Welcome!
Naturland International
Organic agriculture throughout the world
Naturland is active the world over in promoting organic agriculture. Its members are farmers who produce a wide range of valuable products: coffee from Mexico and Peru, olive oil from Greece, tea from the slopes of India’s mountains, pineapple and other tropical fruit from Uganda, spices from Sri Lanka. Organic agriculture safeguards the existence of smallholders and helps with the sustainable management of what are often fragile ecosystems.
A thriving growth rate world-wide of 15%, based on membership figures and the area cultivated – this is the conclusion of Naturland’s annual statistics for 2006. On a global scale, 46,000 Naturland farmers are cultivating an area of over 275,000 hectares. An especially pleasing figure is the addition of over 4,500 smallholders in Uganda and Tanzania. Sub-Saharan Africa ossesses vast agricultural potential which has been little exploited to date for purposes of certified organic agriculture.
Organic and social standards combined
Naturland’s social standards came into force with the inspection period 2005. The social treatment of employees and the working conditions under which organic foodstuffs, textiles and cosmetic products are cultivated and processed are scrutinised as part of the organic certification procedure.The social standards list detailed requirements applicable to working conditions and the social welfare of employees. Special emphasis is placed on health and safety on the job. The standards also make clear specifications on the work done by children. For millions of children, it is quite normal to hold down a job. Naturland cannot abolish this, but it can establish a framework which excludes exploitative forms of child labour, ensuring that the children can attend school and that the work does not impair their physical and spiritual development.
Lobby work
Over 90% of Naturland’s members abroad are smallholders who are members of co-operatives.
In its capacity as an organic farmers’ association, Naturland champions the interests of smallholders on the national and international committees on which it is represented. It is working in co-operation with IFOAM, development and fair trade organisations, and Forum Umwelt und Entwicklung (an association of German environmental and development NGOs), to try to improve the opportunities available to smallholders throughout the world. You can find details of how organic agriculture further benefits smallholders under “ Organic Agriculture – Can It Help to Reduce Poverty?”
Facilitating market access
Naturland is the proprietor of the Naturland trademark. The trademark is protected both in Germany and internationally – a hallmark of quality which enhances its high reputation with the consumer. Naturland is one of the major certification organisations for organic produce in the world.
The company Naturland Zeichen GmbH is responsible for granting the right to use the Naturland trademark, on behalf of the Naturland Association. One of the functions of Naturland Zeichen GmbH is to present the Naturland trademark in Germany and abroad. One of its most important activities is to arrange visits to international trade fairs. In this way Naturland can establish useful contacts for the benefit of its members.
