The goal of the ISHS IV International Organic Fruit Symposium and II Organic Vegetable Symposium (OrgHort 2024), organized by the National Institute of Horticultural Research, Skierniewice (Poland), is to gather, share and disseminate knowledge on organic horticulture with a multidisciplinary and holistic attitude.
OrgHort 2024 is expected to address the major issues that are confronted by organic horticulture with respect to production systems, as well as new challenges derived from regulatory and market requirements for organic food and value chains. The exchange of codified and implicit knowledge among the different international stakeholders attending OrgHort 2024 will foster the establishment of knowledge networks increasing the opportunities of future ventures and developments in the sector.
The global policies toward reduced impacts of agriculture on the environment and the positive market trends of organic food are posing new challenges and opportunities also to organic horticultural productions. Climate change, soil degradation, water scarcity and reduction of biodiversity are all globally affecting agricultural production systems, and particularly organic farming due to different constraints.
OrgHort 2024 shall thus provide a forum for discussing possible holistic solutions that combine best environmental and climate action practices, a high level of biodiversity and the preservation of natural resources and high food quality and safety, able to reinforce resilience and sustainability of organic horticultural cropping systems and food production chains.
In this respect, the contribution of OrgHort 2024 will cover aspects dealt with by the Four Principles of organic farming set by IFOAM and the targets of the 2030 SDG, particularly to sustain and enhance the health of soil, plants, humans and the overall planet with the One Health vision, supporting an agroecological approach and improving implementation of fair practices along the food chain.