Eco Ruralis is a grassroots association made up of small farmers who practice organic and traditional farming based on environmentally conscious principles.

Eco Ruralis was founded in April of 2009 in Cluj-Napoca by farmers from all parts of the country.

Eco Ruralis stands for farmers' right to practice environmentally friendly agriculture. This includes the right to use, multiply and distribute traditional seeds, the pursuit of strict biosafety regulations (without genetically modified organisims); the preservation of food sovereignty in Romania; and respect for consumer health.

The Eco Ruralis Association was founded to deal with the problems which confront small scale organic and traditional farmers in social, economic, and political contexts, such as:

• A lack of transparency and support from Romanian authorities regarding the new legislative framework imposed by European integration
• A lack of information and access to funds for organic and traditional agriculture projects.
• Measures and policies which favorize biotechnology companies (producers of chemicals and seeds which are used tp practice intensive agriculture), industrial agriculture and biofuels.  
• Weak policies regarding the protection of traditional seeds. 
• Policies which are favorable towards genetically modified organisms, weak standards regarding biosecurity in the organic agriculture sector.

Presently, there is no other association in Romania which explicitly represents the interests of small scale organic and traditional farmers.

For 2011, we have the following priorities: 
- Lobbying to promote the interests of peasants in Romania and Eastern Europe regarding the debate over the Common Agricultural Policy;
- Distribution and monitoring of traditional seeds;
- Continuation of the volunteer program at organic and traditional farms - WWOOF Romania 
- Organizing meeings and forums for Romanian peasants
- Exchange of experience between Romanian peasants and peasants from other places.

Priorities of Eco Ruralis for 2010:
- promoting organic and traditional agriculture as an alternative to industrial and environmentally harmful farming,
- organizing exchanges between Romanian farmers and with other groups and networks which act in the agricultural field in Europe,
- strengthening the capacity of small farmers to protect their rights,
- informing the public and the authorities about issues affecting small-scale farmers,
- establishing an information center for farmers regarding practical issues (regulation issues, administrative problems etc.).

Official documents of the Eco Ruralis Association:

STATUTE

INTERNAL REGULATIONS