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January 2004 |
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The North-East Brazilian Biodynamic Agriculture
Association is Born
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At the beginning of December, almost all the biodynamic
consultants and inspectors connected with the Biodynamic Institute
(IBD) and working in the North-East, from Bahia to Maranhão, met
in the city of Olinda. Fazenda Tamanduá, a company operating in
the organic sector which is quite well known in the North-East,
was invited to take part, placing at the event’s disposal a worthy
place and its broad experience in the semi-arid region.
Dennis Ditchfield, President of the IBD, and Alexandre Harkaly,
Vice-President of the IBD and Director of the ABD, who came
especially from Botucatu, SP, also took part in this event, which
culminated in the creation of the North-East Brazilian Biodynamic
Agriculture Association (ABD Nordeste). |
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With unanimous approval, Roberto Brígido, a renowned consultant
to the ABD and the founder of the Milfolhas consulting company -
which operates in the State of Rio Grande do Norte, its most
recent asset being the production system for organic pineapple -
took on the role of the Coordinator . A great responsibility!
The short-term objectives are to organize a Basic Course in
Biodynamic Agriculture in the North-East; to integrate consulting
firms; to boost the number of new consultants in order to be
capable of attending all interested producers; and to encourage
and disseminate organic and biodynamic farming and cattle raising.
Roberto started, with youthful keenness, this great adventure that
will change the course of the organic movement in our region, and
that enjoys the unrestricted support of all – consultants,
inspectors and producers. Congratulations and long life to the
ABD Nordeste! |
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Fazenda Tamanduá receives
FAIRTRADE certification |
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In a letter dated November 28, Mr. Rüdiger Meyer, the
Certification Manager, informed that after analysis of the
documents submitted and the subsequent inspection, Fazenda
Tamanduá meets the standards required for the certification
granted by the Fairtrade Labelling Organizations
International, FLO, (www.fairtrade.net),
according to decision no. 719.
The objective of this certification is to “help to change
international commercial relations in order to favor access
for underprivileged producers and workers to the market and to
capital, as well as the information and knowledge necessary
for them to operate independently in the market, improving
their economic and social conditions as agents or co-agents of
their own development”.
In order to achieve this, FLO International “promotes the sale
of products processed and distributed by licensed importers,
processing companies and corporations under the Fair Trade
brand-name”. This brand “guarantees to consumers that these
products fulfill the FLO social and environmental norms”. |
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Usually attributed to small producers or to associations of
small producers, this certification attests to the quality of
the social work carried out by Mocó Agropecuária Ltda., since
1977, at Fazenda Tamanduá, which is situated in the “sertão”
region of the State of Paraíba.Fazenda Tamanduá has for years
been aware of the work carried out by Fairtrade and Max
Havelaar in Europe; and knowing that they were starting to
work with tropical fruit, we decided to apply for
certification.
There was a long questionnaire, including an organization
chart and a very large number of questions involving the
relationship with our workers, especially raising issues
related to access to education, health and leisure, in
addition to purely labor data. A few months later, Mr. Beat
Grueninger, a Director of the firm Business meets Social
Development (www.bsd-net.com),
visited us and, during a two-day visit to the farm, carried
out a complete inspection, and especially interviews, before
drawing up a report that was attached to our questionnaire.
Now, our next step is to encourage our workers to set up the
“Joint Body”, an independent association that will be
responsible for managing the funds resulting from the
overprice from the sales of mangoes, determining the
allocation of those funds. Unfortunately, the harvest is over,
and this will only work for next year … |
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Fazenda Tamandua´s FLO Certificate |
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In order to help this entity to be set up in the best possible
conditions, we asked Iranise Pedro to assist us, being aware of
her organizing skills acquired and tested in far-ranging social
work with the favela communities of Rio de Janeiro, and now
developed in the sphere of the companies in which AxialPar has
invested.
Fazenda Tamanduá’s progressive adaptation to the FLO norms will,
of course, be shown in the Jornal Tamanduá in a few months’
time! |
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Resurrected: the National
Agricultural Academy
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From left to rigth the members:
Luiz Hafers, Ministro
Roberto Rodrigues, Pierre Landolt,
Dick Thompson and Denise Frossard. |
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Mr. Octavio Mello Alvarenga, President of the National
Agricultural Society (founded in 1897), decided to launch
again the National Agricultural Academy, which had such
illustrious members as Getúlio Vargas, Vital Brasil and
Luiz de Queiroz.
Comprised of 41 members, the Academy, whose century-old
motto is “Viribus unitis”, was installed at a solemn
ceremony presided by Mr. Luiz Marcus Suplicy Hafers, which
took place on November 24, in Rio de Janeiro, at the
headquarters of the Brazilian Jockey Club.
Pierre Landolt, of Fazenda Tamanduá, was one of those
honored; he took office on that day, occupying chair no.14
with Eduardo Cotrim as patron.
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In the name of the members of the Academy,
the
Minister Roberto Rodrigues expressed the enthusiasm of
all, highlighting the decisive role played by farming and
cattle raising in Brazil. In addition to members of the
Academy mentioned above, the presence of highly esteemed
people whose names are linked to the history of
agriculture in Brazil may be noticed. Among others, we may
mention Marcus Vinicius Pratini de Morais, Antônio Ermírio
de Morais,
Luiz Hafers, Nestor Jost, Alysson Paulinelli and Denise
Frossard.
The organic sector was not forgotten: in addition to
Pierre Landolt, another member is Dick Thomson, the
founder of “Sítio do Moinho”, whose certified vegetables
are supplied to the best stores in Rio de Janeiro. |
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Official
photo of the National Agricultural Society Members |
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