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9 April 2012 | News | 3rd Meeting of the Uruguayan Agroecology | Food Sovereignty
State and Agroecology
Meeting of the Uruguayan Network of Agroecology focused on public policies
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The third National Meeting of the Uruguayan Network of Agroecology (RAU) will take place next weekend in Colonia department, Uruguay. Its main focus will be “Public policies and agroecology”, with the aim to obtain greater commitment from the State in the promotion of this method of production, which is also a way of life and a political view.
Pablo Galeano, of REDES-Friends of the Earth Uruguay and the RAU spoke with Real World Radio about the meeting.
The network was created in 2005 at the initiative of the Association of Organic Farmers of Uruguay (APODU) in order to unite people and institutions interested in working for the promotion of Ecological Agriculture in the country.
Producers, consumers, experts and non governmental organizations, as well as professionals from institutions like the National Institute of Agriculture Research and the School of Agronomy of the University of the Republic, founded the Network that is now celebrating its third meeting as a form of advocacy for agroecology.
Galeano said the recently created Bureau of Rural Development of the Ministry of Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries (MGAP) is expected to announce some agroecological production initiatives. There will be meetings to assess the work of the Network and to plan the next steps the organization should take through its regional representation.
One of RAU’s main aspects is its diversity as it comprises producers, consumers and experts. It also complies with the organic production certificate under a participatory methodology, being the only organization in the country with an official agriculture certification.
In parallel to the panels, workshops and meetings, there will be an exhibition with stands from producers from all over the country, as well as organizations and agriculture supplies, and there will be screening of several videos.
The activities will take place in 17 de febrero park in Fomento, a resort close to Colonia Valdense.
Galeano said that this is a good chance for the people who work or advocate for agroecology to meet. He said there will be technical workshops and presentations by international guests.
Some of the presenters at the event will be: Gustavo Tito of the National Institute of Agriculture Technologies (INTA) of Argentina; Paulo Petersen, Vicechair of the Brazilian Agroecology Association; Eduardo Soares, of the policymaking team of the National Agroecology Policy of Brazil and José Olascuaga, General Director of Rural Development (MGAP) of Uruguay.
A panel on Healthy Consumption will also be organized with presentations from members of the organization Slow Food, association of Nutritionists and a representative of FIAN International, all organizations that promote food sovereignty, which stress the importance of healthy food.
