In 2014, GABA launched the Smart Azerbaijani Farms (SAF) project (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ovfw1GqP7Ys&t=2s) firstly in Azerbaijan. Ganja Agribusiness Association (GABA - www.gaba.az) was founded in 1996 by a group of scientists. It is a national non-governmental organization whose mission is to promote the sustainable development of the country's agricultural sector through the development
of human resources and the transfer of knowledge and skills. For 25 years, GABA has been the main organization promoting organic (ecological) agriculture in Azerbaijan. Organic agriculture and farming were an alternative in 1996 for farmers struggling to turn collective farms into individual farms. Organic agriculture provided Azerbaijani farmers with a successful choice to create a sustainable agricultural production system that is environmentally sound and economically viable. Since 2000, more than 2,000 farmers have been trained in organic farming methods, and 332 farmers have applied for organic certification for their products. GABA's organizational strategy is broadly focused on "helping to improve the living conditions of the rural population through the development of ecological agriculture and the support of traditional agriculture, and ensuring the sustainable development of the agricultural sector." GABA was the first elected member of the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM - www.ifoam.bio) in Azerbaijan in 2002. At the same time, GABA has established a political dialogue with the government and initiated legislation to achieve the adoption of the Law on Organic Agriculture, which was authored in 2008, and lays the foundation for the dynamic and sustainable development of this movement in Azerbaijan. The project includes the www.aqromarket.az portal, the 6030 agrarian hotline with Azerbaijan's leading mobile operator Azercell, Fermer TV (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHiJ3ke6yuw&t=49s) and Fermer Info SMS service. Components of agricultural innovations and ICT application have been implemented within the SAF project. One of the organizations included in this network is "Amin Credit Union" LLC (https://www.amincu.com/ ). Amin Credit Union LLC was established on 13.01.1999 by farmers and agricultural enterprises. It passed the state registration on 15.03.1999 (certificate № 8 / 5-23) and received the status of a legal entity and on 25.03.2002 received a license to conduct limited banking operations by the National Bank of the Republic of Azerbaijan under registration number 99-KI. Another organization included in the GABA network is the certification body AZEKOSERT LLC (http://www.azekosert.etkt.az/). AZEKOSERT LLC is the only private organic certification body in Azerbaijan engaged in the inspection and certification of organic food and agricultural products. Another organization included in the GABA network is the Regional Experience and Resource Center for Organic Agriculture in Gakh region (www.etkt.az). In the last 3 years, the Center together with GABA has established organic farming groups, and firstly has started exporting certified organic hazelnuts from our country to the European Union - to the German company Rapunzel (https://www.rapunzel.de/en/) (https://www.rapunzel.de/en/cultivation-project-azerbijan.html). Currently, GABA has developed a National Program to expand the organic agricultural movement as a strategic priority and promotes the export of certified organic agricultural products from Azerbaijan to the European Union. Finally, highly appreciating GABA's 20 years of service in the organic agriculture movement in Azerbaijan, in 2017 the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements nominated Professor Amin Babayev, the founder of organic agriculture movement in Azerbaijan and the founder of GABA, to the United World Award (https://youtu.be/MWT7d27-Alc ). Sincerely,
Vugar Babayev
Chairman of the Board of GABA
(AZSTAND/TK 31) Chairman of the Technical Committee
At the Azerbaijan Institute of Standardization
"On the standardization of organic agricultural products"
