Andre Leu, Chairman, OFA
P.O Box 800, Mossman, Qld 4873 Ph:07 40987610 Mob:0428 459870 Email: chair@ofa.org.au
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From the desk of:
Andre Leu, Chairman
P.O. Box 800, Mossman, Qld 4873
Ph: +61 7 40987610 Mob: 0428 459870
MEDIA RELEASE
For Immediate Release: Tuesday 08 July 2008
Chair of Australia's Organic Peak Body Elected onto World Board Peak Body
The Chair of the Organic Federation of Australia, Andre Leu, has been elected onto the World Board of the
International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM)
‘It is a great honour to be supported by my colleagues from around the world’, declared Andre Leu,
Chairman of the Organic Federation of Australia (OFA), after his election in Italy, on June 28.
1,700 experts, practitioners and producers from 108 countries met in Italy for the 16th IFOAM Organic World
Congress to discuss the most pressing concerns of humanity especially the major issues of climate change
and food security. The enormous range of topics included biodiversity, food safety, sowing, growing and
harvesting techniques, market opportunities, verification methods, and technological innovations.
In 2005, the World Congress on organic agriculture was held in Adelaide. This year, three driectors, Dr Els
Wynen, Tim Marshall and Andre Leu represented the OFA at the World Congress in Italy. Seven OFA
members presented a range of papers on organic systems at this major international event.
Andre is looking forward to contributing on the world stage, as well as continuing his key role in the OFA, the
peak body on organic agriculture in Australia.
‘This is a critical time for world agriculture, especially now that sales in organic products is the fastest
growing area and worth over $50 billion. The areas of equivalence in organic standards and certification, and
their harmonization to facilitate fair trade in organic agriculture are key issues’, Andre said. ‘Climate Change
and the environmental benefits of organic systems will also be priorities.’
Andre sees his work on the IFOAM World Board as complementing developments in organic agriculture in
Australia, where the OFA has been actively involved in developing the new organic standard and policies for
certification in the Australian market.
'The draft of Australian Standard for Organic and Biodynamic Products will be ready for public comments this
month, and should be ready for adoption around the end of this year', Andre added.
Andre paid tribute to the out going IFOAM board members, especially the previous President, Gerald
Herrmann and Brendan Hoare from New Zealand who actively represented our region.
-ENDS-
The Organic Federation of Australia is the peak body and the largest representative organic organisation in Australia. For
For Interviews:
Andre Leu, Chairman
Land: 0740987610
Mobile: 0428 459870
Email: chair@ofa.org.au
Eric Love Deputy Chair
Land: 02 9922 3456
Mobile: 0419 619455
Email: eric@corebusinessnet.com
Tim Marshall Director: 08 8339 1250
Mobile: 0412 473 230
Email: tim@tmorganics.com
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