chair's report

This edition of the OFA Organic Update features more articles on the harmful effects of pesticide exposure. Scientists have shown the biochemical pathways that atrazine uses to cause the proliferation of estrogen sensitive cancers. These are primarily breast, uterine and ovarian cancers. Nearly every issue of Organic Update has an article about a peer reviewed scientific study linking atrazine to a large range of serious negative health and environmental issues. One has to seriously question the credibility of the various chemical regulatory authorities around the world when they continue to ignore the large body of credible science and allow the widespread use of this dangerous chemical.

Another study shows the link between depression and pesticide use. Given the growing number of studies showing that best practice organic agriculture can obtain some of the highest yields in farming, the use of toxic chemicals in our food supply should be phased out.

Yet another study is showing the toxicity of Nanotechnology. This emerging industry is virtually unregulated with untested synthetic nano-particles being used in many applications, especially cosmetics and body care. Because of their small size they can easily pass through cell walls and into various parts of the human body and through important barriers such as the brain and placental barriers. At this stage due to lack of research the long term health implications are unknown, however a growing body of science is discovering a range of toxic and damaging outcomes.

Wishing every one a wonderful 2009
Best Regards
Andre Leu
Chairman

Australian organic news

Biodynamic Agriculture Australia turns 20
On 28th June, 1988, 24 people enthusiastic biodynamic practitioners and supporters met at Terry and Sophie Forman’s ‘Rosencross Farm’ at Black Mountain on the NSW Northern Tablelands, to explore the need for a new biodynamic association in Australia. The response was a strong affirmative and the Biodynamic Farming and Gardening Association in Australia Inc. was registered as an incorporated association on 6th January, 1989.

Since then the association has grown to a membership of over 1,250, changed its name to Biodynamic Agriculture Australia and its structure to a public company limited by guarantee, reflecting its growth from a local NSW association to a national coverage. The several hundred additional members of regional groups make it one of the largest networks working with regenerative agriculture in Australia.

Droughts and unfavourable economic cycles are not new to Australian agriculture but biodynamic practitioners have the skills and capacities to provide a leadership in regenerating our depleted agricultural environment and putting farmers back into the centre of our economic and cultural life.

Biodynamic Agriculture Australia supports the adoption of biodynamics throughout Australia by holding introductory workshops and providing all the necessary inputs required to start applying biodynamics. They also teach farmers and gardeners to become self-sufficient in all their input needs, creating a true independence and high quality food and fibre.

Enquires: Hamish Mackay, CEO
bdceo@biodynamics.net.au
02 6655 0566

Vale
Two of Australia’s pioneers of the organic sector passed away last year.

Barbara Murray, the pioneer organic retailer of Annabel’s Natural Food Store in Crows Nest, was actively involved in promoting organic products to consumers and the media. She was awarded an OFA Lifetime achievement award for the decades of service she gave to the organic sector.

Barbara Bruer was actively involved in Temple Bruer Wines and the Organic Vignerons Association. Temple Bruer wines has achieved an enormous level of recognition for the high quality organic wines by being awarded numerous medals at wine shows.

Both of these women will be sadly missed and the OFA extends our sincere condolences to their families.

Pesticide News

Atrazine Stimulates the Proliferation of Ovarian and other Cancers
Atrazine is one of the most commonly found pesticide contaminants in the world. Despite the numerous scientific studies linking it to a range of cancers, birth defects and reproductive problems this ubiquitous toxic chemical is widely used in many countries.

Scientists from University of Calabria Rende, Italy and the University of New Mexico, USA have found that atrazine stimulates proliferation estrogen sensitive cancer cells, including ovarian cancer.

Scientists have known since the 1990s that atrazine acts as synthetic estrogen. This study, published in Environmental Health Perspectives, shows the specific pathways in which atrazine causes a proliferation of cancer cells.

The researchers stated “…we demonstrated that atrazine stimulated the proliferation of ovarian cancer cells through the GPR30–epidermal growth factor receptor transduction pathway …”

The researchers concluded that Atrazine may be involved in a wide range of cancers. “Our results indicate a novel mechanism through which atrazine may exert relevant biological effects in cancer cells. On the basis of the present data, atrazine should be included among the environmental contaminants potentially able to signal via GPR30 in eliciting estrogenic action.”

Source: Environmental Health Perspectives Volume 116, Number 12, December 2008

Pesticide Exposure Contributes to Depression
An extensive study in the USA has found a strong link to pesticide exposure and depression. Scientists from Colorado State University, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, National Institutes of Environmental Health Sciences, National Cancer Institute in the USA studied 17,051 people who regularly used pesticides.

The researchers adjusted the data for state, age, education, marital status, doctor visits, alcohol use, smoking, solvent exposure, not currently having crops or animals, and ever working a job off the farm. They found that pesticide poisoning was more strongly associated with depression.

The researchers analysed a subgroup without a history of acute poisoning and found that high cumulative exposure was significantly associated with depression.

The scientists concluded: “These findings suggest that both acute high-intensity and cumulative pesticide exposure may contribute to depression in pesticide applicators. Our study is unique in reporting that depression is also associated with chronic pesticide exposure in the absence of a physician-diagnosed poisoning.”

Source: Environmental Health Perspectives Volume 116, Number 12, December 2008

New Zealand Bans Endosulphan
After years of finding unacceptable residues of Endosulphan in food, the New Zealand has joined the majority of developed countries and banned this toxic residual pesticide. Endosulphan is in the same family of chemicals as DDT and Dieldrin. It is implicated in a large range of health problems especially cancers and problems of the reproductive system due to its ability to disrupt hormones like estrogen.

This chemical is still widely used in Australia, especially in horticulture.

nanotechnology

Quantum Dots cause Thrombosis
A large range of Nanotechnology products are entering market. Many of these will be used in or on humans as carriers for drugs, skins lotions, cosmetics and numerous other proposed uses.

Very little research has been done to determine the short and long term health effects when humans are exposed to nano particles despite their ability to pass through cell walls and into various parts of the human body and through important barriers such as the brain and placental barriers.

Researchers from Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Universitaire Ziekenhuizen Leuven in Belgium and the United Arab Emirates University, have found that one form of nano compounds; Quantum Dots (QDs), cause serious health problems.

Quantum Dots are being researched for multiple uses, especially for creating clear images of microscopic objects and for the next generation of high speed quantum computers.

There are proposals to use QDs to deliver drugs to cancer tumours and for improved images of organs, tissues and cells in the human body to aid disease diagnosis.

As these proposed uses will mean injecting QDs into the body, the researchers wanted to determine their toxicity. The scientists concluded “ At high doses, QDs caused pulmonary vascular thrombosis, most likely by activating the coagulation cascade via contact activation. Our study highlights the need for careful safety evaluation of QDs before their use in human applications. Furthermore, it is clear that surface charge is an important parameter in nanotoxicity.”

Last year researchers found that nanosized Titanium Dioxide, a commonly used nano compound causes damage to brain tissue. The findings published in Environmental Health Perspectives found multiple levels of damage to the brain. Nanosized Titanium Dioxide is currently used in some in sun screens to make them clear.

Normal sized Titanium Dioxide does not exhibit these problems.

Products of nano technology will be prohibited in the new Australia Standard for Organic and Biodynamic Products due to the use of the Precautionary Principle.

Source: Environmental Health Perspectives Volume 116, Number 12, December 2008

organic trade shows

The Organic Federation of Australia (OFA) runs Australian stands at 3 international trade shows, at no profit, to assist producers who want to sell their products to buyers around the world.

These are Biofach in Europe, Natural Products Expo Asia in Hong Kong and All things Organic in Chicago, USA. The OFA chose these shows, as they are the ones that will give producers the most exposure in the major organic markets around the world.

BIOFACH, Nuremberg, Germany, February 19 –22, 2009
BioFach is the world’s largest organic trade fair. More than 2,600 exhibitors presented their products to 46,484 trade visitors from 116 countries at BioFach 2008. Biofach represents a wonderful opportunity for organic producers to showcase their products to the world. Buyers from around the world converge on Biofach. A significant number of buyers come from Europe. At $25 billion; this is the world’s largest organic market. Europe imports a significant proportion of its organic food.

COSTS
If you are interested please contact:
Cathrine De Danann, Secretariat OFA
Email: dedanann@aapt.net.au
Telephone 02 6655 1037
The OFA makes no profit and organises these events as a service to industry.