2 - Improving Transparency Along the Supply Chain and the Relevance of Organic Farming Statistics

Main Topics:

• Global data on organic agriculture
• International trade data for the European Union and the US: status and issues
• Perspective of exporting countries
• Traceability tools and the role organic farming statistics can play in their improvement
• Recommendations for tools, actions, interactions, innovations, models, and policies to improve data availability, transparency, and fraud prevention

Objectives:

• Provide an update on recent developments in statistical data collection for organic agriculture around the globe;
• Present examples of current shortcomings and positive developments;
• Assess what action needs to be taken so data can be used to improve transparency along organic supply chains and better decision-making, performance, and sustainability;
• Provide recommendations to stakeholders, governments, statistical offices.

Expected Outcomes:

• Recommendations and suggestions on how to improve data collection in particular in the area of export and import data and how to improve traceability
• First outline of a (possibly research) project to implement these recommendations
• Plan for future collaboration and exchange among actors in the field of organic farming statistics
• Share results and make pre-conference presentations available at the main conference (Stakeholder forum),
• Post recommendations on pre-conference organizer websites, distribute a press release

Format:

• Presentations by speakers from the EU Commission, USDA, market research companies, statistic offices and researchers
• Afternoon workshops and discussions