ifoam'96 Book of Abstracts 11th IFOAM Scientific Conference 11-15 August 1996, Copenhagen, Denmark

ECOWEB FRONT PAGE SUBJECT INDEX AUTHOR INDEX

Workshop

Financing organic agriculture in Europe and the 3rd world.W10

1) Triodosbank, Prins Hendriklaan, Postbus 55, NL-3700 AB Zeist, The Netherlands.2) Merkur, Den Almennyttige Andelskasse (cooperative bank), Vejgaard Moellevej 3, DK-9100 Aalborg, Denmark.

One of the critical points in changing the agricultural methods to long term sustainable forms af production is the financing and acess to credits. Agricultural projects involve other parties than the farmers themselves, since they are answering basic needs for foods - consumers are also co-responsible for the development. Also the financing of food manufactoring and trade companies are essential for the development of the organic agriculture.In several European countries one finds banks and financial institutions working with the financing of projects, which have a specific environmental or social/cultural approach. A basic idea is, that money is a tool, with which we can influence the future development.The workshop will on the one hand give the possibility to continue the discussion of special financing techniques developed to help 3rd world countries, thus continuing the presentation given on the symposium »Fair Trade (S5).On the other hand the workshop will present examples on financing done in European countries, in different ways involving consumers and private investors. The examples will vary from German farm communitues, mainly financed through consumers, to a Dutch limited company, quoted at the stock exchange, investing its capital in organic farms.The two speakers are both experienced bankers, having worked in the field of financing organic agriculture and other sustainable projects for more than a decade. Their banks are both represented in the board of the organisation INAISE (International Association of Investors in the Social Economy), based in Brussels.

Agenda for the Workshop:

1. Lars Pehrson: Examples of financing agriculture in Germany and Scandinavia. The consumers role.2. Marilou van Golstein Brouwers: The Biogrond company. 3. Marilou van Golstein Brouwers: Financing projects in 3rd world countries.4. Discussions.5. Marilou van Golstein Brouwers and Lars Pehrson: How to start financing activities and how to create partnerships and networks.