SAFO News, December 2005

Participation in the Joint Organic Congress 2006
and 5th SAFO workshop

On May 30 – 31 2006 SAFO are co-organizing the Joint Organic Congress in Odense, Denmark

The 5th SAFO workshop will be held on 1st June 2006 in connection with the congress, and at the same venue

The joint congress

The Joint Organic Congress is organised in cooperation with other European research projects. The objective is to present research conducted in the projects and to present the research activities in a European development perspective. Moreover, the congress should elucidate ideas and requirements to a sustainable development as they are seen by organic producers, processors, and policymakers as well as by those interested in an overall sustainable development in Europe.

You can find more details about the congress on www.organic-congress.org

Preliminary programme

The congress will include plenary meetings, sessions and workshops within four main congress topics:

Topic 1: Towards a sustainable Europe

Topic 2: Improving quality of crops, soil and environment

Topic 3: Animal husbandry - health, welfare and food quality

Topic 4: Consuming organics

Within each topic a number of parallel meetings (themes) will be conducted. Please see the preliminary programme for more details. In addition to the sessions mentioned for each theme, a number of workshops will be held.

Presentation at the congress

SAFO is co-organiser of topic 3 "Animal husbandry - health, welfare and food quality", which consists of three themes (parallel meetings):

Theme 7: Development of livestock production systems

Theme 8: Animal health and disease handling

Theme 9: Organic animal products: quality and safety

We are inviting contributions on all three themes. If you want to offer an oral or a poster presentation, please follow the instructions found at this webpage. Please note that the deadline for contributions is 15 February 2006.

Contributions will be evaluated on the basis of scientific quality, theme-relevance, clarity and suitability for a broad audience. Approved papers (oral and poster) will be printed and published in the congress proceedings, which all participants will receive on arrival.

Contributions will be evaluated on the basis of scientific quality, theme-relevance, clarity and suitability for a broad audience. Approved papers (oral and poster) will be printed and published in the congress proceedings, which all participants will receive on arrival.

5th SAFO workshop on 1st June 2006

This workshop will present to and discuss the main conclusions and implications from the SAFO project on different areas like standards, certification, advice and research. Other relevant projects in the area of animal health and food safety in organic livestock production can also be taken up at the workshop, where we will emphasise the dialogue with a wider group of participants (such as organic certification bodies, organisations and advisors) and discuss future perspectives and activities. The final programme for the day has not been finalised.

For SAFO Project Participants, the SAFO budget will cover the cost of your travel and attendance at both the 5th SAFO Workshop and the Joint Organic Congress.

Kind regards on behalf of the SAFO Steering Committee.