www.ofa.org.au

The Industry Working Group is in the process of producing a new constitution based on the new model. Nomination forms for the various board positions will be sent out in June. We would encourage all members to nominate. The new model is designed to encourage greater participation in the OFA by members and member organisations.

Environmental Management System (EMS)
The Organic Federation of Australia, as the peak organic industry body in Australia, has put in an application under the Australian Governments ‘Pathways to Industry Environmental Management Systems Program’ to undertake an EMS on behalf of the Australian organic sector.

Environmental management is one of the major issues facing the whole of agriculture with the community putting massive pressure on government to strongly regulate farming. The recent tree clearing laws in Queensland are an example.

It is important that the organic industry is proactive, rather than reactive to community pressure. We need to set the agenda rather than being forced to react to agendas set by others who are not familiar with farming. We have an opportunity to ensure good production, environmental and social outcomes, rather than facing environmental legislation that leads to poor production and social outcomes.

The organic sector is regularly criticised by government, scientific and industry organisations as not being environmentally sustainable. Our information, based on a large body of peer reviewed science, shows that organic agriculture is the most sustainable of all agricultural systems.

Aligning the current environmental practices of organic agriculture with the national community’s Natural Resource Management agenda will show that we are an environmentally sustainable industry. This will bring a range of major benefits especially from consumers who purchase organic for environmental reasons and demonstrate that we are leaders in environmental management.

Industry Roundtable
The OFA is involved in organising an industry roundtable in Sydney with DAFF through the Industry Partnerships Program on May 11. The purpose of the meeting will be to determine the projects that the organic sector considers the highest priority for funding.

One priority that has already emerged is the protection of the domestic industry. Australia was the first country in the world to establish a national standard, however unlike many countries around the world such as most of Europe, Japan, the USA and Vietnam, Australian consumers and farmers have little legislative protection.

Best Regards
Andre Leu
Chair

Healthy and Organic Foods for Students, Hospitals and Communities
The Organic Consumers Association's "Breaking the Chains" campaign is bringing positive change to the U.S. Schools around the U.S. are finding that offering healthy and organic foods reduces obesity and increases academic abilities. The salad bars and healthier lunch items are proving more affordable than junk food.

An example of this change is LaDonna Redmond of Chicago who was feeling frustrated about the total absence of healthy and organic foods in her area. Redmond volunteered her time to start a weekly organic farmer's market at a local school playground, organized local residents to transform vacant lots into neighborhood organic gardens, and brought nutrition classes and salad bars into area schools. LaDonna is not only teaching Chicago residents how to buy and grow local and organic foods, she is also teaching all of us a valuable lesson: Never underestimate the amount of positive change that one person can inspire. http://www.organicconsumers.org/btc.htm

Junk Food Diets Promote Youth Violence and Aggression
The American Journal of Psychiatry has published a new study connecting nutrient deficiencies to aggressive behavior in children. Children who suffered deficiencies of zinc, iron, B vitamins and protein demonstrated a surprising 41% increase in aggression at age eight, and by age 17, they demonstrated a 51% increase in violent and antisocial behaviors. The study noted that 80% of the U.S. population now has deficiencies in one or more of these nutrients, due in major part to increasing consumption of junk foods and beverages. http://www.organicconsumers.org/school/aggression040405.cfm

Codex and the EU Plan to Restrict Dietary Supplements
According to Bill Sanda, the Executive Director of the Weston A. Price Foundation two important events are about to negatively impact on access to dietary supplements.

1: Codex is meeting with the goal of establishing international agreement for how to regulate vitamins and minerals. In July 2005, the Codex Alimentarius Commission will meet to approve vitamin and mineral guidelines that were finalized by the Codex nutrition committee in Bonn, Germany, in November 2004. If the committee moves forward and approves these guidelines, Codex will restrict access to vitamins and minerals around the world.
2: European citizens will lose access to thousands of dietary supplements August 1, 2005 under the new European Food Supplement Directive if it is upheld in court. For more information: http://www.westonaprice.org/index.html

Roundup Highly Lethal to Frogs
Roundup, one of the worlds most common herbicides, is "extremely lethal" to frogs according to a study published in the journal Ecological Applications. The scientific paper titled "The Impact of Insecticides and Herbicides on the Biodiversity and Productivity of Aquatic Communities," is one of the most extensive studies on the effects of pesticides on non target organisms in a natural setting, and the results are relevant to the worldwide decline of amphibians.

Lead biologist Rick Relyea found that Roundup caused a 70 percent decline in frog biodiversity and an 86 percent decline in the total mass of tadpoles.

Leopard frog tadpoles and gray tree frog tadpoles were completely eliminated and wood frog tadpoles and toad tadpoles were nearly eliminated. Only one species of frog, spring peepers, was unaffected.

"The most shocking insight coming out of this was that Roundup, something designed to kill plants, was extremely lethal to amphibians," said Relyea. "We added Roundup, and the next day we looked in the tanks and there were dead tadpoles all over the bottom."

Relyea initially conducted the experiment to see whether the Roundup would have an indirect effect on the frogs by killing their food source, the algae. However, he found that Roundup actually increased the amount of algae in the pond because it killed most of the frogs.

Monsanto has responded to the groundbreaking study showing that Roundup is fatally toxic to frogs by stating that the study is irrelevant, because "there are no Roundup brand formulations approved in the US or Canada for application over water." Roundup and other Glyphosate formulations are widely used in drains, creeks, parks, gardens, playgrounds, roadsides, farms and revegetation projects around the world. It has been detected in nearly every waterway in the U.S., due to runoff and leaching.

Sources the Ecological Farming Association www.eco-farm.org and the Organic Consumers Association http://www.organicconsumers.org/monlink.html

Glyphosate is Toxic to Placental Cells
A recent scientific study published in the peer reviewed journal Environmental Health Perspectives shows that glyphosate is toxic to human placental cells at concentrations lower than those used in agriculture and that this effect increases with concentration and time.

Professor Gilles-Eraic Seralini and the researchers at the University of Caen (France) believe that this is the reason why some agricultural workers using Glyphosate have pregnancy problems such as miscarriages and still births. Most significantly the research shows that Roundup and its active ingredient Glyphosate are endocrine disrupters as they effect the hormone systems in animals. The research also found that Roundup was more toxic than its active ingredient Glyphosate

The study raises serious concerns about the levels of the Glyphosate residues that are found in our food and the environment. Glyphosate is a pollutant in most rivers and aquatic systems in areas where it is used. Denmark banned it in 2003 as it had polluted the water table of that country at levels 5 times higher than previous research thought was safe.

Intersexuality and Frog Decline Linked to Agricultural Chemicals
A recent study conducted by the University of Illinois has linked the decline of cricket frogs to endocrine disrupting chemicals. These types of chemicals such as glyphosate, 2,4D, atrazine, DDT, malathion and permethrin affect the sexual regulatory systems of all living things. They are linked to falling sperm counts and deformities of the genital–urinary tracts of animals.

The researchers found a link between the percentage of intersex frogs (incorrectly developed sexual organs) and the declines of frogs where there was the highest use of endocrine disrupting chemicals. Amy Reeder and her co-researchers stated ‘These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that endocrine disruption contributed to the decline of cricket frogs in Illinois.’ Source. Environmental Health Perspectives 113:261-265 (2005).

Organic Expo Sydney, 30-31 July
We have two major organic exhibitions in Australia this year. The Organic Expo in Darling Harbour, Sydney, 30-31 July and the exhibition at the World Conference in Adelaide 20-23 Sept. The OFA is supporting both events as they are complementary and most importantly they are promoting the Australian organic industry.

We sincerely hope that that the whole Australian industry supports both of these events by exhibiting and through sponsorships.

The Sydney event will held in the Darling Harbour Convention Centre when the boat show is on. Tens of thousands of people will be visiting every day and it will be an excellent opportunity to showcase the diversity and quality of organic products to large numbers of Australian Consumers.

The exhibition at the World Conference will be a once in life time opportunity showcase products to the whole world. Key industry leaders from around the world will be at this event, giving exhibitors potential access to markets around the world and Australia.

Significant Earlybird Discounts before 31 July for IFOAM World Congress Adelaide 20-23 Sept. 2005
The world conference has a $100 early bird discount for people who register before 31 July 2005. There are additional discounts for members of IFOAM, ISOFAR, NASAA & OFA and certified organic farmers.

Members of the above organisations qualify for the $65 member discount. Certified organic farmers who quote their certifier's name and certification number will qualify for an ADDITIONAL discount of $100.

All the information on registration discounts, the program, tours and accommodation is available on the website: http://www.nasaa.com.au/ifoam

The Conference has many interesting keynote speakers from around the world.

Vandana Shiva the founder of Navdanya, a national movement in India that protects the diversity and integrity of living resources, will be a major keynote speaker.

Dr. Shiva is committed to changing the practice and paradigms of agriculture and food. Her books, "The Violence of Green Revolution" and "Monocultures of the Mind" challenges non-sustainable, reductionist Green Revolution Agriculture. She has been actively campaigning for organic agriculture, the family farm, intellectual property rights and biodiversity. The "Neem Campaign" and "Basmati Campaign" are examples.

Jerry Glover the director of The Land Institute's agroecology and native prairie research programs will be another keynote speaker. His graduate work was at Washington State University with Professor John Reganold on the world famous long term study assessing the impacts of organic, integrated and conventional apple production systems. This study showed that the organic system was superior on soil, crop, environmental, disease, pest and financial outcomes.

The conference will feature keynote talks about Australian sustainable systems.

David Holmgren, the co-originator of Permaculture with Bill Mollison following the publication of "Permaculture One" in 1978, will be one of the keynote speakers. David is passionate about the philosophical and conceptual foundations for sustainability that are highlighted in his latest book, "Permaculture: Principles and Pathways Beyond Sustainability".

David Brook is the Chairman of Organic Beef Exporters. This organisation of family run cattle properties controls the largest area of certified organic land in the world. David will give an interesting insight into sustainable organic beef production on the Australia’s semi arid rangelands.

More GMO Contamination
It is only around a decade since advent of genetically engineered plants in the field and we are seeing a constant litany of major contamination issues. Experience is showing that it is impossible to segregate this technology and keep unintended genetics out of our food supply. The two items below show that genetic contamination is a very serious concerned when Biopharm plants are grown commercially. These plants will be engineered to make plastics, vaccines, pharmaceuticals, insecticides and other toxic compounds.

The evidence of widespread genetic pollution of traditional corn varieties in Meso America, most of the corn, soybeans and canola in North America and most of the papaya in Hawaii show that it will be impossible to keep these dangerous genes out of our food supply.

Uncontrolled Release of Antibiotic Resistant Marker Genes
The science journal, Nature, revealed on March 22, 2005 that Syngenta had inadvertently sold an unlicensed strain of genetically engineered Bt10 corn to U.S. farmers for a period of four years from 2001-4. During that period approximately 133,000 tonnes of the corn, containing an antibiotic resistant gene, was marketed in the U.S., Europe, Asia and Australia as animal feed and corn flour. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Food and Drug Administration and the US Department of Agriculture were informed in December of 2004. The agencies had consulted with the White House about the situation, but no one informed the public.

Bt10 corn contains an antibiotic resistant marker gene for the commonly used antibiotic, ampicillin. These marker genes are attached to the gene with the desired trait and they are shot into the target cells. These cells are then cultured and an antibiotic is added. The cells that live have adopted the new genes as they a resistant to the antibiotic.

Several studies have since shown that these antibiotic resistance genes can be transferred to bacteria in as little as two hours after eating genetically modified food. New Scientist in July 2002 reported on a scientific experiment that showed that this can happen to bacteria in the human digestive system: ‘For the first time, it has been proved that bacteria in the human gut can take up DNA from genetically modified food.’

The European Union voted on April 12, 2005 to block all U.S. imports of corn gluten, feed and brewers grain until they could be tested for GE strains. The Japanese government announced that it would ensure that Bt10 did not enter that country.

While European and Japanese scientists and regulators are so seriously concerned about the antibiotic resistance marker gene that they have banned it from entering their countries, Australian authorities have decided to ignore the evidence.

Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) stated on April 21: ‘The presence of a non-functional antibiotic resistance marker gene (BLA) in Bt-10 corn…has no impact on the safety of food produced from Bt-10 corn. FSANZ has previously assessed this marker gene for safety and its use is approved in Australia for use in a number of food commodities.’

The credibility of the FSANZ scientists and regulators has to be seriously questioned over the issue of calling the antibiotic resistance marker gene ‘non functional’. These genes are clearly functional – that is why they are inserted into the genetically engineered plants.

The U.S. regulators are concerned. They fined Syngenta US$375,000 and made the company sponsor a conference on compliance training. According to USDA officials, the maximum fine for the violations is US$500,000.

Australia’s regulators are sweeping this serious issue under the carpet. ‘FSANZ will be formally contacting Syngenta and other biotechnology companies to advise them that they are expected to provide early information on any issues of possible concern regarding GM foods.’

China’s Rice Contaminated with Unregulated GE
A research paper published the journal Science magazine on April 29, 2005 describes trials of GE rice that Greenpeace researchers found  are being illegally sold in the open market.

Greenpeace China GE Campaigner Sze Pang Cheung said; ‘The Science paper states that farmers cultivated the GE rice without the assistance of technicians, and that quite a number of the randomly selected participants grew both GE and conventional varieties on their small family farms.’

Sze continued. ‘The Chinese system of regulating GE field trials is failing. It looks like GE rice has grown out of control under the very noses of the scientists that were trusted to control it.’

Up to 13,500 tonnes of untested and unapproved GE rice may enter the food chain this year. This is likely to increase international concern over contamination of Chinese rice exports. The Japanese Health ministry has begun testing Chinese rice imports. The European Union has requested testing information while governments in the UK, Slovakia and Korea are all conducting investigations into the contamination.

New Organic Processing Plant For Western Australia
Drover's Rest Enterprises of Bridgetown, W.A., are proceeding with a $400,000 expansion of their organic berry farm, partially funded by a Federal Government Regional Partnership grant of $154,000. Dr. Errol Seymour, Managing Director of Drover's Rest, said that this grant will enable them to construct Western Australia’s only dedicated fruit and vegetable processing facility for certified organic produce. He said this new facility will be significant for Bridgetown with employment opportunities in the factory plus potential increased employment in surrounding areas providing produce. Dr. Seymour said that Bridgetown was at the "centre of gravity" of organic farms in the South West.  

ecolivingexpo June 3,4,5 Ridley Centre Wayville Show Grounds, Adelaide
The ecolivingexpo will encourage people to embrace eco living as the new emerging life style trend. All products and services on show will have an environmental theme. Displays, demonstrations and activities will feature areas such as: solar energy, recycling, water usage, organic produce and more . A kids area will offer entertainment and activities to educate and provide fun interaction with environmental issues. For more information visit: www.ecolivingexpo.com.au