SEAE:
E-mail: coordinador@agroecologia.net

The countries of the Mediterranean basin share similar climate and ecological conditions, with strong environmental links – water scarcity, soil degradation and erosion- and a millenary history generated on the political conflicts within European countries and countries from the Southern part of the Mediterranean sea. Historically, the ten countries that initiated the Process of Barcelona (Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Israel, Palestine, Syria, Lebanon and Jordan) have taken a very important role in the agrofood sector. The opening of a free trade area would be both, an opportunity to re-launch the economy and a thread due to the similarity of the crops and the coincidence of vegetable and fresh fruit harvesting periods.

The countries of the Southeast of the Mediterranean basin do not have food self-sufficiency and in addition these countries suffer major limitations and have inadequate production factors. Adopting an environmentally friendly agriculture, could counterbalance the devastating effects of globalization, especially in terms of food security Organic farming (OF) as it’s a model of rural and territorial sustainable development emerged from its multifuncionality, can contribute to a sustainable economic development of the Mediterranean basin. In many of Mediterranean countries, OF represents a promising production system, although in the developing countries, it is still considered an export production system for small market niche.

One strategic factor of sustainable development is the access to a training, certification, research and markets. Regarding this last one, the important aspects are the development of local markets, the direct relationship with the consumer (short supply chain), the impulse of catering for schools, etc. The recent faster development of OF in many of the Mediterranean countries are one indicator of the interest of markets actors, taking the attention of many Governments.

Scheduled Programme:

--> Wednesday, 16th September
10h00 Visit to Agroecological Mediterranean sites 18h00 Roundtable1: Organic farming in Balearian Islands 20h00 Welcome Reception at Palma City Town Hall

--> Thursday, 17th of september
Agroenvironmental Aspects
09h00 Accreditation of the participants
09h30 Welcome speeches (Invited Authorities) 10h00 Speech 1: Mediterranean Union J. Ferre, IEMED
10h45 Ecology, landscape and agriculture A. Martínez 11h30 Coffee break 12h00 Mediterranean Soils J. Porta 13h00 Climate change in the Mediterranean M.Millán, CEAM 13h30 Posters Session 1 14h00 Lunch (Organic) 16h00 Eficiency and energy balance in OF (prov.)
16h45 External Costs Saving by Organic Farming I. Murray 17h30 Coffee break 18h00 Environmental Services of OF M. Glez de Molina
18h45 Annual General Assembly of SEAE (open) 21h30 (organic) Gala dinner of SEAE

--> Friday, 18th of september
Socioeconomic Issues
09h30 Mediterranean Insularity and Organic Farming (prov.)
10h15 Mediterranean policies & OF R. Cubell, G. Catalunya 11h00 Coffee break 11h30 Panel: Mediterranean experiences in OF (prov.) 13h30 Poster Session 2 14h00 (Organic) Lunch 16h00 Organic Marketing in Mediterranean Basin (prov.)
16h45 Research in OF in Mediterranean countries (prov.) 17h30 Roundtable2: Future of Mediterranean OF (prov.) 22h00 Welfare Dinner

--> Saturday, 19th of septembre
9h30-18h00 Visit to organic vineyards and vineries (prov.)
--> Parallel meetings
• Meeting of organic Mediterranean Associations (prov.) • Meeting of the IFOAM ABM Regional Group Board (prov.) • Meeting of project Consortiums (prov.)

Aims
►To know the progress and the current situation of organic production in the Mediterranean, ► To evaluate the interest of the major organic productions (Olives, Vine, Carob-tree, Almonds and Husbandry), ► To identify the environmental and socioeconomic constraints for a linkage to Agroecological strategies, ► To propose the needs of a Mediterranean area in policies and differentiated norms and standards.

Issues
► Mediterranean agro-environment conditions, ► Sustainability of Mediterranean agro systems, ► Socioeconomic aspects, ► Needs and challenges.

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