By JEN BAYLON

Negros Occidental is bidding to host the prestigious International Organic World Congress (IOWC) in 2027.

“We would just like to introduce ourselves to the world. One way to do that is to host an Organic World Congress,” Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said.

The province’s bid to host the event is in its initial stages, as a technical working group meeting will be scheduled in December of this year.

The province has been actively promoting organic farming and has collaborated with Negros Oriental in this endeavor.

Negros Occidental’s strength in the bidding process lies in its strong organic farming movement, with around 18,000 farmers actively involved in organic practices.

The province’s commitment to promoting organic agriculture could be a significant factor in securing the bid.

The IOWC is a global platform for professionals, researchers, policymakers, and farmers to discuss organic agriculture and share knowledge.

The International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM), an umbrella organization for the global organic movement, is responsible for organizing the IOWC.

Although the exact number of member-countries is unknown, IFOAM covers Europe and Asia.

The meeting location for the upcoming IFOAM event is yet to be finalized, with possible venues being Korea or another city.

Other Asian cities, including Macau, are also expected to bid to host the event./JB, WDJ