NEWS

FECTU-NEWS 7/2009

21/07/2009

URGENT : animal traction in organic agriculture

Dear FECTU members,

TPorganics (www.tporganics.eu) is an European technological platform that will have to define, for the next fifteen years, the scientific research requirements in the field of organic agriculture.

During  the first meeting of the stakeholders – Tuesday July 14th 2009 in Brussels – FECTU had to acknowledge the fact that the use of animal traction in organic agriculture is purely and simply ignored or at  once rejected as a daydream. This applies to all levels (research, politics, agriculture unions, producers, distributors). The great majority of the actors is unable to imagine the need of scientific studies in this field.

If we do not want people and authorities to go on ignoring our quite justified demands, we have to prove that animal traction represents for organic agriculture a realistic and sustainable option which putting into practice requires scientific studies to be made at various levels. This will only be possible if the platform can be convinced of the need for such research. Therefore FECTU will go on providing detailed information to TPorganics.

But, above all, the request must come from small and medium size farms practicing organic agriculture. They are given an opportunity to express their demands through a questionnaire that is available in several languages on TPorganics website. Those who are already using animal traction, and those who are considering using it, are given the possibility to formulate their requests concerning research and this way commit to help us reach our common purposes.

FECTU Administrative Board therefore invites all member-associations to motivate organic producers so they fill this questionnaire.
Deadline : September 6th 2009

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Event : Beauvais Summer Universities – On September 2nd and 3rd 2009, EQUITERRA will, for the second time, organize in Beauvais the Summer Universities. The themes : Equine energy and durable development *** know-how *** horse and social integration. See : www.equiterra.fr