Organics Europe Youth Event 2024

Hosts of the event:  

• Clara Garrone – Projects & Partnership Officer, IFOAM Organics Europe 
• Lumi Hultkrantz – ESC Volunteer for Events & Membership, IFOAM Organics Europe 
• Silvia Schmidt – Policy Manager, IFOAM Organics Europe 

• Eduardo Cuoco – Director, IFOAM Organics Europe
• Maurizio Raeli – Director, CIHEAM Bari

• Clara Bosch – Research and knowledge sharing coordinator, Fundación Regeneration Academy 
• Karla Škorjanc – Executive Manager, Agricultural cooperative Island of Krk 
• Marco Paravicini – Biodynamic Farmer, Vice – President, FederBio 
• Rudolfs Pulkstenis – Organic Farmer, Vice-President, CEJA

Moderator: Silvia Schmidt – Policy Manager, IFOAM Organics Europe

Two blocks of learning lectures offer parallel, knowledge-based sessions designed for educational purposes. Participants can choose to join one of the two lectures in each block.

Learning lecture 1.1: Unlocking opportunities: Youth and Access to land

• Jean-Marc Louvin – Food Expert / Campaign Coordinator, ICLEI ES

Moderator: Laura Sauques – Policy coordinator, IFOAM Organics Europe 

Learning lecture 1.2: Sustaining Communities: The potential of Biodistricts in nurturing rural vitality

• Hilde Straub – Regional Manager, Bio-Musterregion Biberach
• Patrizia Pugliese – Senior Researcher, CIHEAM Bari

Learning lecture 2.1: (Bio)diverse agriculture: bringing intersectionality and queerness to the land

• Jessica Donham-Buratti – Coordinator for the gender & intersectionality working group, Agroecology Europe
• Natasha O. Ervilha – Founder, Queering Agriculture

Moderator: Cristina Laurenti – Coordinator of the Youth Network, Agroecology Europe / Researcher, FIBL

Learning lecture 2.2: Growing Forward: Farming in the digital age

• Emre Gurdal – Veterinarian, Arif Gurdal Dairy
• Vincenzo Verrastro – PhD, CHIEAM Bari

Moderator: Helene Schmutzler – Policy Coordinator on GMOs and Animal Welfare, IFOAM Organics Europe

• Silvia Schmidt – Policy Manager, IFOAM Organics Europe 

• Speed-networking
• Portrait spotting

• Local folk dance show & music by Tamburellisti di Torre Paduli
• Dance hall

• Optional yoga and meditation by instructor Simona Pepe (90-minute session)

• Clara Garrone – Projects & Partnership Officer, IFOAM Organics Europe
• Lumi Hultkrantz – ESC Volunteer for Events & Membership, IFOAM Organics Europe

• Ronald Van Marlen – General Director, NaNa Bio BV 

• Clara Garrone – Projects & Partnership Officer, IFOAM Organics Europe
• Lumi Hultkrantz – ESC Volunteer for Events & Membership, IFOAM Organics Europe

Two blocks of parallel sessions are offered: parallel sessions 1. features three sessions, and parallel sessions 2. features four simultaneous interactive sessions, each with a unique and engaging focus. Participants can choose one session from each block to join.

Parallel session 1.1: Organic content creators: practical ways to make organic attractive with an organic content creator

• Marina Grölz – Farm Manager, Agriculture & Member of the Delegates Assembly, Naturland e.V. / Co-founder of Junges Naturland

Moderator: Boglarka Bozsogi – Communication and Policy Officer, Agroecology Europe 

Parallel session 1.2: Open Innovation: how it can support young people in innovating their organic businesses at both process and product levels

• Ivana Cavoski – Scientific Administrator, CIHEAM Bari
• Giusy Miuli – Researcher and Consultant, CIHEAM Bari

Parallel session 1.3: Leadership workshop: Creating young organic leader’s network

• Lennart Bertels –  Chairman, Junges Bioland e.V. Vorstand 
• Cristina Laurenti – Scientific Collaborator, Department of Food Systems Sciences, FiBL & Coordinator of Agroecology Europe Youth Network   

Moderator: Helene Schmutzler – Policy Coordinator on GMOs and Animal Welfare, IFOAM Organics Europe

Parallel session 2.1: Fostering local food democracy: exponents of the Italian Local Food Policies Network  

• Giampiero Mazzocchi – Researcher, Council for Agricultural Research
• Francesca Volpe, researcher and consultant at CIHEAM Bari

Moderator: Lorenzo Labellarte, researcher and consultant at CIHEAM Bari

Parallel session 2.2: Living Labs: as enabling ecosystems and strong support for innovation in both rural and urban areas

• Dolinda Cavallo – Project Manager, European Network of Living Labs

Moderator: Francesco Notarangelo, CIHEAM Bari

Parallel session 2.3: How can young people play a role in Sustainable Public Procurement?

• Sabina Nicolella – Sustainability expert, Fondazione Ecosistemi

Moderator: Jean-Marc Louvin – Food Expert / Campaign Coordinator, ICLEI ES

Parallel session 2.4: Just food: migrant labor and human rights in the food system 

• Ernesto Gibba – Farmer, La Bolina
• Angelo Cleopazzo – Vice President, Diritti a Sud

Moderator: Maria Zintl – Policy Officer on inputs and organic textiles, IFOAM Organics Europe

• Giovanni Battista Girolomoni – President, Gino Girolomoni Cooperativa Agricola
• Josefine van Marlen – Political Project Lead, Nana Bio 
• Johan Henrik Kintzell Frøstrup – Managing Director, Debio
• Stephanie Painter – Co-Chief Executive Officer & Co-Founder, Painterland Sisters

Moderator: Eduardo Cuoco – Director at IFOAM Organics Europe

• dr. Vandana Shiva – President, Navdanya International

dr. Vandana Shiva’s keynote speech is co-organised with Navdanya International and Earth University

Hosts will unveil the outcomes of the 10 takeaways and wrap-up the OEYE 2024 with final closing remarks

Individuals attending the Organics Europe Youth Event have the option to partake in an additional excursion on 10 July. Each excursion will showcase inspiring sustainable practices of organic food production. Event attendees can choose to join one of the two field trips:

1. Visit of an organic pasta factory named Andriani SpA located in Gravina di PugliaOrganic pasta factory
2. Visit of an organic olive oil mill named Azienda Agricola Biologica Cuonzo located in Palombaio

Please find more information about the excursions on their dedicated webpage.

The field visits will be executed in English language. The field visits are scheduled to return to Bari by 15:00. Accommodation is not included in the optional excursion.