Leading experts, organic farmers, scientists, traders and representatives of civil society groups from all over the world will participate in the 19th Organic World Congress being organized by International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM) from November 9 at the Indian Exposition Mart in Greater Noida near here.

Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh will inaugurate the three-day conference in the presence of Union Commerce and Industries Minister Suresh Prabhu with APEDA (Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority) as the partner agency.

The theme of the 19th OWC is ‘An Organic World through an Organic India.’

Over 110 countries will send 1400 foreign delegates at the international event which will have intensive pre – conference discussions, seminars, conferences and exhibitions. India will have 2000 participants. There will be an Organic Seeds and Good Practices exhibition.

IFOAM is an international umbrella organization for organic farming which is a non-chemical, integrated and sustainable method of agriculture.

On the occasion Mr. Prabhu will launch the Organic Food Business Operator portal of Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). Agriculture Ministers of Uttar Pradesh, and Sikkim will also participate.

Union Minister for Women and Child Welfare Menaka Gandhi will open an exhibition on farmers’ hand-on demonstration in organic initiatives and good practices, the Director of Organic Farming Association of India (OFAI) Claude Alvares told media persons here.

The OWC will play a critical and unprecedented role in supporting the Indian organic farming movement and tilting India’s agriculture policy firmly in the direction of organic. At the same time, it will enable solidarity among organic farmers and organic farming associations across continents, supporting the efforts of the Intercontinental Network of Organic Farming Organisations (INOFO) he said.

Once every three years IFOAM organizes the Organic World Congress in a different country to achieve its vision as the global organic movement and also to provide a platform where organic stakeholders can share their knowledge and expertise and establish valuable partnerships.

The event is considered the leading event for the development of the organic sector worldwide. It is held to promote and celebrate the inevitable turning of global agriculture to organic farming methods and to measure progress.

The previous Congress was organized in Istanbul, Turkey in October 2014. India won the bid to host the 19th IFOAM Organic World Congress at a very critical time in its agricultural history as the organic food movement is on the path of growth and has grown by four times in the last three years.