News

São Paulo –The most important organics trade show in the world meets in Brazil for a round table discussion about the introduction of the organics culture in schools and the inclusion of children and teenagers in the discussion of the theme “Organics in School Lunch”, at the central, state, and local government levels.

“The theme picks up momentum this year with the sanctioning of the 11,947 Act, of June 2009 that results in very positive changes in the consumption and production of organic products. The School Lunch Program will also be extended to middle school students increasing the number of lunches served from 36 to 43 million all over the country. 30% of the funds provided by the National Education Development Fund will be used to purchase produce from small scale growers and from family-owned rural enterprises or their organizations, with priority given to land reform resettlement beneficiaries, and traditional indigenous and quilombola communities”, explains Maria Beatriz Martins Costa, co-organizer of BioFach LA and ExpoSustentat and Planeta Organico’s director.

It is estimated that this measure will benefit approximately 69 thousand small producer families through approximately R$ 600 millions in funding. According to the new legislation the School Lunch Program will benefit sustainable development activities by providing special incentives for the purchase of diversified products that respect local feeding habits, culture and traditions. Concern for agricultural sustainability and diversification geared to healthy and appropriate feeding habits through locally produced food may waive the need for a bidding process for purchasing, provided the prices are compatible with the local food market and the produce meet the quality control standards described in the legislation.

“The law also requires that the 30% allowed for direct purchase from family growers be conditioned to the issuing of a pertinent fiscal document confirming the ongoing and consistent supply of produce that meet proper hygiene and sanitation requirements. This is why we are keen on organizing growers to face up to this challenge of supplying the huge market provided by the school lunch program. We will hold a specialist meeting on October 30, where successful stories will be presented by the states of Espírito Santo, Paraná and São Paulo”, adds Maria Beatriz.

New companies in the Brazilian natural cosmetics industry – Biofach Latin America’s cosmetics sector will boast new participants in 2009. The Brazilian Cosmetology Association (ABC) will participate in this year’s edition. The State of Paraná will participate with a group of newcomer companies. Harmony Cone, an American company will roll out a line of therapeutic and personal hygiene products. The Comprador 2009 Project will bring the larger number of North-American importers of the organic sector

The Comprador Project, a partnership between OrganicsBrasil and Planeta Orgânico, will be held again during this year’s Biofach Latin America. Among the importers already confirmed to participate are some of the principal organics distributors from the US. Third Coast Produce, a fruit and vegetables distribution company from the state of Texas that also represents brands of the H-E-B retailer network has also confirmed its presence. The H-E-B Texas-based network owns more than 300 stores in the US and Mexico and its gross revenues is over 11 billion dollars. Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay will have a new area for exhibiting their organic wines this year, “small, but very promising,” comments Maria Beatriz, the event’s co-organizer.

The new organic wines area will include five companies in 2009. The Exportar Foundation, a federal agency responsible for promoting Argentinean exports will bring two other organic wine producers. The country is an international reference in this industry and the recipient of an important award at BioFach Nuremberg, Germany.  Brazilian Vinicola Garibaldi will be there to promote its line of organic wines developed in Rio Grande do Sul. The seventh edition of BioFach Latin America and the fifth edition of ExpoSustentat will be held on October 28-30, at Transamerica Expo Center, in São Paulo. A business audience of more than 9 thousand visitors is expected for 2009, about 10% of which from abroad. In 2008’s edition, there were more than 8 thousand visitors, 40%of which were from retail, wholesale and foreign trade companies. More than 15 countries were represented in the trade show, with presentations by countries like Germany, India, Argentina, Uruguay, Colombia, Peru, and Equador. And the list extends to cover all the other continents on the planet.

In its seventh edition, the trade show will beat its own record in terms of foreign exhibitors and the same is expected in regard to foreign visitors. BioFach Latin America and ExpoSustentat will be held from October 28-30, at the Transamérica Expo Center.

São Paulo – BioFach Latin America and ExpoSustentat combine two trade shows with specific pavilions from other countries and parallel events. The trade show has a commercial focus, seen in business rounds with international buyers promoted by APEX; places strong emphasis on retailing, with the purpose of increasing the domestic consumption of organics; and promotes workshops on gastronomy, including the participation of chefs and opinion makers. Organic cosmetics, powdered chocolate as well as several other novel organic processed and in natura products such as fish, shrimp, and salmon are examples of the wide variety of certified organic products gathered in one single place in Latin America.

The event is also held in Germany, the United States, and Japan, and in 2007it was held in China, for the first time, as a way of taking advantage of the synergy created by all the trade shows held all over the world by Nuremberg Global Fairs. In Brazil, these events have helped to leverage the export of Latin-American organics, particularly to the United States and European Community. The international circuit attracts investors from other countries, who are encouraged by the product certification guaranteed by the BioFach brand. International partnerships attract foreign speakers, presidents of the main international certification agencies, and world-famous leaders, who come to check out and encourage the organics production of a region considered to be the food silo of the world.

The main public agencies and organizations of the industry take advantage of the event to discuss their guidelines. The potential of the organic industry is well-matched with the economies of countries like Brazil, because it fosters agricultural management with better soil protection without the use of pesticides, creates more jobs, protects water sources, while producing better-tasting food, among other things. According to studies conducted by Planeta Organico in partnership with the BioFach Latin America project, the percentage of organic land in Brazil is expected to increase considerably in the next few years as well as investments to encourage domestic consumption. 

ExpoSustentat – The Sustainable Goods and Services International Fair will be held for the fourth time and will bring results to the market significant that will also contribute to improving the planet: products and services that do not deplete the country’s natural resources, committed with social and environmental responsibility. In harmony with this concept, more and more businesses and organizations are supporting and promoting sustainability through various initiatives that range from education to dedicated investments. One of the ExpoSustentat’s main attractions is the Amazonian Andes Room that features hand made and exotic products of the region. Brazilian and foreign speakers will be at ExpoSustentat 2009 to talk about payment for environmental services, cosmetics, biodiversity, fair market, sustainable construction, and others.

[Sites: www.biofach-americalatina.com.br  | www.exposustentat.com.br  | www.planetaorganico.com.br- www.ipd.org.br ].