2 June Charles-de-Gaulle-Str. 5 09:00 h - 12:00 h

World Wind Energy Association (WWEA) and International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM): Changing Paradigms for a Sustainable Future: New Development Perspectives for Rural Areas Through Renewable Energies and Organic Agriculture Agriculture produces food and other raw materials as the basis for human life. But rural areas in industrialised and in developing countries suffer from drifts to the cities although they offer a wider range of renewable resources not being used yet. Urban lifestyle seems to promise more attractive opportunities, mostly based on extensive use of energy. But cities cannot survive without the countryside�s natural resources. Conventional agriculture has increased its fossil resources consumption enormously to achieve higher yields, combined with a decrease of rural job opportunities. The utilisation of fossil resources in agriculture threatens the fertility of soil and weakens the economic independence of farmers. Besides, fossil resources consumption in both urban and rural areas has lead to enormous ecological threats like climate change. The agricultural sector is a key sector, which has to be re-vitalised by new, integrated approaches, fully based on renewable resources, which can free the farmers from depending on fossil resources. Combining renewable energies and organic agriculture offers tremendous synergies for sustainable development. Thus, the agricultural sector can re-gain its role as an economic core sector offering attractive living conditions in rural areas. The workshop will present the current situation and the future perspectives of rural areas in industrialised and in non-industrialised countries. Presentations will cover: � Best practise examples for renewable energies and organic agriculture fostering rural development in developing as well as in industrialised countries. � The IFOAM report �The role of organic agriculture in mitigating climate change�. � The book �Integrated renewable energy for rural communities � planning guidelines, technologies and applications�.

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