www.ofa.org.au

All financial members are encouraged to participate in this event.

The Department for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and the OFA hosted an industry roundtable in Sydney on May 11 where the industry united behind its peak industry body with the purpose of increasing R&D, marketing, promotion and ensuring the protection of the integrity of certified organic products. The outcomes from these sessions and the continued work of the OFA will ensure the development of future cohesive industry strategies.

These will be presented for consideration at a second Roundtable in July 2005, coinciding with the endorsement and AGM of the restructured OFA. All OFA members are most welcome to attend this meeting.

Bernward Geier Promotes Organics and the World Conference
Bernward Geier the Director International Relations for IFOAM was in Australia for seven days, promoting the IFOAM World Conference and the organic industry in Brisbane, Canberra, Sydney, Adelaide, Melbourne and Tasmania and generated a lot of very positive media.

He told government and the media that the organic industry is the fastest growing agriculture market in the world with sectors such as Asia and North America enjoying sustained annual growth rates of between 20-45% per year.The organic market in the USA has a value of over $14 billion, and is expected to double in the next five to six years. In Germany, the entire baby food sector is on its way to being exclusively organic with a current market share of 80 to 90%. Also, the fact that more than 30% of the daily bread in and around Munich (similar population size as Queensland) and 30% of all milk in Denmark are certified organic gives a clear indicator that the organic food is a significant part of mainstream markets. The overall European market is in the range of $16 Billion.

Respected market analysts forecast that organic markets should be worth $120 billion in the next five to ten years, with a major share of this growth taking place in the USA, Europe, Japan and China. In the context of these figures and forecasts, Denmark’s target of reaching a 20% market share for organic products sounds quite realistic, as they have already reached a share of 6%. The fact that multinational corporations like McDonalds, Nestle, Heinz and Unilever have entered the organic market is indicative of the future that lies ahead.

Non organic processed meats have a 6,700% increased risk of pancreatic cancer
There has been pressure on the Australian organic industry to allow nitrites and nitrates as preservatives in processed meats so that the organic products can have a redder colour. We have rejected this based on numerous studies linking these food additives to a range of health problems. A recent study vindicates our position and adds to the growing body of scientific evidence showing why organic foods are healthier.

Research the University of Hawaii has found that people who consume processed meats have a 6,700% increased risk of pancreatic cancer over those who consume little or no processed meat products. The study was done over a period of seven years on nearly 200,000 people. The researchers concluded that sodium nitrite, a chemical used in nearly all processed meats was the cause of alarming cancer rates.

Mike Adams the study’s Author said "Sodium nitrite is a dangerous, cancer-causing ingredient that has no place in the human food supply."

Sodium Nitrite is found in most processed meats, however it is prohibited in organic meats. Eating Certified Organic processed meats is a guarantee of getting food free of sodium nitrite.

Doctors appeal for Jamie Oliver's help
Jamie Oliver and the UK Soil Society’s campaign on the quality of school dinners was so successful that it forced the British government to put billions of dollars into improving school food. Now British doctors want Jamie to help them to get the Government to improve hospital food.

Their spokesman, Simon Eccles, says poor hospital food is hindering patients' recovery. He said that nutrition is also crucial to the healing process.

Atrazine Causes Brain Cell Damage
A new study conducted by researchers at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey has found the minute amounts of atrazine damage the critical areas of the nervous system that are involved with understanding, intelligence, movement and most importantly over all body function.

The Authors stated "Collectively, these studies demonstrate that ATR [atrazine] can produce neurotoxicity in dopaminergic systems that are critical to the mediation of movement as well as cognition and executive function."

This is yet another of the long list of studies that confirm why Australia should follow Europe’s example and ban this toxic residual chemical.

Single Exposures of Neurotoxic Pesticides Have Long Term Effects
Most of the current agricultural and household pesticides work by destroying an important enzyme called Cholinesterase that is essential to regulate the function of the nervous system. A recent study by researchers at the University of Almeria (Universidad de Almería) Spain shows that a single exposure of these common neurotoxic pesticides can have serious long lasting effects.

The researchers stated "These assessments point to a cognitive deficit in attention, memory, perceptual, and motor domains 3 months after intoxication. One year later these sequelae remained, even though the brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) scans were interpreted as being within normal limits."

Probe for DuPont on Teflon Chemical
DuPont was recently served with a subpoena from the US Justice Department requesting documents on a key Teflon chemical, PFOA. DuPont has already agreed to pay up to $340 million in a civil settlement for Teflon pollution and is the subject of an EPA investigation into its coverup of studies of the chemical's health effects.

The US EPA "has concerns with respect to the potential nationwide presence of PFOA in blood and with the potential for developmental and other effects suggested by animal studies." Initial research by the US EPA suggests that PFOA could be carcinogenic in rats, targets the liver and is present in the breast milk of rats.

PFOA has been shown to enter bloodstream through coatings on non-stick cooking utensils.

Environmental Working Group President Ken Cook stated "This development gives some hope that DuPont will be held accountable for its contamination of virtually every American's bloodstream with this toxic Teflon chemical."

The Need for Testing Chemical Mixtures
Organic Update has commented several times on the need to test chemical mixtures rather than the current approach of only testing a single active ingredient of pesticides and herbicides. The two recently published studies, below, add to this need.

Roundup Twice as Toxic as Glyphosate
An editorial in the latest issue of the peer reviewed scientific Journal Environmental Health Perspectives has commented on the important issue of testing the whole product due to a study that shows that both glyphosate and Roundup severely damage placental cells.

The journal editorial stated "Roundup was nearly twice as toxic as the single chemical alone. Further, the viability of cells exposed to glyphosate was considerably reduced when even minute dilutions of Roundup were added."

"The study showed that the effect of Roundup on cell viability increased with time and was obtained with concentrations of the formulation 10 times lower than those recommended for agricultural use. Roundup also disrupted aromatase activity at concentrations 100 times lower than those used in agriculture."

The editorial stated "Virtually all previous testing of Roundup for long-term health damage has been done on glyphosate rather than on the full herbicide formulation, of which glyphosate makes up only around 40%."

This study highlights the urgent need for product testing rather than only testing a single ingredient.

Predicting the Effects of Low Dose Mixtures.
A study published in Environmental Health Perspectives has found that mixtures of minute amounts of chemicals can cause health and reproductive problems at doses where individually they have no effect.

The paper was published by researchers from Brunel University, UK, The School of Pharmacy, London, UK, University of Bremen, Germany; Vrije Universiteit, The Netherlands and University of Venice, Italy.

Most importantly the researchers have established a predictive model to determine effect of these mixtures. The Researchers stated "These findings demonstrate that estrogenic chemicals have the capacity to act together in an additive manner and that their combined effects can be accurately predicted by concentration addition."

"These findings highlight the potential for existing environmental risk assessment procedures to underestimate the hazard posed by mixtures of chemicals that act via a similar mode of action, thereby leading to erroneous conclusions of absence of risk."

ABC Organic Gardener Features Pesticides and Health
The latest issue of the ABC Organic Gardener Magazine continues the theme of Pesticides and their effects on health and more on the why organic food is healthier. It is definitely worth reading for information on these important topics.

ACRES Australia Features The Myths of Safe Pesticides
The latest issue of ACRES Australia has an article on The Myths of Safe Pesticides as well as the usual range of interesting articles on organic and sustainable agriculture.

The program is now available on line along with information on speakers, tours, accommodation and related events. Please do not forget that the generous early bird discounts finish in July.

A major feature of the IFOAM Organic World Congress will be the GO 2005 Organic Festival in Botanic Park Adelaide on September 24-25. It is a free-entry event that serves to raise awareness of organic producers, and products, and where to source them.

This is an opportunity to be a part of Australia’s biggest organic event: a festival featuring the nation’s largest farmers’ markets, amazing food stalls and the best in products and technologies for sustainable living.

Also featured will be a rich program of expert talks, demonstrations, music and dance that reflects the international flavour of the countries represented at the IFOAM World Congress.

For further information, download the Go Organic Festival Information Sheet www.ifoam2005.info phone +61 8 8352 7099, fax +61 8 8352 7088, e-mail ifoamfair@internode.on.net.

Bernward Geier the Director International Relations for IFOAM was in Australia for seven days, promoting the conference and the organic industry in Brisbane, Canberra, Sydney, Adelaide, Melbourne and Tasmania and generated a lot of very positive media.

Organic Expo Sydney, Darling Harbour, Sydney, 30-31 July
The Organic Expo is Australia’s first major expo, created for both the public and trade, highlighting the excellent certified organic and environmentally friendly products and services (collectively known as eco-ganics) that are currently available.

Approximately 100 ‘qualified’ exhibitors will be showcased from a wide range of everyday lifestyle categories including:
* Food, Wine & Beverages
* House, Garden & Building Products
* Fashion & Manchester
* Personal Care, Health & Beauty
* Mother & Baby
* Pet care
* Restaurants, Spa's & Eco-resorts

Interesting demonstrations, talks and panel discussions will be held on the Main Celebrity Stage from celebrities, key industry and professional speakers who are keen to share their knowledge and passion for the industry. Various organic and eco-friendly associations will also have a presence there, to meet and talk with you about the industry and how they can assist your business.
Friday 29th July 2005 – 7.00pm – 10.00pm Organic Cocktail Party
Saturday 30th July 2005 – 9.00am – 6.00pm Organic Expo
Sunday 31st July 2005 – 9.00am – 4.30pm Organic Expo

For more information contact: Lena Smeaton – 0413 043 287, Mary Hackett - 0414 306 689 www.organicexpo.com.au Phone 02 9451 4747

Welcome to Paul Dargusch
We would like to welcome the new CEO of the Biological Farmers of Australia to the organic industry. Paul comes with an impressive CV especially in market development. Paul replaces Dr Andrew Monk who has taken up a position as CEO of a group of companies with a focus on organic and environmental products.

Farewell to Organic Sugar Pioneer
Devon Blines, one of the pioneers of growing Organic Sugar Cane passed away after a battle with cancer. Devon along with Steve Bartolo and other like minded cane farmers were concerned about the amount of toxic chemicals and synthetic fertilisers used in cane farming and felt that there that here had to be a better way.

After visiting a range of organic farms, including organic cane farms at Rocky Point they decided convert their farms to organic production. They eventually formed the Australian Organic Sugar Producers Association with Devon as the inaugural President.

Not long after he was diagnosed with a terminal illness he told me that he believed that it was caused by the chemicals he used before he started farming organically.

He survived by his wife Chantelle and their children. He also leaves a lasting legacy showing that it is possible grow good yields of organic sugar.

Human Genes in GMOs
There is an increasing and disturbing trend to insert unique human genes into GMO’s. This issue of Organic Update has several recent examples.

Human Genes in Rice
Japanese Researchers have spliced a gene from a human liver into rice to help the plant "digest" pesticides, thereby allowing the crop to be sprayed with up to 13 different pesticides without damaging the rice. The scientists are splicing human genes into rice that will ultimately be grown for human consumption. This raises several serious issues.

1. It ends one of often stated reason for developing GMO’s – reduced chemical use. This technology will allow the increased use of toxic poisons.
2. Eating food containing human genes approaches the realms of cannibalism and opens a raft of ethical and possible health issues.
3.The developers of the new human-rice admit that if this gene were to escape into the wild it could create a new generation of "superweeds". Given the previous history of other GMO’s it is highly likely that this gene will escape. http://www.organicconsumers.org/ge/humangene042505.cfm

Creating Human-Animal Hybrids
The US National Academies of Sciences has created a standard for the development of human-animal hybrids for the research purposes. They would be permitted "under circumstances where no other experiment can provide the information needed." These standards are voluntary, and human-animal hybrids are already under production. http://www.organicconsumers.org/chimera.htm

Mice with Human Brains
An ethics committee at Stanford University has approved a proposal to create mice with brains made almost completely of human brain cells. The board endorsed this procedure based on the assumption that the animal would probably not experience higher levels of human thought, given the size and shape of the mouse brain. The committee recommended closely monitoring the mice's behavior and immediately killing any that display "human-like behavior," although, admittedly, no one quite knows how an observer would be able to truly distinguish whether or not a lab mouse is thinking and feeling like a human. http://www.organicconsumers.org/chimera.htm

Monsanto Documents Reveal Serious Hazards Of Genetically Engineered Corn
A headline news story in the London Independent, May 22, has rocked Monsanto and the biotech industry and fueled the controversy over the safety of genetically engineered food. The story reveals that internal Monsanto documents, reviewed by EU scientists, show serious health damage to laboratory animals fed Monsanto's new genetically engineered "rootworm-resistant" corn. Rats who consumed the mutant corn developed smaller kidneys and exhibited blood abnormalities. Scientists say these are "red flags" for immune system damage and/or cancer tumor promotion. Although the EU will now likely ban Monsanto's new GMO corn, this same rootworm-resistant corn is already being grown and consumed on a major scale in the United States. Monsanto has denied that the corn can harm humans, but nonetheless refuses to turn over its data to the media, claiming that the lab studies are "Confidential Business Information."

http://www.organicconsumers.org/monlink.htm

Organic Lambs Wanted
Does anyone have any Organic lambs available? Preferably a rare breed of some kind, but I'm looking for a supply of organic lamb to put through our new farm shop. We could buy live. Fiona Chambers ph (03) 5348 5566 www.fernleighfarms.com

Organic Pumpkin Growers Wanted in Far North Queensland
Trend products is looking for certified organic growers to grow organic pumpkins for Organic Pumpkin Seed Oil. They need farmers who can start growing a soon as possible or immediately.

Trend Products will supply the farmer with seeds, guarantee a minimum price (per kg dried seeds) and they will do the harvesting, washing and drying of the seeds
Contact: Jurg Jutzi, Trend Products APA Pty Ltd
Phone: 0427 656010
E-Mail: jurg.jutzi@trendproducts.com.au

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. For more information visit: www.ecolivingexpo.com.au

Organic Courtyard
June 16 to 18, Nambour Show Grounds, Qld

An organic event featuring two forums and display stalls of organic produce, information and inputs to be held at this year's 100th anniversary show.

Friday 17th 1:30pm Organic Farming and Living: The Courtyard venue will host a discussion session on the broad issues regarding Organic Farming. Speakers include OFA, NASAA, BFA, The Natural Foodstore and Nutri-Tech.

Saturday 18th 1:30pm Community Supported Agriculture: The Courtyard venue will host a discussion centred on CSA farms and market diversification.
Robyn Cook 075445 9932

Natural Products - Organic Asia
28-30 June 2005 Singapore Expo, Singapore http://www.npoasia.com/

Organic Expo Sydney, Darling Harbour, Sydney, 30-31 July www.organicexpo.com.au

Cycle for Sustainability (C4S) July 2005
Cycle for Sustainability will be a cycling road show, motivating and empowering individuals and communities to take action toward sustainability including organic farming and food issues.

C4S 2005 will bring together a healthy, mobile community of individuals with the energy to ride and enthusiasm to engage and educate the broader community in sustainability issues. Sustainability encompasses a broad range of environmental and social justice issues and our focus will include water and land use, energy production, sustainable transport and fair trade.

The ride will begin in Brisbane in late July 2005, and visit communities along the east coast of Australia, via Canberra, finishing in Hobart mid December. A promotional launch of C4S will be held at the 2005 Students Of Sustainability conference (9^th-15^th July) in Victoria.

Email: info@sustainia.org.au Web: www.sustainia.org.au Phone: (03) 6431 3074 (Nick, Michelle)

2nd Australian Farmers’ Markets Association National Conference
27 – 29 August Lake Hume Resort, Albury, NSW

The two-day conference will deliver leadership and practical information, celebrate business achievements, set new horizons and establish networks. Delegates will also be treated to delicious Hume Murray regional produce and the wines of Brown Brothers.

The Conference Program (plus an optional pre-conference day) and Registration Details are available of the Australian Farmers’ Markets Association website www.farmersmarkets.org.au
Noelle Quinn T: (02) 6058 2996 E: Noelle.Quinn@det.nsw.edu.au

15^th IFOAM World Congress and the Organic World Exhibition Adelaide Convention Centre 20-23 September

Go Organic Festival in Botanic Park in Adelaide on September 24-25 www.ifoam2005.info