GIZ Green Innovation Centres for the Agriculture & Food Sector (GIAE)

Overview

The Green Innovation Centres for the Agriculture and Food Sector (GIAE) program forms a part of the special initiative "ONE WORLD – No Hunger".

The initiative was launched in 2014 by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Development and Cooperation (BMZ) and addresses food and nutrition security challenges. Organic agriculture has the potential to contribute significantly to the goals of this initiative.

The ultimate goal of the GIAE project is to improve the livelihoods of people living in remote areas, among others by promoting organic agriculture practices. These actions will thereby help sustain the natural resources upon which these citizens depend.

Objectives

IFOAM - Organics International, together with Naturland and FiBL, support the Organic Agriculture Working Group of the GIZ Green Innovation Centres by sharing and testing locally adapted, sustainable land use practices based on the Principles of Organic Agriculture.

GIAE project activities consist of coordinating the organic agriculture working group and facilitating cross-country learning and knowledge exchange. This is achieved through regular meetings, webinars, training manuals, market studies, and study tours. We provide technical advice on topics ranging from organic cultivation practices, post-harvest management, certification procedures, and strategic policy developments in the organic sector.

This project also supports the development of local organic markets and access to international markets through Public-Private Partnership initiatives, advice on processing and marketing, as well as matchmaking at BIOFACH & VIVANESS trade fair. 

Through the GIAE project work, innovations like Participatory Guarantee Systems (PGS) and new processing techniques are tested and introduced. Capacity building, networking, and knowledge exchange are also helping to strengthen stakeholders of the National Organic Agriculture Movements (NOAMs).