Asian Organic Developments Prospects and Challenges

Prof Chen Shih- Shiung[1], Brendan Hoare[2]

Theme: We have to work out how to manage the process of bringing high-level thinking down to the practical level for implementation.

It is a great pleasure to be invited to present this paper at the 3^rd East Asian Conference. It will attempt to raise and discuss strategic issues for us, the leaders of the Organic community in Asia . This conference has multiple layers and a dynamism that demonstrates our growth and expansion, willingness to undertake new frontiers, tenacity to share information beyond national boarders and ability to be inclusive.

Much of our time at the first event in Taiwan was spent building relationships and becoming familiar with our needs. At the second East Asian Forum in Vietnam , a unanimous conclusion was that the leadership time we spent together was precious. It was also considered that the challenge was to be more strategic, ensuring that our high-level thinking was actualized and implemented. We thank Korea for providing the opportunity to continue the work that has been started and look forward to progress.

 

Why an East Asia Organic Forum?

We should remember that the coming together of Asian leaders within the Organic community is not new. Many in the room have been instrumental in past Asia focus events and successes. We all in our own way have just ‘got on with it’, forming alliances and allegiances where and when appropriate. We also know that there has been attempts to bring us all together that have not been successful, met expectations or delivered results. We should learn from these events and recognise them as part of our journey.

Our task is not easy. Asia holds approximately 60% of the world’s population and is home to diverse culture, language and societal norms. The world looks onto us differently than it did a decade ago and we too see ourselves differently, celebrating our diversity, with greater confidence, realizing that our region has an increased responsibility internationally. This will be covered later.

With this in mind, and lessons learnt, the rationale in 2006 to bring together East Asian country leaders was pragmatic and in response to meeting a foreseeable need into the future. Our framework for existence was simple:

1.      Geographical proximity

2.      Historical links with the ancient Chinese cultural sphere e.g. Confucian values and norms and strong historical linkages in agricultural practice.

3.      Our seven member country (China, Taiwan,  Japan, S. Korea, N. Korea, Philippines, Vietnam) one Special Administrative Region ( Hong Kong) and observer status to SE Asia and Oceania meant practical achievements with a small group could be made.

4.      Our scale of engagement seemed appropriate, i.e. what we created we could service.

Even with the initial countries and regions engaged, however, we were conscious that East Asia still accounted for about 28 percent of the Asian continent (an area about 15 percent bigger than Europe ). It has more than 1.5 billion people or about 38 percent of the population of Asia or 22 percent of all the people in the world. Our small initiative was still a major task and responsibility.

Our approach was inclusive, participative and with purposeful low expectation. We informally described our first gathering as ‘our first date’ which allowed for a relaxed informal setting, without pressure to commit time, funds, or create promises that could not be met. Focus was to affirm existing bonds, form new ones and create an environment where open exploration of potentials could evolve.[i] The process was open and inclusive, without premeditated outcomes.

Each country chose two delegates to attend with the only other criteria required being a command of the English language. As a result, the agenda was open and we encouraged thoughts and opinions as to what is important for us. The four themes that have consistently emerged as our points of discussion are:

1.      The role Organics has in the region in climate change, poverty alleviation, genetic modification and sustainable development.

2.      The need for Organics to move and develop through redesigning and being innovative.

3.      The ability to share resources in education, extension and research as well as aligning aid within the region to focus on Organic production and marketing.

4.      The possibility of working towards harmonization and accepted equivalence of standards in the region.[ii]

From our inception, these themes have not changed.

Originally all responsibilities to stage the event (except airfares) were that of the host country. The expectation is that over time each member country could take a turn and include the event with a local initiative or conference. Attendance has been excellent, China did not attend Taiwan in 2006 and North Korea did not attend Vietnam in 2008.

Care has always been taken to contact other Asian country leaders and be inclusive. We explained to IFOAM that an East Asian focus was not to purposefully exclude, but more to reach an achievable outcome within a budget and agreed framework. Although invited, IFOAM at that time was not interested in engaging, and it reflected its own policy which was to ‘wait and see, not lead’. It was keen for initiatives to come from the region, not to direct them. The East Asian Forum has been a self expression and determination from within Asia and we should be proud that all contenders for the 2011 IFOAM World Conference were from within our region. We promoted the IFOAM Asia conference in Sarawak 2008 and we have continued to work to assist each other when required, mostly in bilateral agreements.

 

 

Asia is now the most important place in the world:

Global leaders and commentators today see Asia as the most important place in the world[iii]. Half of our population is under the age of 25, much of our development is driven by bottom up from young entrepreneurs, and an increasing number of women are in positions of leadership. We have gained in confidence. The West is no longer necessarily considered the best.

 

In 2005 the world economy grew by 4.9 percent, down slightly from the 28-year high of 5.3 percent in 2004. Leading the expansion were China , growing by 10.2 percent, and India at 8.5 percent. This growth was a continuation of half a century of economic expansion. However while the recent global recession still forecasts Asia in the next year at around 5 percent the industrialised nations of Europe and North America are projecting negative growth, or slightly positive, varying between negative 3 and 1 percent.[iv] Asia is being looked at for leadership and it is here that our challenge lies. Are we up to the challenge?

 

While it may be Asia fueling the world’s economy, it is the pattern of growth and behavior which is causing us the most concern. Trends like resource scarcity, demographic changes, increased mobility, urbanisation, peak oil, and climate change resulting increased pollution of air, water, land and sea, loss of biodiversity, threat of war and public upheaval all impact on the food production and fresh water and the emerging Asian middle class trend on consumer consumption. These trends are part of all our daily lives and work.

 

These trends also conclude that civilization is at a cross roads and it seems that Asia is the new leader, or influencer of how the future will unfold.[v] Participants in the East Asian Forum are the legitimate leaders of this change and challenge.

 

What leadership is demonstrated in Asia over the next ten years to ameliorate these trends will be critical. How we the Organic community organise ourselves communicate and deliver real change at a practical level will determine our success. There is now a need to organize ourselves with our own families, communities, regions, nations, and importantly international sub regions within new and existing organisations e.g. East Asia, Asia , Asia Pacific, ASEAN and APEC. We should do so using our own methodology; focused (on what will actually bring the best results) yet flexible and open (to new ways of working together), disciplined (to make the changes required on the ground) yet relaxed ( on how we achieve this). These are virtues true to our ‘Asian style’. 

 

What has made the Asian production systems and current economic growth successful is this hierarchical bottom up, family first (local), village approach. Strategically this is what works for us. Interestingly, East and South Asia and the village approach to resource management have historically been sources of inspiration for the international organic community. Sir Albert Howard[vi] found inspiration and motivation in India and F.H. King[vii] in East Asia. Both names are synonymous with early pioneers in the modern international Organic movement. One hundred years later the farmers for forty-one centuries may well have to provide the same inspiration. 

 

Is the leadership in this room capable of being part of this inspiration? How we continue to organize ourselves and what support we get will be critical to our success? This question should be a focus point over the next few days.

 

 

 

 

Challenges of Being Part of an Organic Family:

 

We need uniting strategies to share information, resources and expertise open and freely in a cultural context that encourages trust, transparency and our motivations. Our existence may now actually depend on it.

 

Participants in the East Asian Forum are the legitimate leaders of this change within the region. No one else is taking the lead and responsibility on critical issues paramount to humanity (e.g. soil, water, and genetic pollution). Bringing together the leaders of nations to share, discuss, debate and resolve co-operative actions is of regional and international importance and interest.

 

It is also true, that the problems we face are not ones prevented by political or geographical boundaries. We should be looking to shift our thinking and behavior from nations to networks. We should support the development of self organising bodies and regional development of Organics that helps stimulate the change required. Such organising should be self determining and reflect real need from those who need it. Our focus should be aware of the rising awareness of the ‘paddy to plate’ rise in consciousness that meets the needs of this century. 

 

While the Organic community is an inclusive one, we also need to be conscious of emerging negative results of rapid growth and ‘popularising’ of the Organic ideology. Our popularity is part of the emerging consumer culture, where citizens want to align with many of the values our community aspires to (ecology, socially and economically sound systems) without actually making the changes required. Communication strategies will be central to any successful change.

 

Our current global economy does not necessarily favor the small farmer, and globalization is often a strategy that results in the consolidation of farmlands and resources into large holdings owned by fewer people and the expansion of monocultures whose principle development strategy is short term profit. Organics is a long term strategic decision, based on principles of health, ecology, fairness and care.

 

Proudly, Asia’s food production systems are traditionally small in scale with a local and regional focus on food security and sovereignty. Today this story is what global markets are seeking and what we can demonstrate. This is also an example of where our leadership is required. Are we tempted to mimic the west, and industrial systems or do we demonstrate the change we know is required? For example, in past ten years, more than 166,394 India farmers have committed suicide due to bankruptcy caused by the increased prices of genetically modified seeds and the inputs of chemical fertiliser, and agrochemicals[viii]. How do we ensure this is a legacy of the past and encourage the proliferation of our heritage crops and seeds to ensure the biodiversity of our ancestors are passed on to future generations not only of Asia but the world.

 

We also need to be conscious that the gap between Organic and conventional is closing very fast. We do need to congratulate ourselves for creating many of the pathways that have enabled this but conscious that there is a long way to go. While we have achieved much there is much to achieve if we seek world-wide adoption of sound systems based on the principles of Organic systems.

 

This will require quite new ways of viewing ecological, social and economic frameworks. We need a resurgence of energy, and enthusiasm that is not only consumer or market driven (current) but content driven that makes management of land an exciting and fun place to be, especially for young farmers. The resurgence (renaissance) has to ensure Organics remains part of the solution, especially for young people. A legitimate goal would see that in fifteen years time Organics of today will be seen as conventional. We have only just begun to realise our own potential.

 

As we all know, the message of Organics is actually very simple.  Our leadership needs to communicate this far more effectively than we have been. We need to use the right language (and different) to the right audience. We need to actively engage young people and let go of traditionally held authority if it is preventing progress. This is particularly challenging for those of us in leadership and traditional authoritarian roles.

 

The challenge is to demonstrate through our daily practice to the world that Organic systems approaches are part of the solution. The world needs inspiration from East Asia (the home of farmers of forty-one centuries) to help resolve these international issues. This event is a continuation to such a demonstration of leadership. Could the Organic community of East Asia as a collective provide strategic direction and leadership to the world, as it did in the early 19^th century, which saw the birth of the modern Organic movement in the 1920s. It is only possible however if we share resources and best strategies with an open heart and mind.

 

 

Realistic Expectations – some suggestions.

It is an exciting challenge to be part of a global team to turn the current situation around. The very biggest picture we can work towards is nothing short of the worldwide adoption of Organic systems approaches. We must keep this vision in mind as we undertake legitimate next steps towards working together over the next few days.

 

We first must respect our hosts, and then each other respectfully as equals. By listening with intent we can start to understand each other’s needs and aspirations appreciating at all times the situation and circumstances of other’s. This is not a time to try and dominate, but to demonstrate collegial aspirations through the power of the task at hand. We need to be patient, ask questions for clarification and appreciate differing points of views. It is essential, even before we start, that we commit to sustained dialogue. That is what good leadership does.

 

It is a chance for us to compare notes and behave not from the individual, national or even East Asian ego but to grasp the magnitude of the task and understand that this is a critical meeting for humanity and nature. We should do this and think how we can prepare to present East Asia (in fact all of Asia) to the world in 2011.

 

Our relationship must be enduring, even through times of adversity. No matter how tense or disruptive the benefits of sharing knowledge and resources (intellectual, human and material), may be, if we are patient we will demonstrate that beyond all odds (political, cultural and language) we will prevail, because the language of Organic systems practice is an international one. What we are doing over the next two days is investing wisely in our children’s future.

 

Finally, these meetings and their outcomes are of interest to the outside world, particularly other Asian countries. How we communicate our outcomes over the next few days will be critical in how our initiative is received. Our information should be free flowing and provided to all who may find it useful.

 

Testing if progress is genuine:

Our original indicators of a successful East Asian Forum included the following:

1.      Our strategies would have taken everyone and every country involved with us on the journey without anyone ‘dropping out.’

2.      We would have identified where the leadership (top down, bottom up) was and support the structures and functions that enable the leadership to evolve with resulting on the ground action.

3.      We would have acknowledged and supported the importance of an effective East Asian Forum and are committed to its continuation. Communication is open and effective at all times.

4.      We are inclusive of all interested parties.

5.      We develop our relationships to extend beyond trade and certification so as to include education, research and best practice.

6.      We are committed to learning and working with each other over time.

 

Success to these indicators has been variable to date. It is important however that we either re assess the effectiveness or of them as indicators or commit to align ourselves to their success.

 

Conclusions:

The purpose of this paper has been to identify the origins of thought and intent that have bought about the East Asian Forum. It has also covered the fundamentals as to why a forum with the foci of a particular region is important. The role Asia has in the future of our humanity’s well being is a truism not just to Asians but to all inhabitants of our beautiful planet. It does so with the premise that Organics has real solutions, is a learning community willing to change and adapt to ensure success of our visions, values and strategies.

 

Such events never happen in isolation, we were all waiting for it to happen. By playing our parts, we will be able to actualize our visions. We have to however believe they are real. By being here over the next few days we are daring to believe it is real, and are actualizing our responsibility. We are the leaders we have been waiting for.

 

Again the questions asked of each participant in this room are:

1.      Is the leadership in this room capable of being part of this inspiration?

2.      How do we best continue to organize ourselves?

3.      What support structures will be critical to our success?

 

If we want the world Organic, we need to work with the self belief that we are the ‘powerful not desperate’ participants who will help make it happen. In this context powerful is not with brute force, but life force. We are the legitimate leaders of this change. Our ideals are high, as they need to be. There is work to do. The stakes are high. We have to be in a meeting mode as if everything we do over the next few days becomes purpose driven, creates deep cultural change, that we believe the outcome can be better than imagined.

 

The ancestors of the Organic movement have given us this time. Here in East Asia the ancestors of this practice means we collectively hold 10 of thousands of years of knowledge in our hands. We should not be shy to feel, or reflect on this over the next few days. It is a powerfully uplifting vision and responsibility.