Last week, FiBL hosted the largest livestock conference organised by international organic organisations. Around 200 people attended the event in person and online. The IAHA conference focused on the question of whether organic livestock farming can serve as a role model.
The conference was organised by FiBL and IAHA. IAHA stands for “IFOAM Animal Husbandry Alliance”. It is the discussion platform for livestock farming within IFOAM, the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements. The participants – researchers, farmers and representatives of associations – from Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe and Oceania spent three days debating organic livestock farming in general and, in particular, the conference theme “Organic animal husbandry: a role model for the future of livestock?”.
A definitive answer to this question cannot be found within three days, even when the industry’s most knowledgeable minds are gathered. The final declaration is, therefore, still being drafted and will be published here in the coming weeks.
Organic farming needs animals
However, there was no dispute over the fact that organic farming needs animals. On the one hand, because they play an important role in closed-loop systems on organic farms. On the other hand, consumer demand for animal-friendly and sustainably produced organic animal products is high, and consequently their economic significance is also significant.
It is equally undisputed that husbandry conditions and animal welfare in organic farming must be further improved; for this reason, conference participants discussed, among other things, ways in which this goal can be achieved for all livestock species.
Extensive programme
Alongside the extensive programme of lectures, debates and poster presentations, there was ample time at the IAHA conference for social interaction and, on the final day, several excursions were available to choose from.
At the closing of the conference, participants bid farewell to their long-standing chair and FiBL pioneer Otto Schmid with a standing ovation. Schmid was one of the co-founders of the IAHA, which was launched in Hamburg in 2012. For the past 14 years, he has served as chair of the IFOAM platform for livestock farming. His role is now being taken over jointly by Muazzez Cömert from Turkey and Florian Leiber from FiBL.
To this LINK it is possible to find further details and conference proceedings.
Source: FIBL
