October 2, 2013, Khmelnytsky — The MAMA-86 Khmelnytsky branch in collaboration with the Organic Farming Club and the Khmelnytsky Oblast Universal Scientific Library organized and conducted a round table on “Organic Production Development Prospects in the Khmelnytsky Region.”

The round table was attended by farmers, the head of a Ukrainian organic certification company, the head of the International Chamber of Commerce Ukrainian National Committee Khmelnytsky Representative Office, the head of the Farms Support Foundation Khmelnytsky Branch, representatives from the Agribusiness Development Department and members of the Public Council of the Khmelnytsky Oblast State Administration, as well as representatives from NGOs, the media and the event organizers.

The participants discussed the current state of organic production and prospects for its development in the Khmelnytsky Oblast, shared their experiences in growing grain and oil-bearing crops, and presented their vision of how organic farming must develop in Ukraine. The Organic Standard company director reported on marking of organic products and their certification in Ukraine. The Organic Farming Club chairwoman told about the club’s efforts toward dissemination of information on organic farming.

According to the head of the MAMA-86 Khmelnytsky branch, Iryna Resnikova, the round table discovered that all organic market actors lack awareness: public authorities, of the current status of organic production in Ukraine and its investment and local development prospects; organic producers, of the best production and marketing practices; and consumers of eco products, of their marking.

The round table worked out recommendations on carrying out a broad discussion on prospects for organic production development in the Khmelnytsky region with involvement of the oblast’s library network, media and Raion State Administrations’ public councils. Basic activities to develop organic production in the region were also identified.

The event was held within the framework of the Global Green Action Week and the Green Consumer Week’2013 campaign “Environment on Your Plate.”

Please see pictures from the event on the MAMA-86 Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.526385434111051.1073741848.190090101073921&type=3

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Green Consumer Weeks in Ukraine – week-long concentrated awareness campaigns aimed at popularizing environmentally responsible consumption and focused on one of important themes of sustainable consumption – have been carried out since 2012 by the Ukrainian National Environmental NGO "MAMA-86" with support from the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation and in collaboration with various partner organizations.

The Swedish Society for Nature Conservation has been conducting similar campaigns in their country in October for many years running. These campaigns have helped significantly increase public awareness of advantages of environment-friendly way of living, develop a legal framework that encourages sustainable consumption and prohibits or limits supply of environmentally harmful goods and services, as well as form a circle of eco-responsible producers and sellers who, on their part, further the transition of the Swedish society toward more sustainable consumption behavior.