Negros Occidental is strengthening its global collaboration for organic agriculture and sustainable farming development as it hosts the 22nd Organic World Congress (OWC) and General Assembly in November 2027.
On Friday afternoon, top officials of the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM) Organics International and the Negros Island Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development, Inc. (NISARD) formalized the partnership during the contract signing held at the Provincial Capitol here.
IFOAM Organics International vice president Marco Schluter and NISARD president Edgardo Uychiat signed for their respective organizations, in the presence of Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson.
“We’re happy that we have now reached this stage. I would say this is the final preparation, legally binding us partners in the hosting of the OWC 2027,” Lacson said.
Schluter said hosting the OWC will be “a great boost to organic farming” in the country and in the Negros Island Region.
“It’s a great honor for us and for the movement, and also a great opportunity for Negros and the Philippines,” he added.
He noted that the province’s hosting of the OWC 2027 will support its strong grassroots movement and help organic farmers find new market opportunities.
“The attention will come, let’s say, to Negros because it’s a World Congress, you will receive world leaders in organic food and farming. Having this attention is a good opportunity to be on the spotlight in the organic world, gives development chances,” Schluter said.
Uychiat said NISARD has been tasked by the provincial government to coordinate the hosting of the OWC 2027.
“OWC 2027 is not just an event for Negros Island Region, but also for the entire Philippines. Negros is already well known to be an organic producer, one of the biggest in Asia. We’re representing our country. We’ll show them the way on how we cannot be so dependent on importing chemicals and fertilizer,” he added.
Held every three years, the event will gather global leaders, practitioners, researchers, and advocates in organic agriculture, providing a platform for knowledge exchange, policy dialogue, and the advancement of sustainable and regenerative farming systems.
Negros Occidental, considered the “Organic Food Bowl of the Philippines,” has been chosen to host the OWC 2027 at the conclusion of the OWC 2024 in Taiwan after beating Brisbane, Australia in the votes, 128-92.
“The aspiration to host this esteemed Congress is something we consider not just a privilege but a calling, aligned with humanity’s shared aspiration for better health, ecology, fairness, and care,” Lacson said in his message when the province offered the bid to host the OWC 2027. (PNA)
