| The Italian Association for Organic Agriculture (AIAB) was initiated in 1982 as an informal interest group
and officially established in 1988. It gathers around 15.000 members (farmers, processors, experts,
researchers and consumers) and up to 2000 was the main inspection and certification body for organic
farming in Italy. This task is now performed by ICEA, a consortium set up by AIAB with several other
members, while AIAB performs associative role: members’ tutorship in official contexts, education,
publishing, promotion, extension and research. It is organized by regional chapters (17) coordinated by a
federal structure based in Rome. Employed people in the federal office are 20 (with different qualification and contract typology) and annual budget of the federal office for 2004 is approximately 2 million Euros.
Concerning research activity AIAB is currently involved in 2 EU projects (Organic Input Evaluation QLK5-CT-2002-02565 and Organic Revision FP6-502397), 3 national ones (issued by Italian Agriculture Ministry: Biogea, Olibio and Ortofrubio) and several interregional ones.
Concerning vulgarisation and innovation transfer activity AIAB publishes a bi-monthly magazine
(Bioagricultura, 16.000 subscribers), a weekly newsletter (B@N, 8.000 subscribers), several technical
leaflets and books and has an updated web-site (www.aiab.it, 4.000 single visits per day); it organizes field days, workshops and seminars.
Due to this diversified and wide range of activities, AIAB has a strong experience in managing and
coordinating human and material resources, including project coordination with national and international partners, belonging to both private or public sector.
AIAB staff participates to Ministerial committees on organic farming and to IFOAM regional groups and
committees where they have the task to represent Italian organic farmers and consumers.
AIAB is involved in organizing and coordinating several National and International Contests on organic food products: “BioDiVino” on organic wine, “Biol” on organic olive oil, “Biocaseus” on organic cheese and “Il maiale si fa Bio” on organic sausages and processed meat products. AIAB also collaborates in editing the Italian Organic Wines Guide. |
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