www.ofa.org.au

2005 a Watershed Year
2005 saw a significant number of key events, developments and decisions for the Australian organic sector. The most important were the 15^th IFOAM World Congress, the OFA restructure, the start on a domestic Organic Standard and significantly, a positive relationship with government and other rural sectors that will result in more research and development in the organic sector.

I hope everybody had a great festive season and wish every one a great 2006.

Best Regards
Andre Leu
Chair

IFOAM and the Go Organic Festival
September saw Australia’s two largest organic events when the organic world converged on Adelaide. The 15^th IFOAM World Congress saw around 1000 people from over 90 countries participating in this great celebration. Over 25,000 people attended the Go Organic Festival, which has to a record for an organic event. NASAA deserves enormous credit for financing and organising both of these very successful events.

Organic Expo
The other significant event was the Organic Expo in Sydney in July where thousands of people visited the first large scale dedicated exhibition of organic products and services. This event will be repeated again this year in conjunction with the Third OFA National Organic Conference, July 22-23 2006. Prospective exhibitors or visitors can go to www.organicexpo.com.au for more information.

OFA Restructure
The OFA restructure saw the majority stakeholders of the organic sector uniting together to further our common interests. The advisory boards of the OFA are structured along the supply chain and this approach has brought a new cohesiveness to the diverse organic sector. We are starting to see numerous benefits as a result of a well support OFA.

These included 2 stakeholder roundtables funded by the Industry Partnerships Program where participants worked through sector priorities. Most significantly the result of the roundtables and the OFA restructure process has led to:

• Mature Relationship with Government

• EMS Funding

• Industry Partnerships Funding

• R&D

• A Domestic Organic Standard – At Last!

National Mark
The National Regulatory Mark appeared on the first products in 2005. This is a significant step in ending the consumer confusion over the plethora of different logos and labels. There are seven logos for genuine Australian certified organic products and numerous logos and labels for free range, eco, natural, low GI, heart ticks, etc, etc.

The National Regulatory Mark is voluntary and can be used in conjunction with the certifiers’ logos. Experience in other countries has seen a dramatic increase in sales of organic products when a national mark is widely adopted.

In an effort to improve acceptance, a discussion paper on the pros and cons of a National Mark has been prepared by Deputy Chair, Clinton Starr, for circulation through the OFA Advisory Boards. A copy can be accessed from www.ofa.org.au. Please send in comments to the OFA by the end of February 2006.

Organic Sector Boosted by $175,000
"A new organics industry partnership will help the Organic Federation of Australia (OFA) consolidate itself as the peak body for the rapidly expanding organics sector," Senator Colbeck said

"The OFA will receive $175,000 to develop a business plan to build industry cohesion and create a foundation for the industry to prosper and take full advantage of the growing consumer demand for organically grown foods.

"There's no doubt that the world's consumers are becomingly increasingly interested in the quality and safety of our food supply, and they see organic food as more nutritious and better for you. An important outcome of this partnership will be a promotional strategy for the industry to further cultivate consumer awareness of the health and lifestyle benefits of organic products."

Senator Colbeck said the organics industry is one of the world's fastest growing agriculture sectors. "The estimated value of the global market for organic food and beverages is $US26 billion in 2004, and Australia’s organic market is now valued at $300 million, up from $28 million in 1995," he said.

"The partnership will also assist the industry in the establishment of a domestic standard for organic produce. This will provide consumers with additional confidence about the organic status of the products they purchase. The partnership will also further facilitate the unification of an important growing industry,’’ Senator Colbeck said. Source Farm Online

New Organic Producers Organisation
A new organisation has been formed to support organic farmers in South Australia.

It is called the Biodynamic Organic Agricultural Bureau (BOAB). Membership is open to certified organic farmers or managers of certified organic farms. Anyone interested in converting to commercial organic growing, or growers 'in conversion' are welcome at the events hosted by BOAB. It is a good way to meet many experienced organic growers.

Contact: Ulli Spranz
Secretary BOAB
PO Box 22, Meadows 5201 SA, Phone: (61) 08-8388 3339,Fax: (61) 08-8388 3810
Email: ulli@bdfarmpariscreek.com.au

New Reasons To Perfect Organic No-Till
Source: Rodale Institute December 8, 2005
USDA study finds conventional no-till is no panacea when it comes to greenhouse gas emissions.

When it comes to greenhouse gases, reduced tillage has been heralded as the messiah for its ability to increase soil carbon by capturing carbon dioxide from the air. New work by USDA Agricultural Research Service personnel in Minnesota may lead us to re-think this assumption.

For sometime now researchers in Michigan (Robertson et al., 2000) have been suggesting that nitrous oxide - with nearly 300 times the greenhouse potency of carbon dioxide - needs to be factored into greenhouse gas calculations. Nitrous oxides are associated with fertiliser nitrogen use and, like soil carbon levels, can be influenced by tillage regimes. Now, USDA-ARS soil scientist Rod Venterea and colleagues have shown that over a two-year period, the combination of anhydrous ammonia fertiliser use and no-till can lead to alarmingly high nitrous oxide emissions.

The Minnesota study found that fields treated with anhydrous ammonia had two to four times the nitrous oxide losses compared to urea ammonium nitrate or pelleted urea. If the ammonia was injected more than four inches below the oil surface, however, nitrous oxide emissions were lower in no-till fields than in conventional - or conservation-till fields.

A distinctly unfriendly side of conventional no-till agriculture is its dependence on high rates of ammoniated fertiliser and herbicides. Dr David Pimentel of Cornell University has estimated that 75 percent of conventional no-till's fossil fuel dependence for corn production is related to use of ammoniated fertiliser. In addition to high energy costs, the use of synthetic nitrogen can contribute to environmental and health problems.

In Iowa, Dr Weyer and co-workers (2001) have associated increased water nitrates with hyperthyroidism, increase of insulin-dependent diabetes and bladder cancer. According to Townsend et al. (2003), human activity is responsible for most of the reactive nitrogen in the biosphere, surpassing all natural processes combined. A significant portion is related to the production of fertilisers.

This review links the global changes in the nitrogen cycle with excessive air and water nitrogen levels, leading to increased respiratory disease, cardiac abnormalities and cancer.

The Rodale Institute's Farming System Trial shows that the high yields associated with the use of anhydrous ammonia can be readily achieved through the use of legume cover crops. In a legume-based organic cropping system, high corn yields can be maintained without the high energetic, environmental and health costs associated with ammoniated fertiliser use.

We need to provide interested people with details of this more regenerative system of farm production. We need to come to the aid of farmers and consumers alike to help improve our land, the food it produces and our own health. In this regard, The Rodale Institute's work on a biologically based no-till system using mechanically killed cover crops offers a real alternative to conventional no-till systems based on intensive use of fertilisers and herbicides.

This is why we are so enthusiastic about our No-Till+ project, which offers real hope of regenerative agriculture with its multiple benefits. Source: http://www.rodaleinstitute.org/

Australian IFOAM GE policy discussion group
Scott Kinnear is setting up an informal email discussion group to assist in development of IFOAM GE policy. Suggested policy changes developed by the group will be incorporated into a more formal process of consultation of IFOAM members. This process is to be developed and managed by Brendan Hoare (IFOAM World Board member for Oceania).

Interested participants are invited to send an email to scottkinnear@bigpond.com

Organic Journal for Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific
The editors of the newly created Journal of Organic Systems are calling for articles for publication in its first issue. This new journal is devoted to the publication of current research on developments and issues of organic farming systems in Australia, New Zealand, the Pacific, and also Asia in the near future. It is to be launched in June 2006.

The Journal of Organic Systems will publish peer-reviewed papers that focus on production, processing and marketing developments, land-use methodologies in organic systems, regulatory and certification criteria in the regions, and review articles of current international activities with interpretations of their significance. The intended deadline for authors to make a submission for the first issue is early March, 2006.

It is intended that the first few issues of the Journal of Organic Systems will be in electronic format, at least until such time as there is a demonstrated need for hard-copy publication. Authors preparing to submit a paper should first contact the editors to signal their plans and to clarify submission details. Authors will be promptly notified of the receipt of each manuscript they submit and also final acceptance or rejection for publication. Guidelines about tables, literature references, figures, footnotes and pagination etc. are now being prepared and will be electronically available on request to intending authors.

Manuscripts submitted to the Journal of Organic Systems will be anonymously peer-reviewed by reviewers selected by the Editorial Board, and with an anticipated turn-around time not longer than 2 months. Each reviewer will be asked to provide a definite recommendation to publish, revise, or reject manuscripts using accepted norms of publication standards met by most international journals. Active consideration is being given to include both student-research and book-review sections in later issues.

Editorial responsibilities for the Journal of Organic Systems in Australia are being undertaken by Dr Stuart Hill, University of Western Sydney, s.hill@uws.edu.au and in New Zealand by Dr A. Neil Macgregor, formerly of Massey University anpjmacgregor@xtra.co.nz.

Gaining Ground: Making a Successful Transition to Organic Farming
Canadian Organic Growers, Canada's national membership-based education and networking organization has just published a new book Gaining Ground: Making a Successful Transition to Organic Farming. This comprehensive book will be an invaluable tool for all farmers interested in organic farming, whether conventional, transitional or organic. e-mail: marketing@cog.ca web: www.cog.ca

Organic Farming – Is It for You
This well written book is very useful for people who are considering converting to organic farming or improving their current system. It gives many case examples of different types of successful Australian organic farming systems. Available at: http://www2.dpi.qld.gov.au/shop/

Full Cream vs Low Fat Milk Clarification
The last issue of organic update featured part of an article from Weston A. Price saying that skim milk caused a weight gain whereas full cream milk didn’t. A correction to the article on the study printed on the web site states showed that there was very little difference in weight gain when equal quantities were consumed. ‘The study did find, however, that dairy fat was not linked to weight gain, but that consumption of 1 percent milk in boys and skim milk in girls were significantly associated with BMI gain, as was total dietary calcium intake. The study stated that the amount of milk consumed had an impact on weight gain.’

Significantly the study showed that milk fat did not lead to weight gain - over consumption of milk led to weight gain.

California finds 2,4-D Dangerous to Health
On November 18th 2005 California's Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) announced its intention to list the herbicide 2,4-D and related compounds as developmental toxicants under California's Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986, known as Proposition 65.

"People assume that if a product is on the shelves of their local store, it's safe," noted Dr. Susan Kegley, Senior Scientist at the Pesticide Action Network. "But 2,4-D is far from safe. When this herbicide is finally listed under Prop 65, the public will be notified that chemicals they are using on their lawn can affect women's ability to bear healthy children."

Approximately 46 million pounds of 2,4-D are used in the U.S. each year. Studies from the Centers for Disease Control indicate that fully one quarter of the U.S. population carries 2,4-D in their bodies, and children between the ages of six and eleven have significantly higher exposure rates compared to older children and adults.

The announcement represents important progress for state officials and public health advocates concerned about 2,4-D. OEHHA based its findings on the U.S. EPA's final Re-registration Eligibility Decision (RED) document, released in January 2005. EPA's analysis indicates that rats exposed to 2,4-D in utero showed an increased incidence of skeletal abnormalities such as extra ribs and malformed ribcages. In rabbits, 2,4-D and its diethanolamine salt caused abortions and skeletal abnormalities. The RED also indicated concerns about developmental neurotoxicity and endocrine disruption as possible toxicological outcomes for 2,4-D and related chemicals. EPA is requiring registrants to submit studies to assess the extent of these types of toxicity as a condition of re-registration.

EPA risk assessments indicate that home lawn care products account for 96% of the risk associated with using this chemical for the most sensitive sub-population (women of childbearing age), and that anticipated doses are very close to the level of concern. Exposures to 2,4-D can also come from other sources, including food residues and drinking water. EPA did not evaluate inhalation as an intermediate-term exposure source because no inhalation studies were submitted by the registrants, but noted this as a data gap that registrants must fill as a condition of re-registration. EPA also did not assess cumulative risk from exposures to multiple compounds similar to 2,4-D, which suggests that exposures might exceed EPA's level of concern with present use patterns if these additional exposures were taken into account.

Exposure to 2,4-D in drinking water is also coming under increasing scrutiny. U.S. EPA currently uses a limit of 70 parts per billion (ppb) as the level of concern, but the Minnesota Department of Health is proposing a draft guideline of six ppb for 2,4-D, based on EPA's own risk assessment. 2,4-D is capable of leaching into ground water, is sometimes used as an aquatic herbicide, and is used near waterways that may be drinking water sources.

The 2,4-D family of chemicals are chlorophenoxy acids or esters, and are often used in mixtures with other chlorophenoxy compounds such as MCPA, MCPP, 2,4-DP and dicamba. These products are used as broadleaf herbicides in both terrestrial and aquatic applications, as well as plant growth regulators in citrus crops. Lawns, pastureland, wheat, corn and other cereal crops, as well as soy, sugarcane and forest land comprise the primary uses of 2,4-D. Approximately thirty million pounds (66%) are used by agriculture and sixteen million pounds (34%) in non-agricultural applications. Source: Pesticide Action Network. http://www.panna.org/

Permaculture Courses
Feb 20th Semester 1 of the Accredited Permaculture Training (APT) commences, with students from New Zealand and UK joining the Cert III and Diploma program. There are still places available for those interested in registering. Courses are Austudy & Newstart elligible.

Ecovillage & Sustainable Communities course, March 6-15 This course is also foundation training for the APT Diploma of Permaculture
Djanbung Gardens Permaculture Education& ERDA Institute Trust
PO Box 379 Nimbin NSW 2480 Australia www.permaculture.com.au
Contact: Robyn Francis PH 02-6689 1755 Mob 0429 147 138 robyn@permaculture.com.au

BioFach, Germany, February 16-19, 2006
A permanent fixture on the World Organic Calendar and one of the largest trade fairs of its kind, BioFach Germany boasts over 2,000 exhibitors of organic and natural food products and around 33,000 trade visitors each year. For further information on exhibiting at the event in 2006, under the banner of 'Australian Organic' - supported by Austrade - contact the NASAA Office on (08) 8370 8455 or e-mail to marketing@nasaa.com.au.

EcoV 5 – 7 May 2006 Bendigo
EcoV – The Global Organics & Sustainability Show has launched a major competition for schools. The EcoV Greenplanet Organic Vegie Challenge is very simple. Schools, both primary and secondary, just have to produce up to five kilograms of five types of organic vegetables by Friday 5 May 2006 – the opening day of EcoV.

The Organic Federation of Australia (OFA), the National Association of Sustainable Agriculture Australia (NASAA,) and Australian Certified Organic (ACO) are Gold Sponsors of EcoV.

Exhibitor Packs are available on the web site www.ecov.net.au Brian Abbott (03) 9889 5631, 0404 06 1404, ecov@ecov.net.au

Enviro 06 Conference Melbourne May 9 - 11 2006
Enviro 06 will consist of 24 one-day streams in three areas, energy, waste and water. Organic farming will feature in recycled organic stream. For more information: Quitz Event Management 02 9410 1302, quitz@bigpond.com or www.enviroaust.net

Eursafe 2006 - Ethics and the Politics of Food
21st to the 24th of June 2006 in Oslo, Norway http://eursafe2006.etikkom.no/

Organic Expo: organics for everyone, Sydney July 21-23
The 2006 Show will feature:
* Celebrity endorsement & appearances
* Key industry speakers & involvement
* Premier Location @ Sydney Exhibition Centre
* Creative Layout & Exciting Interest Features
* Organic Café
* Highly successful and proven show
Early Bird Discount for bookings by 31.12.05
Phone - 02 9451 4747 Email - exhibitors@organicexpo.com.au www.organicexpo.com.au

The Third OFA National Organic Conference July 22-3 2006
Darling Harbour Sydney Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd July 2006 in conjunction with the organic expo.

The 2^nd OPAQ Queensland Organic Conference
Beerwah Queensland August 30-31 2006
Contact Keith Morris kmo91141@bigpond.net.au Ph 0500581469