The organic industry is one of the few bright spots in world agriculture. Most rural industries around the world are suffering from a range of major problems. The drift from the country to the cities continues on all continents as farmers and labourers are forced off the land.

In Australia we are seeing two of our major sectors, dairy and sugar facing serious problems. Their industry leaders and politicians seem to be playing ‘rearranging the deckchairs on the Titanic’. It is ironic while the organic sectors of these industries are receiving significant premiums and need increases in production to meet the rising demand, organics is barely on the radar screen as a part of the solutions.

Instead industry is putting all of its efforts into the two silver bullets economic ‘rationalism’ and GMO’s as the solution.

Government and industry will be spending billions of dollars over the next five years pursuing these solutions in a range of industries. The Dairy and Sugar industries will be using around 500 million of this. In the end we will see a loss of more farmers and the decline of their towns and communities as the major initiative is to encourage farmers to leave these industries. We will see a corresponding rise of Agribusiness as the companies buy out these family farms and consolidate their holdings. The bulk of government money under current proposals - the many hundreds of millions - is really a subsidy to corporate agriculture to increase their share at the expense of the family farmer.

GMO MORATORIUMS

It is good to see the governments of Tasmania, Western Australia and Victoria taking notice of the public and continue with moratoriums on GMO’s. Recent opinion polls show that 86% of Australians oppose GM. I would like to thank Julie Newman and the Network of Concerned Farmers, Bob Phelps of Gene Ethics, Sam Stratham, Scott Kinnear and all the other members of the OFA GE subcommittee for all the long hours that they have put into this.

Australian Organic Industry

The news continues to be good for our industry and we are fortunate that we have the opportunity to concentrate on the positive. The Organic CRC bid is looking very strong with major support from the organic industry, the food industry, education and research sectors and governments.

John Brown of Queensland DPI is currently developing a tropical organic research station at Ayr, near Townsville. This station has the potential to improve organic systems for a climate that represents 60% of Australia’s land area. They are currently consulting with the organic industry on research priorities. John is asking for farmers, processors and others who have research needs to contact him.

John Brown (Project Leader) John.Brown@dpi.qld.gov.au , AFFS Horticulture, AYR Q 4807

Tasmania

I was very impressed with the way the Tasmanian industry operates. The Minister is taking a serious interest in the organic industry and spent the whole day visiting a variety of organic farms with us.

The Minister has a formal advisory group of organic farmers to refer to on matters relating to the industry. Tasmanian organic industry has organised its own peak body, called the Organic Coalition of Tasmania. This organisation has local representatives from all the certifying organisations. I believe that we can learn a lot from the Tasmanian models and in many ways they are leading our industry.

The people driving the industry are one of the most important aspects of the positive direction for organics. Chris Brunswick-Hullock of the Tasmanian DPI has been fundamental in ensuring that organics continues its forward momentum. It seems that in all states there are a few dedicated DPI officers who are prepared to support this industry. They have been very important to our growth.

Best Regards
Andre Leu
Chair

ORGANIC FOOD BOOMS

OVER TEN TIMES MORE ORGANIC AREA IN WALES

ORGANIC AGRICULTURE GROWS BY 9 % IN SPAIN

EU SUPPORTS ORGANIC ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN IN GREAT BRITAIN AND ITALY

Source: http://www.organicconsumers.org/ge/gmopollution012104.cfm

INTERNATIONAL GE LABELING TREATY CONFIRMED

An international biosafety treaty has now been finalized in Malaysia, where 87 countries from around the world have successfully negotiated a protocol that establishes labeling and documentation regulations regarding imports/exports of genetically modified organisms. Under the new system, any international shipment containing genetically engineered ingredients intended for food, feed or processing must be labeled as such. Despite consensus between the attending nations, President Bush has refused to sign the agreement. Source:

http://www.organicconsumers.org/ge/biosafety-pact.cfm

THE MENDOCINO COUNTY BAN ON GMO’S IS SPREADING

The March 2, 2004 referendum in Mendocino that resulted in a ban on GMO’s has inspired more areas of the USA to create GE Free Zones.

12 more Californian counties are organizing to create GE-Free zones. A petition is being circulated in North Dakota for a ballot measure that would give the state the authority to reject Monsanto's new genetically modified wheat. Farmers are concerned introduction of the crop will result in profit losses due to decreased export demand. http://www.organicconsumers.org/ge/wheat042004.cfm

More than 50 townships in Pennsylvania have passed ordinances that regulate the expansion of local factory farms, and now the state farm bureau and big agribusiness are teaming up to implement legislation that would make it illegal for communities to have this kind of local control. http://www.organicconsumers.org/ge/factoryfarm042004.cfm

The Governor of Vermont has agreed to sign the "Farmer Right to Know" bill that will require labeling of genetically engineered seeds in all retail outlets. http://www.organicconsumers.org/ge-free.htm

In the UK, Bayer Cropscience has given up attempts to commercialise GM maize. Maize was the only GM crop approved by the UK government. http://www.soilassociation.org/gm

Research is showing the adverse effect of excess glyphosate (Roundup) in the environment as a result of herbicide tolerant GMO crops

New Scientist magazine states farmers in Argentina are now using twice as much herbicide in GMO Soya compared to conventional crops. Volunteer Soya plants are emerging as a serious weed and need to be controlled with other toxic herbicides since they are already resistant to glyphosate.

Argentina is seeing the rapid spread of weeds with natural resistance to glyphosate. Equisetum (horsetail) is emerging as a superweed that rapidly chokes fields of Soya if not controlled.

The control of these GM soya weeds has resulted in neighbouring small farms losing crops and livestock and families suffering ill health due to the herbicide drift. 150,000 small farmers have been driven off the land so that agribusiness can grow more soya. This has also resulted in a significant decrease in staples such as milk, rice, maize, potatoes and lentils.

Another concern is the spread new soil diseases, such as fusarium, in Argentina and Brazil where glyphosate tolerant GM Soya is cultivated. These diseases are beginning to devastate whole production areas.

In Canada, Scientists from the University of Manitoba studied the use of glyphosate and found that it increased fusarium head blight. This disease is responsible for many millions of dollars in losses for wheat farmers in Canada. The Scientist have released a report stating that "Under current conditions the release of Roundup Ready wheat in Western Canada would be environmentally unsafe."

Don Macfarlane has arranged another exceptional tour of interesting organic farms in the USA. The tour starts in Nebraska on June 17th and crosses the continent finishing in Virginia on July 10th.

This is an opportunity to meet some of the worlds best industry leaders such as Gary Zimmer, Organic Valley Dairy Cooperative, Phillip Wheeler, Jerry Brunetti and Joel Salatin on their own turf. The tour will visit several farms everyday and every one offers a new revelation. I went across the USA with Don in 2000 and I can assure everybody that this is a once in a lifetime opportunity to meet some exceptional people and learn a lot about innovative organic agriculture.

Don states "The people with whom we meet on this tour possess the proven skills to lead this change process, which includes, building viable rural communities, the critical relationship between food and health, food and behaviour, food and criminality, food and mental problems, as well as an agriculture that is kind on farms, farmers, consumers and the environment."

• Update producers on current marketing developments
• Provide examples of market development strategies in other organic industries
• Identify issues and opportunities for producers and industry to move forward

Friday 14 May 2004

10.00 am – 4:00 pm (9.30 am coffee & Lunch provided)

Airport Motel & Convention Centre

33 Ardlie Street ATTWOOD

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