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GEORGE NEWS & VIDEO - Well-known George academic Prof Raymond Auerbach was recently elected chairperson of the Network of Organic Agricultural Research in Africa (NOARA).
It is an important and influential position leading up to the triennial Organic World Congress (OWC) in Tunisia in October next year.
The last OWC in France in 2021 was attended by stakeholders from all over the world, and Africa won the bid to host in Tunisia in 2024.
The organic sector has been growing steadily, as ecological organic agriculture addresses climate change, biodiversity, health and equity, and mothers have been voting with their consumer dollars for safe, wholesome organic foods with minimal processing.
Auerbach was appointed to the Agricultural Research Council (ARC) in South Africa in 2020 and is regarded by many as a pioneer in organic research. He has been involved in organic farming for more than 50 years.
It is the first time that a South African has been elected to the position of chairperson of this African Network, and the appointment is likely to lead to clarity of focus on the research needs of African organic farmers.
Auerbach talked to George Herald about his new position and the way forward on Monday 13 March.
He said when he was appointed to the ARC, he made no secret that he was going to push for the organic sector to receive research support. He proposed that South Africa should be involved in the congress in Tunisia, and should learn from the way the Tunisian government supported the organic sector, growing the volume and value of exports to Europe. He suggested that the ARC do an overview of organic research in Africa. Over the last 30 years, not much research has been done in Africa to support organic farmers.
The NOARA committee was tasked to work out a strategy based on the identified research needs of the sector. Local farmers, advisers and researchers are already involved, and local interest is growing as fertiliser and poison prices rise, and demand for organic products increases.
Prof Auerbach is optimistic about the future as there is interest at a local level and also at regional level in the African Union, which now has an Ecological Organic Agriculture Initiative; interest globally has been growing steadily for the past thirty years.
Auerbach said nobody likes to use poison in agriculture, but many feel there is no alternative to counter pests and diseases. Organic farming shows that productive farming can manage without poison, which is not good for the environment or for human health.
VIDEO: Well known academic in new position
According to him there is a new drive globally regarding organic farming. If people want to be healthy, they need to change the way food is produced, processed and consumed. This will require appropriate research, and a change in the approach to agricultural extension.
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