Event Update: MENOPE 2012 Dubai

  Folks, the Middle East Natural and Organic Product Expo (MENOPE) will be held between 27 and 29 November 2012 at the Dubai World Trade Center. The 2012 edition will be the expo's 10th. This exhibition showcases various organic and natural products from across the world. The local demand for organic products in the GCC region is witnessing growth as more and more consumers continue to shift form products grown conventionally. The expo would feature organic and natural goods producers form 120 countries around the world and local organic retailers. The event is supported by the IFOAM, the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements, which I had introduced to all readers in my previous post. The following are the product groups that would be on display at the event, 

Natural & Organic Food and Beverages, Herbs & Spices
Fine Organic Products
Cosmetics & Personal Care Items
Healthcare, Herbal, Traditional & Alternative Medicines
Functional Food & Supplements
Natural Living
Supply Related Services

MENOPE 2012 will have dedicated country pavilions for Austria, Lebanon, India, Sri Lanka, South Korea, Philippines, Romania and USA.

Please visit  http://www.naturalproductme.com/visitor_registration.php for free registration. So if you are in Dubai and want to explore the world of organic living this is the place to visit.

A B C of Organic Agriculture - I

As my objective of writing this blog is to make people aware of organic living, I'd like to throw some light on the concept of organic agriculture. The first thing that comes into ones mind when he comes across the word organic is fertilizer and pesticide free food, but there is much more to it.

  The definition of organic agriculture was coined by the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IOFAM), which is a worldwide movement spreading across 108 countries and 750 members. According to IOFAM organic agriculture is defined as, 

"Organic agriculture is a production system that sustains the health of soils, ecosystems and people. It relies on ecological processes, biodiversity and cycles adapted to local conditions, rather than the use of inputs with adverse effects. Organic agriculture combines tradition, innovation and science to benefit the shared environment and promote fair relationships and a good quality of life for all involved."

As stated in the definition, the goal of organically producing food is to create an ecological balance which involves benefits for the consumers, the farmers and over and above for our planet. The body also came up with the principles of organic agriculture. The four principle of organic agriculture are:

• The principle of Health - "Organic Agriculture should sustain and enhance the health of soil, plant, animal, human and planet as one and indivisible."
• The principle of Ecology - "Organic Agriculture should be based on living ecological systems and cycles, work with them, emulate them and help sustain them."
• The principle of Fairness - "Organic Agriculture should build on relationships that ensure fairness with regard to the common environment and life opportunities."
• The principle of Care - "Organic Agriculture should be managed in a precautionary and responsible manner to protect the health and well-being of current and future generations and the environment."

This post introduces everyone to the fundamental definition of organic agriculture and its underlying principles. The further posts in the A B C series would explore the organic agriculture practices employed by farmers who strive to provide healthy produce and sustainable environment. So watch out this space for more interesting fundas on organic living.

The Sunny Side Up!!

    I started off this blog by posting a video that was a little bit disturbing and many of you would have not liked it for a first post on a blog. So now its time to bring the sunny side up :).
    Today I'd like to throw some light on the bountiful of benefits that one can get if you switch to organic living. But most of you counter me by asking, I already feel that I am living healthy, why should I switch to organics? Folks, going organic is not just eating healthy food but has a whole lot more to it. Apart from being much more healthy that conventionally grown food it is also about becoming responsible to the eco-system. The industrial agriculture, with the help of chemically formulated fertilizers and pesticides would fulfill the short to medium term food requirement but, would render the land un-cultivable for the generations to come. People down the years would not have any more cultivable land to grow food. So, organic living is an investment that one will make for the future generations of human kind. Organic agriculture prevent the loss of top soil, soil contamination due to fertilizers and pesticides and make the soil sustainable for agriculture.

   Being a food junkie I am very particular about the taste. And organic food tastes much better, i can vouch for that. The first time I got an opportunity to taste food that was labelled organic, I felt the taste to be similar to the ones made from the vegetables grown in my grannie's kitchen garden. Apart from the taste the nutritional value of the organically grown food were found to be significantly higher than that of conventionally grown food. According to the Soil Association ,UK, on average the organics have higher levels of vitamin C, minerals such as calcium, magnesium, iron, chromium etc. So the claim has been substantiated by scientific research that the organic food is definitely better.
   Organic living also gives you the satisfaction of doing your bit to the conservation of environment. It is one relatively easy way to reduce your carbon footprint.

PS: Your comments and arguments are appreciated.

Shocking Video on Effects of Industrial Farming

The following video clip is a television news report that appeared about a year ago on NDTV. This shows the side effects of using a highly toxic agro-chemical called Endosulfan as a pesticide in the cashew farms of Kasargod district in Kerala, India.

The video may leave you a bit disturbed, but am sure should make you think about the indiscriminate usage of pesticides in agriculture and its ill-effects. I would like to open this forum open for discussion and invite everybody to post your reactions to this menace which is still taking many lives in Kasargod, Kerala.