This year's International Oilseed Producers Dialogue (IOPD) took place in Berlin from 17 - 18 June 2008 at the invitation of the Union zur Förderung von Oel- und Proteinpflanzen e.V. (UFOP) [Union for the Promotion of Oil and Protein Crops]. The IOPD represents the oilseed producers associations in North and South America and in the European Union and the growers associations for the production of palm oil in Malaysia.
Representatives of the producers associations concerned themselves with the requirements on sustainability, which are also the subject of intense public discussion, in relation to the future direction of biomass cultivation, particularly in connection with the extraction of raw materials for the production of biofuel. The attendees agreed that at this point it is essential to consider the importance of oilseed production for the supply of food and animal feeds. In this case, however, access to the market should be as free as possible on the basis of internationally harmonised approval criteria, such as for crop protection for example. The IOPD reasserted that it was now finally time for the WTO round to come to a conclusion on this matter too.
In their closing statement, the associations spoke out in favour of an oilseed and vegetable oil production for use in the food and animal feeds sectors in addition to use for material and energy-based utilisation that is oriented towards sustainability but also towards increasing productivity.
The IOPD's statement reads as follows:
FINAL RESOLUTION (IOPD XI, June 17, 2008 Berlin, Germany)
The undersigned participants of the International Oilseed Producers Dialogue (IOPD) from June 16-17, 2008 in Berlin, Germany adopt the following declaration:
IOPD members wish to develop and promote a sound industry business environment that will allow oilseed producers the opportunity for viable and profitable ongoing returns.
IOPD members support concluding a WTO agreement as soon as possible that results in both developed and developing countries substantially increasing market access, substantially reducing trade-distorting domestic support, and eliminating export subsidies and other trade-distorting export practices. IOPD members assume that the oilseed sector will be covered during the course of the negotiations, so that producers can benefit from a growing food and non-food market, resulting from progressing liberalization. IOPD members assume that successful negotiations will maintain profitable income for producers of oilseeds and protein plants.
IOPD members recognize the need to supply the world with increasing quantities of protein and vegetable oil. Toward that end, we support increased research and investment in the agriculture sectors of developing and developed countries.
IOPD members appreciate the progress achieved in the development of new areas of use for oilseed, vegetable oils and protein products, and support a sustainable development of environmental friendly products. IOPD welcomes the contribution of these areas of use and market stabilization.
IOPD members support timely, transparent, and science-based review and approval systems for all sustainable technologies, including biotechnology, of all oilseeds, vegetable oils and products.
IOPD members endorse the harmonization of crop protection product registration and Maximum Residue Limits between countries to reduce trade barriers.
IOPD members endorse agricultural production systems that conserve and protect the environment while achieving the high levels of productivity necessary to meet increasing world wide demand, while maintaining producer profitability.
IOPD members are committed to sustainable agriculture production systems on suitable land for producing food, feed and non-food uses. Sustainable agriculture production systems will meet the needs of the present while improving the ability of future generations to meet their own needs by:
Increasingproductivity to meet all future needs while decreasing impacts on theenvironment.
Improvingaccess to safe food and feed and the production of fuel that improves airquality and reduces greenhouse gases.
Improvingthe social and economic well being of agricultural producers and the globalcommunity.
Federation Francaise des Producteurs dOleagineux et de Proteagineux (FOP) France
Union zur Förderung von Oel- und Proteinpflanzen (UFOP) Germany
National Farmers Union (NFU) United Kingdom
Canola Council of Canada (CCC) Canada
Canadian Canola Growers Association Canada
Malaysian Palm Oil Council Malaysia
American Soybean Association (ASA) United States
United Soybean Board (USB) United States
United States Soybean Export Council United States
Camara Paraguaya de Exportadores de Cereales y Oleaginosas (CAPECO) Paraguay
Krajowe Zrzeszenie Producentow Rzepaku (KSPR) Poland
Union of Oilseed Growers and Processors Czech Republic