Proceedings of the XI SEAE CONGRESS (SPANISH SOCIETY FOR ORGANIC FARMING)

Summary

Organic production is based on agroecology, a science studying ecological farming systems from three dimensions: transdisciplinary knowledge, interdisciplinary agricultural practices and social movements. Their integration provides a way of generating collective action alternatives to the dominant food system.
Since a bit more than a decade, the European civil society, the farmers and organic farmers movements have debated in discussion forums about the future of the agriculture, demanding favorable changes for agroecological systems inspired by experiences linked to food sovereignty, socio-political principles (autonomy, “active” participation of operators) and the enhancement of local knowledge. In the context of EU policies highlighted by innovation, Agroecology is emerging as an innovative practice to integrate and improve the knowledge of farmers and to strengthen the profitability and sustainability of agricultural systems in order to offer more jobs, attaching greater importance to the role of women and, in turn, to facilitate the incorporation of young people to ensure generational change.
The Spanish Society of Organic Agriculture (SEAE) organize since 1994, every two years, its national scientific Congress where knowledge and proposals are shared and discussed among stakeholders (researchers, advisers, farmers, processors, etc..), and the results of research and recent innovations that support the development of the organic sector are presented and discussed. This forms a singular space dialogue where the organic production chain agents can get inspired to generate new ideas. Twelve years ago this forum was extended to Ibero-American countries. Since the previous edition (2012) SEAE combines this congress with its General Assembly and the Awards for the generation and management of agro-ecological knowedge (Eco-eLabora).
The city of Vitoria-Gasteiz was chosen as host of the XI Congress, the capital of the Basque Country which was nominated European Green CAPITAL in 2012. In Vitoria-Gasteiz there is a major citizens movement in favor of local and organic food via short marketing chains . In the territory of Alava province organic production is increasing, driven largely by the urban demand of Vitoria-Gasteiz. The International Year of Family Farming, declared by UNO and implemented by FAO, reinforces this way of producing and keeping alive the rural world