Negros Occidental, dubbed the ‘Organic Food Bowl of the Philippines,’ has been chosen to host the 2027 Organic World Congress (OWC). The announcement was made during the closing of this year’s OWC at Nanhua University in Taiwan. Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, along with the province’s 14 city and municipal mayors, successfully led the bid, outvoting Brisbane, Australia, with a final tally of 128 to 92. Governor Lacson expressed that hosting the Congress is not just a privilege but a calling aligned with global aspirations for improved health, ecology, fairness, and care. The OWC, organized by the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM), is a triennial event celebrating its 21st year, attracting thousands of organic farmers, producers, researchers, advocates, and policy experts worldwide. Governor Lacson emphasized that hosting the event in Negros Occidental is an opportunity to boost the organic movement, inspire policy changes, and empower farmers globally. The successful bid followed the 17th annual Negros Island Organic Farmers’ Festival, the longest-running event of its kind in the country. In 2007, the province passed a significant law, ‘The Safeguard Against Living Genetically-Modified Organisms,’ banning genetically modified organisms. Victorias City Mayor Javier Miguel Benitez, part of the delegation and president of the Negros Association of Chief Executives, described the hosting as a defining moment for the province, highlighting the sustainable agriculture practices of Negrense farmers. He stressed the need for enhanced infrastructure and logistics to meet global expectations.
