ActivitiesActivities
December 2009: Naturland News International
Volume III of Naturland News International 2009 is online! Read on eight pages the latest news of Naturland and its partner organizations:
The December 2009 issue includes the following topics:
• Members´assembly in Mexico
• Climate protection: looking for best practice examples
• Organic animal husbandry: training session for Mexican inspectors
• Survey confirms: „Organic + Fair Trade – can feed the world!”
• Reforestation of mangroves on shrimp farms in Ecuador
• Teekampagne: Naturland Partners & direct importer of Darjeeling Tea
• Medicinal herbs and essential oils from the land of the Pharaohs
September 2009: Naturland News International
Volume II of Naturland News International 2009 is online!
Read on twelve pages the latest news of Naturland and its partner organizations:
The September 2009 issue includes the following topics:
- Naturland Standards Changed
- Naturland Vision Statement Adopted
- Naturland Wild Fish: Pilot Project
- General Assembly in Ecuador
- Study „Organic Aquaculture 2009“
- Adoption of Aquaculture into the EU Organic Regulation
- GMO-Free European Regions - Conference in Italy
- Organic Coffee Production: Economic & Ecological Advantages
- Organic + Fair BioFach 2010
- GEPA: strong partner of Naturland
- The Honey Cooperative “Apicultores Mayas de Maní”
May 2009: Naturland News International
The Naturland News International in a new look:
Layout and the introduction of categories the News gives useful information for members, processors and other interested persons.
New Categories:
- News about Naturland
- Professional Information
- Market Information
- Member´s Forum
Following topics can be read in May 2009 issue:
- New Naturland guidelines for organic textiles
- Visit of Naturland members in Sri Lanka & India
- Lasting impression from a visit to Peru
- International members’ meeting at the BioFach 2009
- Agro-genetic enginieering in general and taking Mexico as an example
- Manual “Specialised Organic Retail Report Europe 2008“
- Global Organic Agriculture 2008 - Continued Growth
- Report of a model salmon farm on the Shetland Islands
...and a good deal more!
Naturland - 25th anniversary
"Naturland has reached the grand old age of 25 and we think we are justified in saying that we have more than made our mark on the history of organic agriculture, both in Germany and on an international level. With an international membership figure standing at over 49,000, our association is not only one of the largest, but also one of the most innovative associations of its kind. The original pioneering spirit lives on, as today we turn our attention to the areas of aquaculture, woodlands and forestry and textiles", says Hans Hohenester, Charimann Naturland steering committee.
For more information please go to:
Information and service
Naturland helps overseas projects, including many small farmers' co-operatives in developing countries, in questions of agriculture and 
certification. The experts in Naturland's International Department visit regularly the Naturland members all over the world and procure information on all questions of organic agriculture standards, conversion and certification requirements and the processing of organic produce.
By being present on a local level, Naturland can justifiably claim to be a qualified co-operation partner of international calibre in matters of organic agriculture. Naturland's representatives in Mexico, India and Ecuador offer speedy and competent advice on questions such as certification requirements, certification procedure, quality standards, acceptance and legal requirements for export to all corners of the world.
more information and service for producers
more information and service for processors
Organic tea from Naturland members
1986 the first teagarden in Sri Lanka and India have been converted to organic production. The conversion took place in close cooperation with Naturland and the German fair trader gepa. In 2006 Naturland members world-wide produced from 6000 hectares 3000 tons of made tea (green and black).
Beside the traditional tea from India and Sri Lanka Naturland farmers in Egypt produce different herbal teas and a small holder cooperative in South Africa offers the well-known Rooibos tea without caffeine in Naturland quality.
Combating poverty with organic agriculture
Naturland, together with the development organisations MISEREOR and EED, the environmental associations NABU and WWF have published the jointly realised study “Organic agriculture- a contribution to sustainable poverty reduction in developing countries?" The organisations agree upon that organic agriculture is a real alternative to small-scale farmers and their families in the South.
What’s behind the concept of “Naturland textiles“?
With the aim of encouraging the textile industry to process organic cotton and to meet the quality standards applicable to organic products, Naturland has developed its own textile standards. The basis of these standards was Naturland’s processing standards and those of the International Association Natural Textile Industry. Over and above this, Naturland’s textile standards include, among other items, requirements for a quality management system which ensures that the whole production chain, from the cultivation of the natural fibre, passing through every single processing stage, to the final product and first use of the goods, are documented with the aid of e-TQM software. The first organic textile project certified by Naturland is in India. The organic cotton is grown by smallholders in Gujarat on the west coast and processed in India to become top-quality bed-linen and towels.
Cosmetics – Naturland sets organic standards
The main issue of the new standards is to establish regulations governing the ingredients used, and labelling. As an additional pre-requisite for certification by Naturland, the cosmetics have to comply with the standards of BDIH (Association of German Industries and Trading Firms for pharmaceuticals, health care products, food supplements and personal hygiene products). To ensure the effectivity of the track and trace system, a “total quality management system” has to be installed. These requirements establish the new Naturland standards as a guarantee of consistent organic quality in the sphere of cosmetics, too.
