@obijbcyahoo-com I support this feedback.

The remaining seats (currently two) shall be filled by open election from a unrestricted pool of eligible candidates who are IFOAM members. Any individual candidate from an IFOAM member must be endorsed formally in writing by the candidate’s organization and meeting general candidacy requirements may stand, for election.

Candidacies for all seats must be received at least three months before the regular General Assembly and must be endorsed by five members, of which one must be from the candidate’s organization.

Rationale: IFOAM is a membership organization and only candidates from member organizations should be eligible to run for the World Board election. Exceptions can be made for co-opted members.

Facilitation: The IFOAM – Organics International office shall facilitate the continental pre-selection process and publish the results, together with candidate profiles, at least sixty (60) days before the General Assembly. Where recognized existing Regional Bodies exist, there is an option for the regional body shall to facilitate elections of representatives candidates from that continent where they can demonstrate capacity and procedures ensuring transparent elections accessible for all IFOAM – Organics International members on the continent.

Rationale: Regional bodies have a better understanding of regional issues and key major players. Hence, facilitation of the elections by these will ensure maximum participation and engagement. It will also be cost and time effective.

Hello again, Asta from IFOAM Organics Europe (Regional body). I left my first question rather late, so I don't hope for an answer in time for the deadline. As the Nomination Committee (NC) role in this motion is not clear, we would suggest to add clarification and address Regional Bodies and other SOS'es role in it (for example nominating one rep per each SOS to Nominations Committee - including other NC members besides SOS'es representatives as well). SOS'es can advice on strong candidates holding required expertise, while reflecting on geographical diversity. 

A Call for Thoughtful Deliberation - Not Taking Sides

Hello folks,

I'm asking all of us to stop and look clearly at where IFOAM stands today. It’s a fabulous organization that has completed 50 years. In such situations, most organizations re-orient themselves and evolve to face the realities of the present – this is true even for IFOAM. We must realize that status quo isn't working. We need change - but change that is grounded in reality, not only ideology, and that delivers solutions we can actually implement.

Motion 1A has a flaw: it pushes regional bodies to the margins. For over twenty years, these organizations have been the engine of organic agriculture in their regions. They are not abstract entities - they are on the ground, working with farmers, building networks, lobbying governments. Many started small and have grown into formidable institutions with expanding memberships, all under the IFOAM banner.

Here's the math: over 60% of IFOAM's membership comes through regional bodies. Yet this motion does’nt give them adequate space. When IFOAM's reputation is at risk, so is theirs. When trust erodes at the global level, it can collapse at the regional level - threatening the survival of organizations that have spent decades building credibility.

And here's what I don't understand: Why are we being forced into a choice? Why present members with "Motion 1A or Motion 1B" when a single, unified motion could have been crafted? Both contain important elements. Both are incomplete in some sense and need to be relooked. There is obvious common ground – not irreconcilable differences.

Governance reform of this magnitude cannot be rushed through in one vote. What cannot be resolved now should be carried forward to the General Assembly in the Philippines. This is not delay - it is diligence. Members deserve time to deliberate, not pressure to pick sides.

Let's govern like the movement we claim to be: collaborative, inclusive, and accountable to our members.

Posted by: @a-gonzalez

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MOTION 1a | World Board Composition
The World Board Composition is addressed by two mutually exclusive motions: Motion 1a and Motion 1b. Motion 1a is part of the consolidated governance options developed by the World Board. Motion 1b is drawn from the federated subsidiarity model proposed by the Governance Advisory Board.

Since both motions cannot be adopted simultaneously, the General Assembly will proceed in two steps.

- First, members vote to determine which motion is brought to a substantive vote. The motion receiving the greater number of votes in this preliminary round proceeds to a final vote.

- Second, the selected motion is put to a vote and requires a two-thirds majority of votes cast, as both motions involve amendments to the Statutes.

If the selected motion does not achieve the required two-thirds majority, the current statutory provisions governing World Board composition continue to apply.

Each motion is a different forum. Please click on the respective forum to comment, propose amendments, and/or second amendments.

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Remember

Read the How to section to understand how to write your feedback.

Within the proposed text; the red color indicates modifications to the Statutes.

Note: Please keep in mind that while comments are welcome from all affiliates. Amendments to motions and seconding a motion amendment are only possible for voting members who have paid their membership fee in 2026.

MOTION 1a | World Board Composition
⚑ 2/3 MAJORITY — STATUTES CHANGE – Mutually exclusive with Motion 1b

Motion text

The General Assembly of IFOAM – Organics International resolves to take forward the following changes to the current World Board Composition

1 - Amend § 7 of the Statutes to read as follows:

7. Elections
Every regular General Assembly elects ten World Board members as follows:

(a) Continental seats (6): One seat is reserved for each of the six major geographical regions of continents: Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America (Including Mexico and Central America,) North America (all English-speaking countries), and Oceania. Candidates for continental seats shall be pre-selected by the IFOAM members affiliated with that continent through a process established in the Rules of Procedure. The continental pre-selection shall elect two to three candidates per seat, from whom the General Assembly of IFOAM – Organics International elects one.

(b) Constituency seats (currently 1): One seat is reserved for the constituency of organic farmers' organisations (currently represented by INOFO). The constituency group shall nominate two to three candidates through its own democratic procedures, from whom the General Assembly of IFOAM – Organics International elects one. The General Assembly may, by ordinary resolution, recognise additional constituencies and assign them a reserved seat, provided the total number of seats does not exceed ten (10) without a further statute amendment.

(c) Council Chair seat (1): The elected Chair of the Council of Regional Bodies and Self-Organized Structures (§ [new Council article]) shall serve as a member of the World Board for the duration of their term as Council Chair. This seat is ex officio. If no Council exists, this seat shall be filled as a free seat under (d).

(d) Free/open seats (currently 2): The remaining seats (currently two) shall be filled by open election from an unrestricted pool of eligible candidates. Any individual meeting general candidacy requirements may stand.

Candidacies for all seats must be received at least three months before the regular General Assembly and must be endorsed by five members. A presentation of the candidates must be sent to the members at least 60 days before the General Assembly.

The World Board chooses an Executive Board (see § 8) from amongst the elected members before the end of the General Assembly. The World Board may co-opt up to three further World Board members to address gaps in competencies, diversity or social inclusion. Co-opted members have full World Board voting rights.

The World Board may elect additional Executive Board members and replace them as appropriate during the term.

Rationale 1

The current statutes (§ 7) provide only for election of ten members by the General Assembly with no structural requirements on representational balance. This amendment introduces a federated composition that guarantees representation of all continents, INOFO (farmer constituency) and the IFOAM Council while preserving direct democratic accountability to the full membership through the GA election. By requiring continental pre-selection to elect 2–3 candidates, the mechanism combines regional participation, vetting and legitimacy with genuine GA choice. Existing co-option powers are retained.

Statute sections affected: § 7 (Elections). Cross-reference: new Council article for sub-section (c).

2. Establish the Continental Pre-Selection Process

The General Assembly instructs the World Board to establish a Continental Pre-Selection Procedure covering:

• Definition of continental affiliation

• Pre-selection mechanics (short-list of 2–3 candidates)

• Facilitation and publication of results

• Fall-back provision

Rationale 2

The pre-selection mechanism ensures that candidates elected by the GA have genuine regional backing without creating a parallel election structure.

3. Constituency Pre-Selection Process

The World Board will establish procedures ensuring:

• Submission of candidate short-lists

• Review of democratic process

• Transparency of candidates

Rationale 3

This ensures constituency processes remain democratic and transparent while preserving genuine GA choice.

Caravane Earth Foundation supports the move to a leaner, regionally balanced World Board.

We request that the continental pre-selection procedure explicitly safeguard sub-regional balance within each continental seat, in particular, ensuring that the Arab and MENA regions are not structurally absent from the World Board across consecutive terms.

We recommend that the working procedure include a transparent mechanism to monitor and report sub-regional representation over time, so that continental seats deliver genuine regional inclusion rather than aggregating diverse sub-regions under a single voice.

@bffts-bio  De acuerdo con su propuesta, Quedamos atentos y darle seguimiento! Saludos

Desde IFOAM América Latina coincidimos con varias de las observaciones ya planteadas en este espacio.

En particular, compartimos la preocupación expresada por MASIPAG respecto a la necesidad de fortalecer la representación efectiva de los agricultores. Si bien el reconocimiento de INOFO constituye un avance, consideramos que aún es limitado frente a la diversidad y peso de los pequeños productores dentro del movimiento orgánico.

Asimismo, vemos con pertinencia la propuesta de la Asociación de Agricultura Ecológica de orientar los escaños actualmente “abiertos” hacia criterios de desarrollo y equidad. En un contexto global marcado por desigualdades estructurales, los mecanismos completamente abiertos tienden a favorecer a quienes ya cuentan con mayores capacidades organizativas y recursos.

En la misma línea, coincidimos con lo señalado por Organic Trade Association sobre la importancia de garantizar que los procesos de preselección continental sean transparentes, accesibles y realmente representativos de la membresía, evitando que se concentren en estructuras limitadas o poco vinculadas con los miembros.

Consideramos que la Moción 1a representa un avance respecto al modelo actual, particularmente en la incorporación de criterios de representación geográfica y en el mantenimiento del rol decisorio de la Asamblea General. Sin embargo, su efectividad dependerá de la solidez de los mecanismos que aseguren inclusión, equidad y participación real.

Desde la perspectiva de América Latina, donde predominan sistemas productivos de pequeña escala y procesos organizativos territoriales diversos, es fundamental que esta reforma no solo garantice representación formal, sino también condiciones efectivas para la participación de regiones y actores históricamente subrepresentados.

En este sentido, apoyamos avanzar con la Moción 1a, incorporando ajustes que fortalezcan:

• criterios explícitos de equidad en los escaños abiertos,
• mecanismos claros de transparencia en la preselección continental,
• y una inclusión efectiva de productores y sectores subrepresentados.