History
EISA conference promotes the benefits of Integrated Farming
EISA held a conference launching their updated framework to the EU Commission and a wide audience of stakeholders as a solution to sustainable agriculture across Europe
The EISA framework was strongly supported by the patron of the conference in Brussels on 29 November 2005, Mariann Fischer-Boel, European Commissioner for Agriculture and Joseph Daul, Member of the European Parliament and Chairman of the EP Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development.
Both speakers applauded EISA's work in communicating positive messages of farming to consumers through their extensive Demonstration Farm network and encouraged this important work of communication to continue.
Mrs Fischer-Boel said "I see Integrated Farming as a growing force and I look forward to seeing more of EISA's work in the future. I have great expectations for the dialogue to continue between EISA and the Commission to progress IF higher up the European agenda."
Joseph Daul commented during his speech "I support Integrated Farming and follow EISA's work with great interest. The EISA partnership is a unique one and I applaud them standing shoulder to shoulder to help maintain and preserve the environment through their updated IF framework."
Case studies were presented from Sweden, France, Luxembourg and the United Kingdom covering different areas of IF in the context of the whole farm. It was clear how far the national IF management systems have contributed to the EISA framework. The farmers were clear in their presentations how they implement a whole farm approach through continually improving efficiency of their operations, hence achieving a win win approach for their businesses and the environment.
In summing up the conference EISA Chairman Heinrich Kemper said, "We are very pleased with the recognition we have received today for our work in the promotion and development of Integrated Farming in Europe. We look forward to continuing our dialogue with politicians and society to get closer to achieving sustainable agriculture across Europe."
Proceedings and Pictures from the Conference "Integrated Farming - A Success Story for Sustainable Development in European Agriculture" - 29 November 2005 - Brussels
Conference under the Patronage of the European Commissioner for Agriculture Mariann Fischer Boel
Success Stories of Integrated Farming in Europe
Impressive new brochure published by EISA
EISA (Bonn): One particular asset of EISA is their network of demonstration farms. Several hundred farms in France, Germany, Italy, Luxemburg, Sweden and the UK act as ambassadors of modern farming. They are progressive examples to their colleagues, they open their farm gates to the general public, they invite politicians and the media. Such an approach is an excellent tool to inform society about modern, sustainable agriculture. This tool becomes even better when "success stories" as presented in the new EISA brochure can be communicated, demonstrated and proved on these farms.
"I highly appreciate such a report about on-farm progress towards more sustainability. I recommend European citizens to learn about these success stories and to visit farms in their local neighbourhood; it is there that our food is produced and it is there that we can gain understanding - and trust - in the work and quality delivered by our farming community" says Dr Dirk Ahner, Deputy Director General of DG Agri, in his preface to the "Success Stories of Integrated Farming in Europe".
The European Initiative for Sustainable Development in Agriculture e.V. (EISA) was founded in 2001 by six European organisations. EISA members today are Arbeitsgemeinschaft Integrierter Pflanzenschutz Österreich (since 2005), FARRE (Forum de L'Agriculture RaisonnÈe Respectueuse de L'Environnement, France), FILL (Fördergemeinschaft Integrierte Landbewirtschaftung, Luxemburg), FNL (Fördergemeinschaft Nachhaltige Landwirtschaft, Germany), ASNAI (Associazione Nazionale Agricoltura Integrata, Italy), LEAF (Linking Environment and Farming, U.K.) and Odling i Balans (Sweden). Together with several associate members, these national organisations have joined to promote Integrated Farm Management on a European level.
Copies of the new brochure can be obtained at the EISA office in Brussels (see below) and also at the offices of the national EISA members. Or download the .pdf-Document here
Please direct inquiries to:
European Initiative for Sustainable Development in Agriculture e.V. (EISA)
Robby Schreiber
Av. Sainte Anne 12
1160 Brussels
Belgium
Tel.: 00 32 2 660 82 14
Fax: 00 32 2 660 82 14
email: gani-med@skynet.be
Responsible: Dr. Jürgen Fröhling, Dr. Andreas Frangenberg
EU Commission welcome practical solutions for sustainable agriculture
EISA (European Initiative for the Sustainable development in Agriculture), Bonn: Looking forward to working closely with EU officials as the Obligations for Integrated Farming are presented as a realistic way forward for sustainable agriculture
Following the highly successful EISA workshop held in Brussels in July 2003 to present the working document for the Obligations, the final version has now been sent to the Commission. These Obligations are seen as a realistic way forward for sustainable agriculture in Europe.
The Obligations for Integrated Farming represent the significant achievements made through EISA members and those organisations and farmers that have worked together over the last twelve years. Most significant is the bringing together of research and practical implementation into one document.
Dr. Jürgen Fröhling, EISA Chairman said: 'This is a great achievement and we are looking forward to the EU Parliament and Commission recognising these Obligations as a realistic way forward for sustainable agriculture in Europe. The Obligations are a common understanding for Integrated Farming setting out practical, achievable, realistic and dynamic steps to meet with the challenge of achieving sustainable agriculture in Europe.'
The obligations are available online from the EISA website at
www.sustainable-agriculture.org or for further information please contact:
Dr. Andreas Frangenberg
European Initiative for Sustainable Development in Agriculture (EISA e.V.)
Germany
email:
info@fnl.de
EISA-workshop on "obligations for Integrated Farming" a success
click here for details.
click here for latest version of the EISA Framework
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"TIME WELL SPENT"
LEAF has published a guide to the uptake of Integrated Farming on lowland livestock farms.
Livestock farming requires special management skills where the balance between animal health and welfare, food safety, health issues and getting the most out of forage are constantly being juggled. As an organisation, LEAF has always been strongly associated with the arable sector but their work is increasingly embracing livestock farmers and they wanted to produce an easily accessible, practical handbook, which reflected the unique challenges faced by the livestock sector. Working with farmers and partners LEAF has produced "Time well spent" based on experience, research and practical case studies. "Time well spent" aims to raise awareness of IFM amongst lowland livestock farmers as well as set out practical approaches that farmers can adopt to improve their overall economic and environmental improve.
The Handbook is a significant step forward for IFM in the grassland sector, placing the environment in context and, importantly, putting profit first. What is particularly exciting about this project is that it has brought together a whole range of different organisations who are all committed to environmentally responsible farming.
You can receive this handbook for 5 £ from
LEAF.
Stoneleigh Park
Warwickshire CV8 2LZ
Tel: 00 44 (0) 24 76 41 39 11
Fax: 00 44 (0)24 76 41 36 36
enquiries@leafuk.org
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The summary of the study "Indicators for Sustainable Development in Agriculture" by Olaf Christen is now available in English on this homepage and can be directly downloaded from here.
The full version of this study (German Edition only) can be ordered from:
ILU -Institute for Agriculture and Environment
Konstantinstr. 90
D- 53179 Bonn
Fax: 00 49 (0) 2 28 - 97 99 340
Price: 8,70 Euro plus Postage
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The EISA-Charter
Sustainable development on our planet cannot be achieved without a major contribution from agriculture. People must be fed, and agriculture is faced with the challenge of producing food for a rapidly growing world population whilst maintaining the world's fragile resources.
Sustainable development must encompass food production alongside conservation of finite resources and protection of the natural environment so that the needs of people living today can be met without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
Integrated Farming meets these potentially conflicting challenges at farm level, in a manner that balances food production, profitability, safety, animal welfare, social responsibility and environmental care. Integrated Farming seeks to reinforce the positive influences of agricultural production whilst reducing its negative impacts. It is a means of achieving sustainable agriculture and an indispensable part (but only a part) of sustainable development.
Organisations for the promotion of
Integrated Farming have been formed throughout Europe -
FNL in Germany,
LEAF in Great Britain,
Odling i Balans in Sweden,
FARRE in France,
FILL in Luxembourg. They all aim to encourage the adoption of
Integrated Farming on farms and to inform consumers of its principles and advantages, in both the acceptability of food and towards the environment. They have founded
EISA to intensify these efforts on a European basis.
EISA members are strongly committed to
sustainable agriculture, which is economically viable, environmentally responsible and socially acceptable.
EISA will continue to work in partnership with all stakeholders to achieve the goal of a
sustainable agriculture through the promotion and further development of
Integrated Farming.
January, 2001
