Sunday November 30, 2008
Merida, Yucatan, Mexico
Fiesta Americana Hotel - Yucatan III & IV Rooms
8:00 - 18:00

Languages: English/Spanish (with simultaneous translation)

On the occasion of the International Ecohealth Forum 2008 Merida, Mexico

This meeting, held in collaboration with the two Ecuadorian institutions: Simón Bolivar Andean University and the Health Studies and Advisory Centre (CEAS), will take place on Sunday November 30^th .

CONTEXT AND JUSTIFICATION

The current socio economic model which has been in place now for several decades has placed large scale economic growth in tension with environmental sustainability and the protection of life and health, especially in vulnerable regions and fragile ecosystems. The impacts of the global changes on the environment and health are socially and naturally co-determined and must be addressed from an ecosystem perspective.

Societies in the North and the South are equally affected by this problematic and must address its complexity using up to date and critical paradigms of transdisciplinary research and community based processes.

Based on the ground breaking experience in Ecuador which illustrates the advances and difficulties faced by agro industries subject to social protection, health and environmental standards, it is necessary to create of a special community of practice to address this problematic.

PURPOSE

To bring together an interdisciplinary group of university representatives, scientific agencies, experts from public institutions, communication media and workers from organizations linked to the production of cut flowers for export, with the aim of carrying out a discussion on the ecosystem approach to the floriculture agro industry, the state of the art in research, health and environmental monitoring systems, prevention and certification systems, as well as the challenges of social communication and scientific-technical journalism.

OBJECTIVES

1. Share the advances in research and monitoring tool development and certification mechanisms for flower production using standards to protect human and environmental health from Ecuador and other countries.

2. Analyze the environmental and health conditions of the floriculture business, as well as other agro industries, in distinct regional contexts and promote sustainable models of production based on an ecosystem approach.

3. Analyze the impacts on ecosystems and health caused by the intensive use of agro-chemicals in different agro industries and cultivations, and discuss the challenges related to their regulation and international legislation.

4. Discuss and establish basic agreements to encourage collaboration and exchange strategies between academic/scientific and institutional entities as well as the communications media, and promote national safety
   

EXPECTED PRODUCTS

1. A brief report which contains a) the conclusions on the comparative floriculture production situation with regards to health and the environment; b) comments from the participants on the state of the instrumental resources for monitoring and certification
   
2. A collective decision on the mechanisms for future collaboration between participants, with space for monitoring active agro industries.

This meeting will count on English-Spanish simultaneous translation in order to allow for the greatest dialogue among the international participants.