Workshops
Upscaling and developing PGS for smallholder market access – New lessons and Next steps
Introduction
Workshops are independently organised one or more sessions during the Organic World Congress. Workshops allow researchers, farmers, experts and students to meet face-to-face and have interactive discussions.
Workshops address various topics by extending the content of the 4 Tracks through case studies and group discussion.
Detailed Information
Main Topics
Case studies and examples of Participatory Guarantee Systems (PGS) driving local supply chains
Case studies and examples PGS as steppingstone for global markets.
Legal and policy measures that create enabling environments for PGS.
The role of philanthropy and global actors funding PGS initiatives and development.
Global partnerships, dissemination of PGS tools and strategic collaboration.
Main Objectives of the Workshop
- Gain insights into the global spread of PGS and their benefits for smallholders.
- Learn from successful case studies driving local supply chains and enabling global market access.
- Contribute to discussions on legal frameworks and policies that support PGS implementation.
Main outcomes expected
- Case studies showcasing PGS driving local supply chains.
- Insights into PGS as a stepping stone for accessing global markets.
- Discussions on philanthropy’s role in funding PGS initiatives.
Targeted Public
- Stakeholders working for organic market development, processors, traders and farmers working with local and global value chains, and policy makers and philanthropic organizations supporting farmer-centered approaches to upscaling organic and agroecological practices while improving market access and livelihoods.
- Relevant for all regions.
Key Info
Dates:
2-Dec-2024
17：00 - 18：30 （GMT+8）
conference room：
BC334
Format:
English. Possible translation if needed.
Contact:
Flávia Moura e Castro
Independent consultant (Global, based in Germany)
and
Paul Holmbeck
World Board Member, IFOAM – Organics International
Director, Holmbeck EcoConsult (Denmark)
https://paulholmbeck.com/
Target Audience:
Maximum Participants: 50-80 participants
Flávia Moura e Castro
Consultant for Participatory Guarantee Systems (PGS)
I have a passion for participatory approaches to decision-making, capacity building and knowledge development. For 13 years I supported IFOAM – Organics International as a staff member working on policy research, project coordination and advocacy for Participatory Guarantee Systems (PGS), gradually gravitating towards adult education as an Organic Academy Alumna and Trainer. Now, as an independent consultant, I collaborate with smallholders and family farmers, researchers, and organizations around the world to strengthen PGS initiatives, facilitating processes and co-created learning experiences that promote rural development, fairer value chains and truly sustainable food systems.
Social media: www.linkedin.com/in/flavia-moura-e-castro-pgs
Silvia Rota
Coffee Coalition and PGS initiatives coordinator at Slow Food International
After her studies in languages and international relations, Silvia focused on the importance that food systems hold in shaping geography, politics and the future of the climate. During a master’s degree in Social and Environmental Sustainability in Food Chains she took interest in participative approaches in food systems and specifically in Participatory Guarantee Systems (PGS) . She studies the application of the PGS approach to Slow Food’s projects and program and how they can be shaped in contexts outside of the organic movement and in specific supply chains, like the coffee sector. She is now PGS and Coffee Coalition coordinator at Slow Food International.
Linkedin profile:
linkedin.com/in/silvia-rota-ab4541163
Sylvia Kuria
Sylvia Kuria, Organic Farmer/ Entrepreneur, Sylvia’s Basket
Sylvia is a certified organic farmer with over 15 years of experience in the field. Her journey began with a kitchen garden, where she cultivated organic produce to feed her family. As her passion grew, she established a home basket delivery business, which she officially registered in 2016 under the brand name Sylvia’s Basket.
In November 2019, Sylvia took her dedication to the next level by opening the Organic Farm Shop in Nairobi. Her goal was to make organic food more accessible and affordable to the community while also providing small-scale farmers with a reliable market for their produce.
Since January 2024, Sylvia’s Basket has undergone a transition, focusing on creating an Organic Aggregation Hub. In collaboration with small-scale organic farmers, the hub offers training and provides a market for their produce. This shift aims to empower farmers and promote sustainable agricultural practices.
Sylvia’s expertise is further evidenced by her participation in the IFOAM Organic Leadership Course and her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Community Development with a minor in Psychology. She has been an advocate for organic farming in Kenya and across Africa, extending her influence to countries such as Ethiopia, Ghana, Rwanda, India, Uganda, and Tanzania.
As a dedicated trainer, Sylvia has collaborated with numerous local and international organizations. Her efforts have equipped over 1000 women and small-scale farmer groups with foundational knowledge of organic food production and the practice of Agroecology. By promoting sustainable farming systems, Sylvia continues to make a significant impact on communities both locally and globally.
Lucil Ortiz
Magsasaka at Siyentipiko para sa Pag-unlad ng Agrikultura (MASIPAG) or Farmer Scientist Partnership for Development
Lucille Ortiz is part of the MASIPAG family for nearly 14 years now and is currentlythe Research, Education and Training (RET) Unit officer at the National Secretariat;
she is also part of the coordinating team and secretariat of PGS Pilipinas
. PGSPilipinas was officially launched in 2013 which has been active with on-groundPGSpractice and promotion as well as lobbying for PGS recognition in the Philippines. Lucille was MASIPAG’s representative to the Intercontinental Network of OrganicFarmers Organizations (INOFO) Council in 2014-2016 following her participationat
the 2014 IFAD-INOFO Capability Building Program and Organic Leadership whereshemet and worked with champions in the organic agriculture movement.
Thales Bevilacqua Mendonça
Rede Ecovida/INOFO (Brazil)
- PGS within legal frameworks and public policies for organic agriculture and agroecology
Patricia Flores
(IFOAM - Organics International)
Global partnerships, tools and plans for PGS support and development
