Organic na Negros!

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Benedicto Q. Sánchez, known as Ben or Boni, last July 16, 2024. As a co-founder of the Broad Initiatives for Negros Development (BIND), their blueprint for organic agriculture in the 80s laid the foundations for the organic movement in Negros Occidental and fostered a vital partnership with the provincial government in 2005.

He also served as the Vice President of ONOPRA for years.

Today, we remember a true organic pioneer, environmentalist, activist, leader, and friend. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family during this difficult time. Thank you, Brother Ben, for your unwavering dedication and contributions. May you rest in peace.

The members of the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM) Asia Executive Board led by its president, Mathew John, met with Governor B**g Lacson at the Capitol, today, for the proposal on the bidding for the 2027 IFOAM Organic World Congress, which is the largest gathering of IFOAM members and other stakeholders in the world.

Joining the meeting were IFOAM Executive Director Jennifer Chang, COO Vic Anthony Joseph Tagupa, Vice President Edgardo Uychiat, and Ramon Uy Jr. of Fresh Start Organics based in the City.

Organic Farmers Festival, Terra Madre Visayas set Nov. 15-19

The 16th edition of the Negros Island Organic Farmers Festival is slated for November 15 to 19 this year in Bacolod City, alongside the 1st Terra Madre Visayas.

Both festivals will be held on the same dates and at the same venues, which will be at the Provincial Capitol grounds, North Capitol Road, Negros Residences, and the Food Terminal Market of Occidental Negros (FTMON).

Since the maiden festival in 2006, the provinces of Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental have hosted this annual gathering, the longest-running organic festival in the Philippines and in Asia.

Leading this year's activities are Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson of Negros Occidental and Governor Manuel Sagarbarria of Negros Oriental.

Gov. Sagarbarria has pledged his support to rekindle the partnership between Occidental and Oriental Negros, with the shared aspiration of making Negros an organic island, according to Dina Genzola, officer-in-charge of the Office of the Negros Occidental Provincial Agriculturist.

This year's theme, "Regeneration for Future Generations," will highlight the importance of eco-friendly farming practices, emphasizing the concept of sustainable regenerative farming, Genzola said.

The Organic Fair and Exhibit, a standout feature of the festival, will showcase the best of organic offerings, as visitors feast on an array of farm produce, products, and merchandise, Genzola added.

Aside from the fair, the festival will host cook fests, caravans, cultural performances, talent nights, and awards ceremonies.

A comprehensive lineup of seminars, workshops, and conventions will cover diverse topics, including sustainable regenerative farming and fishing, indigenous practices, organic agriculture, water conservation, entrepreneurship, women and youth empowerment, food and beverages, and health and wellness.

Esteemed guests from IFOAM (International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements) ASIA, including representatives from Korea and India, are also joining the festival.

"As the spotlight shines on Negros Island, we can expect that this November will be a momentous occasion for sustainable farming, culture, and biodiversity," Genzola emphasized.

SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE

The Province of Negros Occidental has long been celebrated as the "Organic Agriculture Capital of the Philippines."

Its rich history is deeply intertwined with agriculture, particularly sugar production, dating back to the Spanish colonial period.

However, the sugar industry faced challenges in the 1980s, leading to a shift towards sustainable farming practices.

Negros Island's commitment to organic farming led to the signing of memorandum of agreement between Negros Oriental and Negros Occidental in 2005. This partnership aimed to establish the island as the “Organic Food Bowl of Asia,” a mission formalized through the founding of NISARD (Negros Island Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development) in the same year.

The inaugural Negros Island Organic Farmers Festival took place in 2006, followed by the formation of ONOPRA (Organik na Negros! Organic Producers and Retailers Association) a year later.

The festival was put on hold in 2020 and 2021 due to the global COVID-19 pandemic but made a triumphant return in 2022.

The Provincial Government of Negros Occicental has always prioritized sustainable agriculture in order to achieve food security.

This is evident in the Provincial Development Agenda of Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson called ABANSE Negrense, where "A" stands for "Agricultural Competitiveness and Food Security."

COLLABORATION

This year's Negros Island Organic Farmers Festival will take place in tandem with Terra Madre Visayas.

The first-ever Terra Madre Visayas event is a partnership among the Slow Food Community of Negros, Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda, Slow Food International, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, the Department of Tourism, and the Provincial Government of Negros Occidental.

The event aims to unite food communities, academe, youth delegates, and stakeholders to promote small-scale, traditional, and sustainable food production, according to Reena Gamboa, president of Slow Food Community of Negros Island.

Delegates from various Slow Food communities across the Visayas are slated to participate, alongside representatives from Slow Food International in Italy.

The central theme, "Visayas: Food and Culture Biodiversity," underscores the festival's commitment to eco-friendly farming practices and collectively envisions the future of our food systems and planet.

"The Negros Island Organic Farmers Festival and Terra Madre Visayas will serve as catalysts for change, uniting individuals and communities in the pursuit of a more sustainable and environmentally conscious future, ensuring a legacy of regeneration for generations to come," Slow Food International Councilor for Southeast Asia Ramon "Chinchin" Uy Jr. said.*

Initial planning for the 16th Negros Island Organic Farmers Festival + 1st Slow Food Terra Madre Visayas

Victorias leading the way in Organic Farming in Negros Island! Kudos to Mayor Javier Lopez Benitez

Slow Food Negros Slow Food Negros, established & recognized by Slow Food International in April 2012.

Philippines’ first Slow Food Earth Market in Silay City The network of Earth Markets continues to expand, now numbering 90 worldwide – and the latest farmers’ market which follows Slow Food principles will

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Don’t miss this with Jennifer Chang, IFOAM Asia

Breaking. Aladino C Moraca, president of the Central Philippine State University (CPSU) pushes for "green mining" or the planting of sweet potato that may solve a variety of problems from food security to high flour prices to environmental degradation. Story today.

Our Land, Our Food, Our Rice!
International Day of Actions Against Golden Rice

After the recent controversial and polarizing national elections in the Philippines, there seems to be no signs of halt in the push of Golden Rice as local deployment plans in pilot areas continue. President-elect and secretary for agriculture Ferdinand Marcos Jr, the son of the late dictator and mastermind behind the Green Revolution in the Philippines during the 1960s Marcos Sr, will bear the brunt of leading the agriculture sector in facing the challenges brought by the impending food crisis in the country. What does Marcos’ presidency mean for the movement against Golden Rice and corporate control of food and agriculture.

Marcos Jr. 's plans to revive the MASAGANA 99, an agricultural program of Marcos Sr. aimed to boost rice production and farmer productivity. The revival of MASAGANA 99 will bring out old problems and will not benefit the people, especially small farmers. Under this program, traditional rice varieties were replaced with high-yielding varieties and sustainable agricultural practices were gradually erased with the forced entry and wide scale use of harmful technologies and chemical inputs. As a result, this caused the extinction of local varieties, negative effects to farmlands and subjected thousands of farmers to huge debt. Only corporations, the producers and main pushers behind these products, benefitted from the program. The nature of this program paved the way for technologies such as Golden Rice, Bt Talong and its accompanying inputs to enter our country and pose another wave of threats to our farmers. Marcos’ bias towards corporate-led solutions and programs will only lead to similar problems.

Recently, the Department of Agriculture, then represented by William Dar, dismissed the appeal of farmers and civil society to repeal the biosafety permits for Golden Rice and Bt Talong. Dar has expressed his support to the Marcos administration by proposing MASAGANA 150 and MASAGANA 200 which targets a yield of 7.5 metric tons per hectare for in**ed rice and 10 MT per hectare for hybrid rice, respectively. Despite opposition from previous administrators and experts, and social movements, the MASAGANA programs with the Golden Rice project are expected to proceed with ease.

Again, Golden Rice is a failed and useless technology desperate to pose itself as a solution to structural problems faced by our country. Huge corporations, philanthro-capitalists and public agencies continue to deny facts and negative implications of this technology to our environment and the rights, health and livelihoods of Filipino farmers and consumers. Marcos Jr., as the secretary of agriculture, will play a huge role in the course of implementation of this project.

With the Golden Rice project’s funding ending this year, proponents strived to railroad all prerequisites for its commercialization. In fact, orientations on the project are being conducted even outside the defined pilot areas. The proponents hired a team of publicists and experts in promotions to further deceive the public and malign the faces and points raised by the opposition.

Leading to the International Day of Action against Golden Rice, we will again register our calls to put an end to the Golden Rice project, hold the actors behind this technology accountable, resolve hunger and malnutrition from its roots and push for a farmer-led food system.

Don’t miss the Slow Food Community of Negros Island Earth Market Pop-Up on July 16-17, 2022 at May’s Organic Garden

ONOPRA general assembly 2022