International Websites

International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM). (2007). Organic Agriculture Training Platform. Retrieved March 18, 2008, from http://www.ifoam.org/.

This international organization’s mission is “leading, uniting and assisting the organic movement in its full diversity. Our goal is the worldwide adoption of ecologically, socially and economically sound systems that are based on the principles of Organic Agriculture,” according to their website. The IFOAM has 170 free manuals and 75 training opportunities to inform consumers about the safety of organic products and agriculture. The association, which began in Versailles, France, in November, 1972, aims to be a knowledge-intensive organization. The IFOAM, which has 600 delegates from over 60 countries, called on governments and regulatory agencies throughout the world to immediately ban the use of genetic engineering in agriculture and food production since it involves:

• Unacceptable threats to human health
• Negative and irreversible environmental impacts
• Release of organisms of an unrecallable nature
• Removal of the right of choice, both for farmers and consumers
• Violation of farmers' fundamental property rights and endangerment of their economic independence

• Practices, which are incompatible with the principles of sustainable agriculture as defined by IFOAM

This source is has a wide-variety of information regarding the conventions held by the organization and the current legislation being processed by the international community.

Quality Assurance International (2003). Delivering Cutting Edge Certification Programs. Retrieved March 18, 2008, from http://www.qai- inc.com/0_0_0_0.php.

This international organic company is U.S. based in San Diego, California was founded in 1989. The company is authorized by the USDA to be an independent, third party certifying agent that operates globally to certify organic products and operations to National Organic Program (NOP) standards. Being one of the world’s largest organic certifiers, they work in the U.S., Canada, Latin America and Japan. They certify organic producers, processors, private labelers, distributors, retailers, restaurants, wild crop harvesters, greenhouses and facilities. In March 2006, the QAI has officially certified over 259,000 organic products. QAI is a unique source because the company is committed to the ongoing education of the organic community and consumers especially in promoting consumer health and safety.