Polish Ecological ClubPolish Ecological ClubMaria StaniszewskaMaria Staniszewska

Polish Coalition to Support Organic Polish Coalition to Support Organic Agriculture for Successful Implementation Agriculture for Successful Implementation

Sustainable Rural PolicySustainable Rural Policy

Polish alternative – development Polish alternative – development organic agricultureorganic agriculture

• Helps economy – employment for more peopleHelps economy – employment for more people• Helps health – more food without chemicalsHelps health – more food without chemicals• Helps environment – less of nitrogen leakage by:Helps environment – less of nitrogen leakage by:

Balancing arable land and number of livestock, Balancing arable land and number of livestock, defining by organic criteriadefining by organic criteria

Reducing the massive flows of nitrogen in agriculture Reducing the massive flows of nitrogen in agriculture productionproduction

Encouraging variation in crop rotationEncouraging variation in crop rotation Providing proper management of the manureProviding proper management of the manure

The Polish Ecological Club (PEC), Gliwice The Polish Ecological Club (PEC), Gliwice Chapter initiated the creation of the Polish Chapter initiated the creation of the Polish Coalition to Support organic Agriculture in Coalition to Support organic Agriculture in 1998 to have a tool which help us impact 1998 to have a tool which help us impact on rural policy. The Coalition’s members on rural policy. The Coalition’s members

include 22 non-governmental include 22 non-governmental organisations, research institutions and organisations, research institutions and organic food and farming associations. organic food and farming associations.

PEC Gliwice acts as the umbrella PEC Gliwice acts as the umbrella organisation for the Coalition and its organisation for the Coalition and its

President and Secretariat are located in President and Secretariat are located in Gliwice.Gliwice.

GoalsGoals

Promotion organic agriculture by develop Promotion organic agriculture by develop common initiativescommon initiatives

§ in legislation in legislation § marketingmarketing§ raise public awareness raise public awareness

Result after 5 years of activities is:Result after 5 years of activities is:

The bill on organic agriculture which was passed on The bill on organic agriculture which was passed on March 16, 2001 (Journal of law Nr 38, pos.452) and March 16, 2001 (Journal of law Nr 38, pos.452) and has been force after 6 months. The bill regulates has been force after 6 months. The bill regulates means of production of agricultural products and their means of production of agricultural products and their processing, their labelling as organic products and processing, their labelling as organic products and establishes an overall control system.establishes an overall control system.

In 2002 the number of certified and converting farms In 2002 the number of certified and converting farms in 2002 is 1997 with in 2002 is 1997 with 53 515 ha. In last three years 53 515 ha. In last three years the amount of farms increased 300%.the amount of farms increased 300%.

Activities in 2003Activities in 2003International activities:International activities:

As part of Friends of the Earth PKE Gliwice provides As part of Friends of the Earth PKE Gliwice provides campaign ‘Food and Farming: Time to Choose!’ in campaign ‘Food and Farming: Time to Choose!’ in Poland. The main event of the campaign in 2003 Poland. The main event of the campaign in 2003 was international conference was international conference ‘EU Accession and ‘EU Accession and Agriculture: Making CAP work for People and Agriculture: Making CAP work for People and Environment’Environment’ 7-8 November and CAPacity 7-8 November and CAPacity Building seminar on 6 November in Krakow. These Building seminar on 6 November in Krakow. These events were very important for strengthening events were very important for strengthening discussion on CAP reform, as well as CAP impact discussion on CAP reform, as well as CAP impact on agriculture in accession countries.on agriculture in accession countries.

Activities in 2003Activities in 2003Preparation to the Kiev conference “Preparation to the Kiev conference “Environment for Environment for

Europe” Europe” where PKE Gliwice representatives where PKE Gliwice representatives participated due to the common project with Agrolink participated due to the common project with Agrolink Bulgaria. Both organisations prepared Bulgaria. Both organisations prepared common common statementstatement on agriculture impact on biodiversity and on agriculture impact on biodiversity and environment that was presented during Round Table environment that was presented during Round Table of the Kiev conference. The Statement received strong of the Kiev conference. The Statement received strong support from NGOs from Accession countries, EU support from NGOs from Accession countries, EU countries as well as other European countries. During countries as well as other European countries. During this project also very interesting brochure with analyse this project also very interesting brochure with analyse of agriculture policy in Poland and Bulgaria was of agriculture policy in Poland and Bulgaria was prepared. prepared.

Nation-wide activities:Nation-wide activities: PKE Gliwice provides Non-governmental Information PKE Gliwice provides Non-governmental Information

Center about Organic Agriculture (the only one in Center about Organic Agriculture (the only one in Poland). Its main goals are: dissemination of Poland). Its main goals are: dissemination of information about organic agriculture, contacting information about organic agriculture, contacting farmers and certifying bodies, organising trainings farmers and certifying bodies, organising trainings for farmers (this year two trainings)for farmers (this year two trainings)

activities promoting localisation of food chain (one activities promoting localisation of food chain (one near Brodnica where are located two organic near Brodnica where are located two organic process plants - pasta and juices production - and process plants - pasta and juices production - and several organic farms and second one near several organic farms and second one near Kluczbork - with one cereal process plant and 6 Kluczbork - with one cereal process plant and 6 organic farms. These examples will promote local organic farms. These examples will promote local organic food selling systemsorganic food selling systems

Nation-wide activities:Nation-wide activities:

Promotion of pesticide alternatives: there will Promotion of pesticide alternatives: there will be prepared and disseminated brochure and be prepared and disseminated brochure and leaflet about interactions between agriculture leaflet about interactions between agriculture and environmentand environment

Preparing different materials on agricultural Preparing different materials on agricultural policy (leaflets, brochures). Our publications policy (leaflets, brochures). Our publications are now used by farmer’s advisory centres and are now used by farmer’s advisory centres and other institutions working for rural areas.other institutions working for rural areas.

Local activitiesLocal activities::

co-operation with municipalities and districts co-operation with municipalities and districts on sustainable rural development. There were on sustainable rural development. There were organised four training’s for rural leaders from organised four training’s for rural leaders from rural municipalities surrounding Gliwice. The rural municipalities surrounding Gliwice. The very important issue of the training were very important issue of the training were possibilities for sustainable rural development possibilities for sustainable rural development that brings EU accession (especially II pillar of that brings EU accession (especially II pillar of CAP funds)CAP funds)

dissemination of materialsdissemination of materials