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It was born when organic farming was only something more than a bet, it followed its course, recorded its development, grew bigger as time passed, acquired its own dynamics, became the most authentic and reliable meeting point of the organic farming world in Greece.
All exhibition indices are augmentative in comparison with last year. In particular: Seventeen thousand visitors, more than 150 exhibitors, hundreds of commercial visitors, among them many international ones, many journalists, over 20.000 codes of products. Representatives of political parties, the local self-government and the media, scientists, people of culture and art, pupils of all ages with their teachers, universities and technical universities honoured with their presence and their interest the annual meeting of Organic Farming, the 8th Exhibition of Organic Products - ECOFESTIVAL 2005.
Exhibitors
- The primary sector had with 30% a high percentage of representation. Producers and producers’ associations presented hundreds of products.
- Processing, packing and trade as pure or mixed commercial and productive businesses, smaller or bigger, occupied another 30%.
- Services offered by organisations, agencies, associations, exhibitions, press took another 20%.
- 10% regarded products that deal with environment and technology, agricultural supplies, recyclable materials.
It is worth mentioning the presence with stands of:
- Technical University of Ionian Islands, Dpt. of Organic Agriculture
- Federation of Organic Farmers’ Unions
- Association of Organic Farmers that sell directly in open-air markets
- Hellenic Union of Organic Consumers
- Hellenic Association of Organic Products Shop Owners
- Exhibitions: Biofach and Istanbul
- Bio-Kindergarten
Products
The visitor of the exhibition could see, taste, get informed about and acquire excellent organic products such as fruit, fresh and dry, vegetables, oil, wine, beer, dairy products, pasta, sauces, bread, dough, legumes, meat, sausages, eggs, snacks for children and vegetarians, sweets, herb teas, coffee but also cosmetics, products for body care and hygiene, detergents, water filetrs, ecological colours, fair trade products which cover the whole spectrum of the family needs.
Activities – Events
- The event in honour of the Prefecture of Larissa for its contribution in the development of organic agriculture shows the substantial interest and support of the local administration.
- The exports of organic products support the Greek economy. The subject was presented by representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Hellenic Organisation for External Trade, the Biofach exhibition.
- The presentation of the book “Organic Agriculture” by professor Nicolaos Sidiras and the European e-portal for organic agriculture “Bio@gro” are the evidences of accordance between organic agriculture and science/ technology.
- The presentations about thematic units such as cosmetics and other products of personal care and hygiene, ecological detergents and cleaning agents, clothing, bio-climatic architecture and energetic efficiency of buildings informed visitors about anything interesting there is beyond the food sector.
- Young people’s nutrition, especially the one in schools, gave a different dimension about how directly connected is nutrition with education and health.
- The briefing about the development of organic agriculture from the representatives of the Mediterranean section of IFOAM, internationalised the exhibition even more.
- The problems of organic open-air markets, the intentions of the political leadership regarding the prospects and the support of organic agriculture have been topic of a discussion that began before the exhibition and will continue to concern us later.
- The genetically modified food symbolically closed the four days of Ecofestival events with the advice for more vigilance and resistance to everyone who plot against current but also future generations.
ECOFESTIVAL 2005 was given the honour and opportunity to host the first Wine Contest from organically grown grapes in Greece.
Cultural events like the shadow theatre “Karagiozis”, jazz and rembetico music accomplished the exhibition in the best way, as well as all the offered food and drinks, which were exclusively organic.
Every November, the attention of professionals and consumers is focused on ECOFESTIVAL. The exhibition has been established as an institution in the organic sector in our country, but also as an integral part of the activity of DIO – The Organisation for the Inspection and Certification of Organic Products. The exhibition is organised by DIO and Technical Exhibitions S.A.
We would like to thank all exhibitors and visitors, but also everyone who dedicated time, space, a good word for ECOFESTIVAL, the communication sponsor, the majority of the Media and several of their people, thus confirming that
“ORGANIC AGRICULTURE CONCERNS US
ALL”
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