Central Asia advances a shared organic standard
By Gabriela Soto, TOS Interim President/Director
The Organic Alliance Central Asia (OACA), bringing together six countries—Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Mongolia—was formed around a shared conviction: the future of organic agriculture in the region cannot be built by countries working alone. “Organic agriculture is far more than a method of farming. It is a pathway toward healthier people, healthier ecosystems, stronger rural communities and more resilient local economies,” says OACA leader Ms. Tungalag Lkhundevjamts, a new member of IFOAM Asia.
OACA and the NGO Silk Road Peace Ambassador organized the Third Central Asian Organic Forum and Expo 2026 in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, on 29–30 August. The forum presented the Unified Regional Organic Standard, identified as OSCA-01:2026, under the theme “Six Countries – One Standard.” The initiative aims to advance mutual recognition of certification and accreditation across the region.
The work builds on discussions at the July 2026 forum, *Organic Central Asia 2026: Common Standard – Together on the Journey*, held in Astana, Kazakhstan.
The proposed framework also includes Participatory Guarantee Systems (PGS), which can offer small-scale mountain farmers and cooperatives a more affordable, community-based approach to demonstrating compliance, helping reduce reliance on costly foreign certification.
Source: Category: News. IFOAM ASIA. In Conversation with Organic Alliance Central Asia: Growing One Organic Future Across Six Countries. https://www.ifoamasia.org/category/news/