What has been said at the XII OIA Annual Meeting

Speakers from various sectors of the agrifood value chain participated in the conference organized by OIA on Thursday 3th of November.

In the recent edition of the OIA Annual Meeting, more than 150 people attended the classic meeting of lectures about trends, technical and agri-food marketing. One of the main presentations was led by Eng. Pedro Landa, who spoke on "Food Safety and Quality Today", specifically about the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), which was passed by the US Congress and signed by President Barack Obama, January 4th, 2011.

"The Food Safety Modernization Act, together with the General Food Law 178/02 of the EU, clearly defines the requirements of the markets that we have to adapt to export successfully. The FSMA is a genuine breakthrough in the U.S. legislation on food safety, the most important from the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act of 1938", said Landa, Director of Organización Internacional Agropecuaria (OIA) and President of the Argentine Movement for Organic Production (MAPO).

It also stressed the lecture of Eng. Luiz Carlos Rebelatto dos Santos on Brazil 2014 World Cup, which will focus in sustainable and organic. He is a consultant of the firm WERT Treinamento and Consulting Ltd for the area of organic family farming of the Secretariat of the Ministry of Agrarian Development of the Federative Republic of Brazil.

Rebelatto dos Santos said: "The sustainability agenda focuses of the Green Cup 2014 are: strengthening the global role of Brazil valuing its mega biodiversity, mobilize society to new value by leveraging the appeal of the Cup, securing a sustainable legacy, linking sustainability initiatives with social inclusion policies and structural measures to promote environment and sustainability".

Previously, Eng. Gabriel Berardinelli (OIA Technical Manager) explained the requirements of the organics in the Brazilian market. "Organic products entering Brazil must be certified by Law 10,831 to make any prior sale to that market. This rule became effective on the 1st of January 2011. OIA has been credited, and then granted certification to producers in Brazil and abroad", said Berardinelli.

In organic production, OIA is a key player in the growth of this sector. Regarding this, Eng. Pedro Landa, President of MAPO (Argentine Movement for Organic Production), guaranteed: "Organic items have grown over 100% in Argentina last year. They are generating a lot of opportunities for organic producers in the domestic market, which until now were practically in the foreign market".

Gonzalo Roca, member of MAPO, stressed the importance of the union between MAPO and the Argentinean Chamber of Certified Organic Farmers (CAPOC). "It has to be commended the work undertaken by those who make these institutions to achieve this homogenization", said.

Also, there was a panel on financing programs to small and mediums companies. Juan Manuel Alderete, from the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries Office, referred to the Program of Quality Management and Food Differentiation. "In early 2012, PROCAL II will have performed 35 pilot projects tailored to the needs of more than 500 beneficiaries. The goal: To increase sales of Argentinean added value food from improving their competitive capabilities", said Alderete.

On the other hand, Eduardo Ciancio, responsible for foreign trade of Credicoop Bank Foundation, said: "Diverpymex program is designed to help improve the international competitive position of the small and medium companies through new techniques that facilitate access to a larger universe of external markets. In its pilot phase, the program assisted more than 70 export companies".

Also made their presence Mariana Suarez, from Proargex (Project for the Promotion of Exports of Argentine Agrifood, and Andres Superbi, from ExportAr Foundation. Suarez said Proargex aims to increase agricultural exports of differentiated products, high value added and diversified markets, and to support agri-food small and medium companies in their insertion in international markets. In the same line, Superbi said: "We aim to promote the growth and diversification of exports of Argentine companies, through international trade fairs, international business rounds, and argentinian product placement programs".

As in previous editions, the Twelfth Annual Meeting featured the classic panel of certified producers who gambled to differentiate their products with quality. Carlos Camargo, from Finca Rincón Deseado, was enthusiastic that after ten years of certification and having been registered as home winemakers in the National Wine Institute, now promoted to the rank of Artisanal Wine Cellars.

Another of the speakers was Fernando Garcia Plorutti of Endivias Belgrano, who said: "A good practice generates better quality and a significant cut in costs. The quality has allowed us to obtain satisfactory yields, sustainable and reliable". Premium Coffee Site was also part of the panel, in which Carlos Bartolini and Cristina Vaudagna highlighted the qualities of Premium Organic Coffee brand. They said: “Being an excellent quality coffee roasting allowed that the loss can be offset partially grain moisture, and avoid the acidity typical of traditional coffees”.

OIA thanks all the attendees, speakers, public bodies and enterprises who has accompanied the XII Annual Meeting for its successful development, as well in OIA’s celebration of his 20 years, two decades of constant growth and committed service in the industry.

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