Bylaws of AMIA

Article 1 – The World Association of Agronomists, known as AMIA, was founded by representatives from thirty countries on September 8, 1994 in Santiago, Chile, as a result of  the First World Congress of Professionals in Agronomy. Its purposes are to unify, coordinate, and represent associations of agronomists throughout the world, promote the practice of such profession, its academic excellence and professional ethics, promote the social and economic development of the rural sector and represent agrarian rights in international forums and before governments. The Association’s  head office and venue shall be located in the city and country  where its president’s office is located, i. e., the city of  Florianópolis, State of Santa Catarina, Brazil, for the 2004/2008 term.

Article 2 – The World Association of Agronomists is a non-governmental, non-political. non-religious, non-racial, and non-profit international organization, with perpetual existence and managed only by agronomists.

The General Secretariat is the Association’s executive body and is managed by an agronomist from the host country, appointed by its Management Board as nominated by the president of the Association, which position can be remunerated.

Article 3 – Members include national, continental, associated, cooperating and honorary members. To be accepted, they shall submit their bylaws. They can be removed from office and/or dismissed if they fail to comply with the provisions of these bylaws and the Association’s regulations, all of these procedures to be reviewed and approved by the Management Board.

Article 4 – Members have the right to represent themselves, propose measures, exercise their right to vote and apply for a reconsideration of decisions. They have the duty to collaborate, attend, and comply with the decisions of the general meeting and comply with these bylaws and the Association’s regulations.

Article 5 – The Association has the following bodies: General Meeting and Management Board.

Article 6 – The General Meeting is the highest deciding body of the Association. It is composed of delegates who represent the national, continental, associated, cooperating, and honorary members. It shall be convened and held as described in the AMIA Regulations.

Article 7 – The Management Board is the executive body of the Association and is composed of a President, 1st Vice-president, Continental Presidents, General Secretary and Former Presidents.

The AMIA Regulations descried the directors’ election, term of office, obligations, powers, and privileges.

The President shall represent the Association in proceedings filed by or against it, both in or out of court, and the members shall not be severally liable for the obligations undertaken on behalf of the Association.

Article 8 – The English language is the official language of the Association.

The working language of the General Secretariat is the language of the host country, but communications with members, entities, and authorities shall be made in the English language.

Article 9 – The Association finances include: registrations and annual fees; fees from congresses, seminars and other events; subsidies; sponsorships, and grants; donations and bequests; income from properties and financial investments.

The Association’s net worth is comprised of properties, bonds, and rights that it may acquire or hold from donations and grants.

Article 10 – Any amendment to these bylaws shall be approved by the votes of two thirds of the members entitled to vote and who are present in the general meeting.

The amendment proposed shall be submitted to the General Secretary, at least four months prior to the meeting in which shall be reviewed, and shall be immediately forwarded to all members./.

Article 11 – The decision to dissolve the Association requires the presence of at least 50% of the members entitled to vote, and the consent of two thirds of the members entitled to vote who are present in the meeting.

That decision can be made only in a meeting convened for that purpose, and all members shall be convoked at least four months prior to the meeting.

In the event of dissolution of the Association, its assets shall be appraised in financial amounts by a special committee appointed by the Management Board. After the committee’s work is completed, a general meeting shall be convened for the analysis and possible approval of the income. Such income shall be used for the payment of obligations legally incurred and the balance, if any, shall be equally distributed among national members.

Article 12 – The AMIA Regulations and the Regulations of the World Congress of Agronomists were created in order to regulate the affairs of the Association, which regulations were approved by the Management Board. Only a general meeting can amend the AMIA and the World Congress Regulations, in compliance with article 10.

Article 13 – These Bylaws were provisionally approved by the general meeting held on September 8, 1994, in Santiago, Chile, and amended on April 21, 1995 by the Management Board, as duly authorized thereof, and with reference to the Association’s head office and venue, as determined by article 1 of the Minutes of Foundation of AMIA, by the general meeting held on October 8, 2004, in the City of Fortaleza, Brazil.

Carlos Pieta Filho, Agronomist, PhD, President.