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IN THIS ISSUE

1. Forthcoming National Conference
The organisation of this conference is proceeding apace. There is a good spread of speakers for plenary and specialist sessions, and for workshops, on subjects such as practical farming, science and research results, trade issues and marketing. A more detailed update is below, and online application forms will be available on the website very soon.

2. Awards
As at the Sydney Conference in 2001 there will again be presentation of Awards for Excellence at the Friday night dinner. Procedures for nomination for these awards will be announced in the August Newsletter.

3. OPAQ in Cairns
At the end of July the Organic Producers Association of Queensland is holding a Conference in Cairns. Many of us will be attending, and the list of speakers is impressive. Details at http://www.geocities.com/opaq2001/registration.html

4. Mutual Recognition Between Certifiers
Good progress has been made on the development of the Memorandum of Understanding between certifiers as mentioned in the June Newsletter. There is no doubt that there should be a greater degree of co-operation within the industry, and it is good to see the certifiers leading the way on this.

The 2^nd National Organic Conference is a logical development following the National Organic Conference held by the Organic Federation of Australia (OFA) in Sydney in 2001 and is also a precursor to the forthcoming 15^th IFOAM World Congress in Adelaide in 2005. It is OFA’s intention to hold a National Conference every two years at different locations around Australia.

This event will draw intense interest from a wide range of institutions and will assist the definition of the broadening role of organic agriculture in sustainable development. It will bring together members of the organic, scientific, business and consumer communities to explore sustainability issues for development.

The presence of leading international and Australian organic industry decision-makers reflects the importance of this national event.

Dr Urs Niggli, Director of FiBL and Bernward Geier, Director for International Relations for IFOAM will discuss current organic developments from an international perspective. Dr Peter Ellyard, well-known Futurist will offer his vision of things to come and Dr Helen Scott-Orr from NSW Agriculture will present details of future research projects in Australia and a panel of experts will discuss GMOs and their potential impact on organic industry, whilst Professor Henry Nix will demonstrate what makes our organic systems unique.

In order to satisfy the overwhelming interest in the conference there will be several concurrent sessions and workshops focusing on different aspects of the main themes. Delegates can choose from special sessions on Converting to Organic, Developing New Markets, Soil and Water Management and Biodiversity as well as the Relevance of Certification to Consumers.

Participants can learn first hand what it takes to convert a conventionally managed operation into one that is certified organic or biodynamic. Attendees will learn about the economics involved in organic/biodynamic management, the costs, benefits and relevance of certification programmes, and the challenges and rewards of "making the switch." Organic farmers discuss the methods used to develop and manage a balanced ecosystem and create an environment where biodiversity increases the microbial activity in the soil.

The University of Adelaide will become the hub of the organic sector as industry members network, seek out sources of produce, seek out buyers for products, gauge consumer opinion on a range of issues and learn more about specialist spheres of activity.

Dr Urs Niggli, PhD Weed Physiology; BSc/MSc Agriculture
Director of the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) and since 2000, President of the Board of FiBL Berlin/Germany; Trustee of the German Federal Research Station for Agronomy (FAL); Trustee of the Research Institute for Vital Quality, Wetzikon/Switzerland; 1998 Organiser of the First SREN Workshop on Research Methodologies in Organic Farming (FAO) at Frick. Recently, he co-authored the FiBL Dossier Organic farming enhances soil fertility and biodiversity in which the results of the DOK long-term trial – unique in its conception – compares the consequences of bio-organic, bio-dynamic and conventional farming systems. The DOK-field trial was started in 1978 at Therwil, Switzerland and is the oldest long-term trial comparing these farming systems worldwide.

Professor Henry Nix, BAgSc; QDA (Hons)
Professor, Visiting Fellow, Centre for Resource and Environmental Studies, Australian National University.
Professor Nix is currently working on the development of explicit, computer-based methods for inventory, evaluation, planning and management of land and water resources. His major interests are ecosystem modelling with a particular emphasis on biophysical process models and the development of computer-based systems (BIOCLIM and UMWELT) for environmental analysis and prediction of potential distributions of target organisms.

Bernward Geier, Director for International Relations International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM)
Since 1987 Bernward has been a Director of IFOAM, which coordinates the global organic movement with some 750 affiliated organisations and institutions in around 100 countries. Its Accreditation Programme works to harmonise international organic standards in partnership with 27 of the world's major organic certification bodies. He is the author of the book Saving seeds from your own organic garden, and has edited and/or co-authored many other books on organic farming and related subjects. He is a member of the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists (IFAJ) and has 20 years' experience in the field of agricultural politics and policies, including lobbying the UN, FAO, UNEP, WTO, OECD, the EU Commission, as well as national governments and ministries. He has also been involved in a variety of collaborative projects with Greenpeace, IUCN (The World Conservation Union), WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature), PAN and Friends of the Earth.

Dr Helen Scott-Orr, BSc (Hons) Vet. Science; Diploma of Bacteriology, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
One of NSW Agriculture’s most senior & experienced managers of veterinary and animal industry services, Helen has been appointed the Department’s Executive Director, Research, Advisory and Education and is responsible for formulating and directing the department’s core statewide agricultural research, advisory, education and training services. She is the first woman to be appointed to NSW Agriculture’s senior executive. Prior to her appointment, Helen was a divisional chief of the department for nine years, overseeing the merging of the Divisions of Animal Health and Animal Production to form the Division of Animal Industries. She speaks three languages and has worked in the fields of veterinary research and disease control in the United Kingdom and Indonesia, as well as once being a private veterinary practitioner.

Dr Peter Ellyard, Adjunct Professor of Intergenerational Strategies, University of Queensland

Dr Peter Ellyard is a specialist in global, regional and national future issues. He is currently Executive Director of Preferred Futures Pty Ltd, and Chairman of the Universal Greening Group of companies and of the MyFutureFoundation. A former Executive Director of the Australian Commission for the Future, he held CEO positions in a number of public sector organisations over 15 years. Peter also spent three years as Director of the Commission for the Future. He is a Fellow of the Australian College of Education, the Environment Institute of Australia, and the Australian Institute of Management. He is a senior adviser to the UN Development Program, the UN Environment Program and UNESCO. His 1998 book, Ideas for the New Millennium, has recently been re-released in an updated and revised version. It proposes visionary but practical, educational, economic and ecological programs for a sustainable society.

Welcome Cocktail Party
An excellent networking opportunity for all delegates, being held on Thursday 2 October at the National Wine Centre as part of the Programme.

Sample some local organic produce before exploring the flavours of one of the many and varied restaurants in the East End of central Adelaide.

Tickets are included with Full Registration and additional tickets may be purchased for guests and day delegates.

Appropriate settings will set the tone for an evening of fine food and song with uplifting music provided by Flight of Ideas.

Le Cordon Bleu’s international ambassador and Masterchef, Patrick Martin travels throughout the world teaching and demonstrating Le Cordon Bleu’s methods and ‘L’Art de Vivre’. He will develop the menu and assist with cooking what promises to be a truly memorable meal.

Tickets are not included in the price of Full Registration and should be purchased separately.

To demonstrate and expand on some of the issues raised during the conference a special selection of organic tours has been developed. Travel North, East or South and explore some of South Australia’s most interesting organic and bio-dynamic operations or venture on an overnight adventure to the famous Riverland district.

Adelaide’s Northern Food Bowl
North of Adelaide in the drier plains where we will look at a famous integrated property, visit vegetable, olive and wine growers and see how organic operators handle water management, increasing salinility, and higher temperatures. At lunch hear how one operator has successfully overcome some of the issues relating to his operation.

Dynamic Organic Adelaide Hills
Visit innovative organic and bio-dynamic operators succeeding in the moist Adelaide Hills zone. Visit a state-of-the-art Bio-Dynamic dairy, an organic herb grower and health products manufacturer and see what issues are faced by an organic fish and cattle farmer.

Mediterranean Wine and Olive Experience
Visit one of South Australia’s well-known organic wineries in the morning, discuss the issues facing organic olive and grape growers and spend the afternoon tasting some of the organic wine being produced in South Australia’s famous and picturesque McLaren Vale region.

Organic Retail Food Safari (self-drive)
Enjoy the variety and flavours on offer from the Food State. Contact the OFA Secretariat for maps and details and venture on a voyage of self-discovery of where to find organic retailers and restaurants that provide organic produce for sale in the Food State of Australia.

In 2001, the Organic Federation of Australia and RIRDC established seven awards to recognise organic excellence among our producers, manufacturers, distributors, retailers and researchers. This year, in conjunction with Acres Australia we are pleased to offer these awards again. A small, national, independent, non-affiliated committee has been established to review all nominations and select the winners. Winners will be announced and awards presented at the OFA 2003 Organic Peasant Feast at the Adelaide Town Hall on Friday 3 October 2003. Each award will also have a runner up.

Closing date for nominations 31 August 2003.
Nomination Forms and Selection Criteria available from the OFA 2003 Secretariat.

Fine food, great wine, a sense of history and the good life - all can be found in the elegant city of Adelaide - a captivating blend of Mediterranean and Australian lifestyles with abundant shopping, restaurants and culture.

The University of Adelaide is an ideal conference venue, located on North Terrace between the CBD and the River Torrens, and adjacent to the Museum, Art Gallery and Botanic Gardens. Relax between sessions in the University or Botanic gardens or beside the River Torrens, or shelter from the spring sun in the cloisters.

Rundle Street runs parallel to North Terrace, lined with cafes, bars and restaurants, whilst both Hutt Street and Hindley Street nearby offer even more food and entertainment.

Adelaide is the wine capital of Australia - six out of the top 10 Australian wines are made within a few hours' drive of the city. From the Barossa Valley, Adelaide Hills and McLaren Vale (all within one hour's drive from Adelaide), to the rich, red soil of the Coonawarra (the furthest wine region from Adelaide at 3 hours drive), there are wines of all varieties to suit every palate.

The OFA 2003 Secretariat does not recommend any particular hotels however all the hotels in the Adelaide CBD (postcode 5000) are within about a 15-minute walk or 5-minute taxi ride from the University of Adelaide. Visitors from outside South Australia will find Adelaide accommodation and restaurant/cafe prices to be relatively low in cost in comparison with most of their home locales.

Arrangements for travel and accommodation will be the responsibility of the individual – delegates will be required to book and pay for their own travel and accommodation directly with hotels and travel agencies/airlines. The conference website has links to a wide range of accommodation in Adelaide or contact the Conference Secretariat for further information.

OFA 2003 Secretariat
Cat MillsExecutive Officer, OFA 2003 Secretariat
PO Box 768, Stirling, SA 5152
Tel/Fax: (08) 8339 7800
Email: ofaconf@nasaa.com.au
Web: http://conference.ofa.org.au

Apologies if you received an unexpected email from OFA. We undertook some bug fixes which sent out some backlogged emails.

Advertise on the OFA Home Page
Banner advertising space is now available on the OFA home page. This is an opportunity to expose your business to a large and very focused audience. Advertising will be available at a moderate monthly rate, and full reports of traffic and click throughs will be available. Contact Dom O'Brien at webmaster@ofa.org.au

Seeking Contributions
Do you have something to contribute to this monthly update ? This is an industry bulletin and we would like to encourage industry contribution to it. Product reviews, company news, industry news, event reviews, information about upcoming events, and feature articles are all welcome. Please contact me at webmaster@ofa.org.au

Update Your Directory Listing
The OFA directory is an important resource for the Australian community, and world traders. A number of listings are displaying outdated or incomplete information about the products or company. We recommend all readers whose business is listed in the online directory or the printed directory to please check your business listing and take steps to update the information. Please check even if you think your business is not listed, it may well be. There are currently around 2,000 entries.

Text Version of Newsletter
I am aware that some readers in rural areas may have slow internet connection speeds. I am looking into the possibility of offering a text only version for those who would prefer it. If a text only version would be helpful to you, please note your interest by sending an email to webmaster@ofa.org.au

As always, feedback about the OFA website and Organic Industry Update is encouraged.

The Chairman of the OFA has been appointed to the Community Consultative Committee of Agricultural Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority.

The Authority has issued in the last week two discussion papers seeking public comment:

These two documents will be available very soon on the OFA website. For information about their availability contact the webmaster at webmaster@ofa.org.au

Comment is sought on each of these by 31 August 2003.
Please Note: Comments should be forwarded to the OFA for collation back to the APVMA. Send comments to info@ofa.org.au or by calling OFA on ?????????????????

How time flies! This is the twelfth issue of the OFA Organic Industry Update and I can hardly believe we have been doing it so long. It really doesn't seem like a year ago that we sent the first issue and it's great to have reached this milestone.

The good news is that the update is rapidly growing in popularity and distribution, and it is now regarded as a key industry resource. It is encouraging to see that we have doubled the number of subscribers simply through word of mouth and from subscriptions through the website.

I would like to personally thank everyone who has contributed over the past twelve months and I look forward to continuing success in the future.

If you are passionate about organic food and would like to assist in the development of the industry, you can become an OFA Volunteer Assistant. Whether you have particular skills, or would just like to offer your time, you can make a contribution to the develoment of our important industry.

In an effort to develop trade and to increase awareness, in the next few issues we will be explaining some of the services OFA provides. This month we look at the Organic Tradeline.

The Organic Tradeline is a trade bulletin carrying offers to buy and sell, and is distributed to over 8,500 industry members around the world, including over 750 in Australasia. It is the result of an international cooperation between four organic trade websites in Australia, Europe and USA. The publication has been running successfully for over two years and is now being distributed monthly. It lists trade offers in a wide range of categories.

To post a trade offer in the Organic Tradeline contact webmaster@ofa.org.au . The cost is AU$10 per issue (minimum two issues). It is free to receive this publication.

The OFA will be holding our Annual General Meeting in Adelaide on Friday the 3rd of October at 6.00 pm during the OFA Conference.

Liz Clay
OFA Secretary

Clean Organic Produce from Victoria – Naturally!
Most consumers have always believed that organic fruit and vegetables are free of chemicals and pesticides. And now there’s proof.

Australia’s most comprehensive survey of its kind has shown that certified organic produce from Victorian farms has virtually no chemical or pesticide residues.

This is great news for people looking for clean, green and healthy foods, and who are seeking reassurance about the quality of Victoria’s organic herbs, fruit and vegetables.

Organic farms meet strict standards
Victoria has more than 300 certified organic farms, supplying a growing market for organic and biodynamic produce in Australia and around the world.

Australian organic farmers have to meet stringent standards. They are certified and monitored by independent organisations, in line with standards set by the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS). The aim is to produce healthy food through a system of farming that doesn’t use synthetic pesticides or fertilisers, while ensuring animal welfare and environmental sustainability.

Major study shows minimal residues
In mid 2003, the Government of Victoria released results from the most comprehensive survey of its kind ever conducted on Australian organic produce. A total of 65 types of organically certified herbs, fruits and vegetables underwent an independent and statistically valid scrutiny for pesticide residues and other contaminants.

Text Box: Reassuring news - Australia’s biggest Study confirms organic foods are clean

The survey, conducted according to international standards by the Victorian Department of Primary Industries (DPI), found that 100% of certified organic and biodynamic produce met national standards for residues and heavy metals in produce. In fact, more than 99% of tested produce showed no contamination at all from chemicals.

All samples conformed to the strict standards for acceptable levels of pesticide residues and heavy metals in food, set by Australia’s national food safety authority, Food Standards Australia New Zealand.

The results provide assurance that organic and biodynamic produce is clean and uncontaminated. This is reassuring news for consumers who choose to eat organic fruit and vegetables because they want to minimise their dietary exposure to pesticides.

Survey for pesticide residues
Three hundred samples of organically-certified fruits, vegetables, nuts, herbs and grains were collected from Victorian wholesale outlets - everything from apples to zucchinis [1] .

Samples were tested for pesticides and heavy metals which have potential to inadvertently contaminate produce. Not all of these chemicals are used routinely in Victoria and several have long since been banned; but it is possible that they can still be contaminating soil on farms.

Overall, less than 1% of samples tested contained any chemical residues. Only two samples out of 300 had any residues, and these were at very low levels - well below the maximum permitted by legislation and much too low to affect health. The residues were traced to environmental contamination from historical practices; and once identified, the problems were addressed.

How do the results compare?
Similar Victorian Government surveys on pesticide levels in conventionally grown produce have consistently shown that Victorian produce meets strict national and export standards for food safety. This new data shows that Victorian organically-certified produce has even fewer pesticide residues than conventional food crops – lower, in fact, than that found in organic produce surveyed overseas.

The results also provide reassurance that pesticides are being used in a responsible way on conventional farms and are not likely to find their way onto produce grown on nearby organic properties. Victoria has strict legislation governing the use of agricultural and veterinary chemicals, and food produced in Victoria is regularly monitored to ensure compliance with chemical use legislation.

Trust in every bite!
These independent results show that the strict regime which must be followed by certified organic and biodynamic farmers pays off in reducing possible contamination.

In a global market where consumers are increasingly seeking evidence of clean production systems, the results are reassuring.

Certification is the only guarantee for consumers wishing to purchase genuine organic or biodynamic produce - so check the label to ensure that the certifying organisation is identified.

Of course, all raw produce, whether grown by organic or conventional farmers, should be washed before eating.

Victoria's Clean Produce for Victorians and the world!
The Victorian government, together with the State’s farmers, are committed to scientifically validating claims made about the clean quality of our fruit and vegetables.

Consumers of Victoria's organic produce anywhere in the world can enjoy this natural food, with the confidence that it is what it is claimed to be - organic and clean.

For further information on the DPI Survey of Victorian organic and biodynamic produce, please contact: Ruth McGowan, State Coordinator, Horticultural Residue Management, DPI +(613) 56 24 2222, fax: (613) 56 24 2200, Post: DPI, RMB 2460, Hazeldean Road, Ellinbank, 3821, Victoria, Australia or email: ruth.mcgowan@dpi.vic.gov.au

For further information on organic production contact the Organic Federation of Australia (OFA), the peak industry body for the Australian organic and biodynamic industry on http://www.ofa.org.au

This publication may be of assistance to you but the State of Victoria and its employees do not guarantee that the publication is without flaw of any kind or is wholly appropriate for your particular purposes and therefore disclaims all liability for any error, loss or other consequence which may arise from you relying on any information in this publication.

[1] Produce was taken from growers certified by four certifying organisations operating in Victoria: National Association for Sustainable Agriculture (Australia), Biological Farmers Australia, Biodynamic Research Institute Australia and the Organic Herb Growers Association.

Two sholarships are available for the 2003 Biodynamic Beginners Course run by the Hunter Biodynamic Group. The course runs over the two days of October 25th and 26th. The aim is the general increase of knowledge in the community with regard to sustainable agriculture and specifically biodynamics. Applicants need simply submit less than one page of an explanation of why they should be sponsored.

The scholarhips have been offered for several years. The sholarship includes course notes, lectures, lunches, morning and afternoon teas, Saturday evening BBQ, and bus rides to farms.

For more information contact:
Helen McCall
HUner Biodynamic Group Incorproated
Telephone/Facsimile (02) 49 385 308
Mobile (0414) 385 308

Perth's Swan River manager Jane Latchford said thousands of fish were slowly dying in because of the overuse of fertilisers.

Thousands of goby, mullet, cobbler, herring and marine salmon were found dead or dying in a 12km stretch of the river between Perth's CBD and Bassendean, east of Perth which Latchford described as the worst fish kill she had seen in the Swan.

She blamed the environmental tragedy on the overuse of fertilisers, flushed into the river by the autumn rains which fed the algae bloom.

Ms Latchford said although algae blooms were natural events, they were now occurring on much larger scales.

"A lot of nutrients and organic materials are coming into the river because of the practices of humans around the river," she said.

The number of environmentally conscious Queenslanders has hit an all-time record high, yet research has found that 70 percent of consumers are still unhappy with the price of 'clean and green' products.

A report by the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) has revealed that consumers are becoming increasingly critical of over-priced environmentally-friendly products. DPI Principal consultant, Dr Terry Gatfield, said that based on data from a Roy Morgan survey, there was an enormous opportunity for organic food producers to take advantage of current consumer trends.

Dr Gatfield said the major barrier to total consumer acceptance was price, and the benefits needed to be clearly communicated through labelling, advertising and promotion.

The organic food industry was worth about $250 million to the Australian economy, and was developing at a rate of 25 percent each year. Almost 40 percent of all Australian organic products left the country, Dr Gatfield said.

A map is being developed for WA that locates organic and biodynamic farms, wholesalers, retailers and other eco friendly destinations throughout the southern half of the state. For more information contact:
colleenyates@greenskills.green.net.au

A government inspection in Japan has found that up to 30% of soy derived 'Organic' products such as tofu contain GM soybeans.

Of the 80 products targeted by government inspectors, 20 tofu and five natto products (a type of fermented soybean popular in Tokyo) contained gene-modified soybeans.

The farm ministry says it is now making checks on the offending manufacturers to see if the mislabelling was a product of deliberate falsification or if the GM beans were used in good faith. Japanese consumers are only too aware that much GM material finds its way into Japanese food owing to poor labelling of imported soybeans, said a consumer group spokesman.

The Commission of Agriculture and Food in Albanian Parliament voted for ban of GMOs for a 5 year period and appointed the Ministry of Environment to prepare the all legal framework for GMOs during such period.This decision was strongly influenced by environmetal NGOs in Albania (24 environmental NGO-s signed for "Albania GMOs free country), scientists and academicians (45 scientists and academicians signed an open letter to Parliament for GMOs ban in Albania), Albanian Consumer Association and Organic Agriculture Association. Lavdosh FerruniShoqata e Bujqesise Organike

Organic Agriculture Association
ALBANIA
Tel/Fax: 00355 4 244 154
Web page: www.organic.org.al

Over three-quarters of organic farms in America are at risk from GM contamination, according to new research, and half of the organic farmers in the country have taken action to try to protect their livelihoods.

A nationwide survey conducted by the Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF) in America, asked over 1,000 certified organic farmers about the direct financial and related operational impacts associated with the threat of contamination by GMOs. The data also showed that 1 in 12 (8%) organic farmers have already faced direct costs or damage because of GM contamination.

"In 1998, when OFRF conducted our previous survey, GMO contamination was not yet a national issue," said OFRF Executive Director Bob Scowcroft. "These new survey results based on the 2001 crop year document that significant impacts have begun to occur within a very short time frame. If this trend continues, what we're seeing now will prove to be just the tip of the iceberg."

The OFRF is calling for a moratorium on the release of GMOs until there is a solid regulatory framework that prevents genetic pollution and assigns liability for the damages imposed by GMO contamination.

The cost of testing seeds and other inputs for GMOs was highlighted as a financial problem, and farmers also reported that they are losing sales due to actual contamination or perceived contamination.

A fifth have increased the size of buffer zones with neighbouring farms, while others have stopped using certain inputs, adjusted timing of crop planting, altered cropping patterns or crops produced, or have changed cropping locations.

Survey respondents identified contaminated seed stock as their primary concern as a possible source of GMO contamination of their organic farm products. This was followed by GMO pollen drift in the field and contaminated farm inputs such as bought-in manures and composts. Only 10 percent of survey respondents felt that a regulatory framework is in place to adequately protect their organic farm products from damages due to contamination from GMOs.

For details about the survey, Sustaining Organic Farms in a Changing Organic Marketplace, contact www.ofrf.org
or
Bob Scowcroft, OFRF Executive Director, 00 1 435-826-4565.
For media enquiries please contact
Sue Flook on 0117 914 2448 or sflook@soilassociation.org

The planting of commercial genetically modified food crops in NSW will be put on hold for three years after a bill was passed by state's lower house late last night.

Agriculture and Fisheries Minister Ian Macdonald said the bill's passing was a victory for farmers and consumers.

"I welcome the fact that the NSW Government can now honour its pre-election commitment and fulfil its mandate on this issue," Mr Macdonald said.

There had been a lot of misinformation surrounding the bill but the minister said he was relieved the merit of the moratorium had been recognised.

The bill had the support of the NSW Farmers Association and covers the marketing issues not already properly covered by federal regulations, he said.

"The passing of the bill shows that most people now realise the health, environmental and safety issues relating to GM food crops are already covered by these federal regulations," he said.

In early April 2003 the Risk Assessment and Risk Management Plan for the Bayer GM canola commercial release application (DIR21) was released for public comment. The period of consultation closed on Monday 26 May.

The application 'clock' has now been stopped on the Bayer GM canola application (DIR21) to enable the thorough examination of all relevant procedural issues. It is anticipated that the clock will be stopped for approximately one month.

Meanwhile, the application 'clock' is still stopped on the Monsanto GM canola commercial release application (DIR20) until further advice on evaluation of herbicide use is received. When this independent advice is provided, the Gene Technology Regulator will be able to release the Risk Assessment and Risk Management Plan for DIR20 for public consultation.

Announcements have been made recently by the New South Wales, Victorian and Western Australian Governments on the introduction of moratoria for GM crops in their respective States. The purpose of these moratoria is to allow more time for marketing and trade implications (which are outside the scope of the Gene Technology Regulator's evaluations) to be assessed.

The details of the moratoria are being finalised and South Australia is also considering its position. All of these States have advised that commercial scale GM canola releases will not be allowed to take place in their States this year, even if approved on human health and safety and environmental grounds by the Gene Technology Regulator. However, these States have agreed to limited field trials, previously approved by the Regulator, continuing under strictly controlled conditions in 2003.

UK supermarkets have told Tony Blair they will refuse to stock GM foods, even if he manages to persuade a sceptical public to accept them.

The British Retail Consortium, which represents 90 per cent of high-street shops, has sent an unequivocal warning to the Government that GM food is not commercially viable in the UK. It argues that, while consumer antipathy towards the biotech industry remains so entrenched, major retailers such as Tesco and Sainsbury's will resist any move to stock GM products.

Their united stance threatens the Prime Minister with the embarrassing scenario where GM crops are commercialised, yet no major outlets will sell them. David Southwell, of the BRC, confirmed it had made its position clear to the Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Food Standards Agency, adding, "The customer is where the real power lies. Supermarkets are not going to give shelf space to something that doesn't sell."

Sainsbury's, whose former chief Lord Sainsbury, the Science Minister, remains a staunch advocate of GM, confirmed it been in talks with the Government over GM food. The spokesman said the supermarket giant had no choice but to continue rejecting the technology as long as customers 'made it clear' they did not want GM produce.

US President George W. Bush has again urged European nations to end their moratorium on genetically modified foods, claiming the ban is contributing to famine in Africa.

"For the sake of a continent threatened by famine, I urge the European governments to end their opposition to biotechnology. We should encourage the spread of safe, effective biotechnology to win the fight against global hunger," Bush told a biotechnology conference, as quoted by Reuters.

In response to Bush's comments, European Commission spokesman Reijo Kemppinen said: "The fact is that we in Europe have chosen to do some things differently from the United States. As regards GMOs, we simply believe that it is better to be safe than sorry." "This is a highly sensitive issue in all our member states. The European Commission respects that and so should the United States," Kemppinen was quoted by Reuters as saying.

Recent negotiations between the EU and the US failed to resolve the issue and the US said it would request a World Trade Organisation panel to decide the case. Last month, in response to the US decision to file a WTO case against the EU, the European Commission said it regretted the US decision, calling it "misguided, unnecessary, legally unwarranted, economically unfounded and politically unhelpful".

Regarding famine in Africa and GM food aid, the European Commission said it believes that it is the legitimate right of developing countries' governments to fix their own level of protection and to take the decision they deem appropriate to prevent unintentional dissemination of GM seeds.

"Food aid to starving populations should be about meeting the urgent humanitarian needs of those who are in need. It should not be about trying to advance the case for GM food abroad, or planting GM crops for export, or indeed finding outlets for domestic surplus, which is a regrettable of the US food aid policy," the Commission continued. US corn farmers say they are losing out on around US$300m in sales to the EU each year because of the moratorium on GM foods.

The dispute over genetically modified crops will intensify today with news of the evolution of "superweeds", which are resistant to the powerful weedkillers that GM crops were engineered to tolerate.

The development, which comes as the sacked former environment minister Michael Meacher puts himself at the head of the anti-GM campaign, will be seized on by opponents of the technology as undermining its rationale.

It means that bigger quantities of weedkillers - not less, as the biotechnology companies have claimed - will be needed in GM-crop fields, adding to the already intensive agriculture that has wiped out much of Britain's farmland wildlife in the past four decades. Monsanto, the GM market leader, confirmed to The Independent at the weekend that its solution for dealing with resistant weeds was to apply different weedkillers in new ways.

In yesterday's Independent on Sunday, Mr Meacher accused Tony Blair, a GM supporter, of seeking to bury health warnings about GM produce by "rushing to desired conclusions which cannot be scientifically supported".

The revelations about superweeds have been communicated to the Government by an American academic specialising in weed control, who has posted a paper on the website of the official GM science review, led by Professor David King, the Government's chief scientific adviser. This will report soon in advance of a long-delayed decision, due this autumn, on whether GM crops should be commercialised in Britain.

The paper, by Professor Bob Hartzler of the Department of Agronomy at Iowa State University, reveals that in the past seven years, up to five weed species have been found with resistance to the herbicide glyphosate, best known by the Monsanto trade name Roundup. The resistance has come about not through gene transfer from GM herbicide-tolerant crops, as some have feared, but through natural evolution.

Glyphosate is a "broad spectrum" herbicide, meaning that, originally, it killed everything, including crops. GM crops were developed to be tolerant of the herbicide, so it could be applied throughout the growing season.

Two GM crops proposed for commercial growth in Britain, fodder beet and sugar beet, are glyphosate-tolerant. But weeds have been found in Australia, Chile, Malaysia and California and other areas of the US, that glyphosate cannot kill.

Greg Elmore, Monsanto's US technical manager for soybeans, said Monsanto was taking seriously the question of glyphosate resistance, tackling it with "weed control management practices".

With soybeans, he said, resistant weeds were controlled with a pre-planting "burn-down" (which kills everything), using 2,4-D, another weedkiller.

At least three of the resistant weeds had evolved where glyphosate was being used with non-GM crops, he said, adding that it was far from the only weedkiller for which weeds had evolved resistance - as many as 70 weeds were resistant to some weedkillers.

Pete Riley, Friends of the Earth's GM campaigner, said: "Companies like Monsanto have spun GM crops and their weedkillers as having less impact on the environment, but the fact of resistant weeds undoubtedly means more weedkillers, and means the impact on the environment will be greater.

"These discoveries remove a central plank from the whole argument for GM crops."

Yesterday, Mr Meacher listed a series of reports and findings suggesting that the full impact of GM technology was still dangerously unpredictable. Many of the health tests carried out were "scientifically vacuous", he said.

Michael Meacher, the former environment minister, has accused Tony Blair's spin doctors and ministers of systematically ignoring or rubbishing the evidence that genetically modified crops could be a health hazard or could harm the environment.

Mr Meacher's warning is calculated to ignite the public debate on genetic modification as the Government prepares an official report that is expected to clear the way for GM foods to go on sale on supermarket shelves.

During his six years as Minister for the Environment in Tony Blair's government, Mr Meacher was rumoured to be almost a lone voice seeking to delay the commercial cultivation of GM crops until more scientific evidence had been built up about their effects.

Writing in today's Independent on Sunday, in his first published article since being sacked by Mr Blair, Mr Meacher lists a series of reports and findings which suggest that the full impact of GM technology is still dangerously unpredictable. Many of the health tests carried out are "scientifically vacuous", he claims.

In one of the most damning passages, he says: "The only human GM trial, commissioned ironically by the Food Standards Agency, found that genetically modified DNA did in fact transfer to bacteria in the human gut. Previously many scientists had denied that this was possible.

"But instead of this finding being regarded as a serious discovery which should be checked and re-checked, the spin was that this was nothing new and did not involve any health risk."

In a television interview to be broadcast this morning, Mr Meacher suggests that the push to have GM foods on sale in the UK has been backed by "senior people in government who are committed to the biotechnology industry". Though he did not mention names, it is likely that one of the people Mr Meacher had in mind is the Science minister, Lord Sainsbury, whose family owns the supermarket chain.

"There is nothing wrong with biotechnology, in terms of drugs and pharmaceuticals," Mr Meacher tells GMTV's Sunday Programme. "The only issue is our food. There are people who are strongly in favour. Tony Blair, it is said, is one of them, but of course there are others."

When challenged by Mr Meacher over GM foods in the Commons last week, the Prime Minister dropped another strong hint that he is in favour of seeing them on sale in the shops. He said he was "worried by voices here and in the rest of Europe" that did not give what he called "proper consideration" to the potential benefits of GM technology.

Mr Meacher also confirms what most observers had suspected, that he was sacked by Mr Blair, although the official Downing Street announcement said that he had "resigned".

Until last week, Mr Meacher, 63, had served longer as a minister and frontbench opposition spokesman than anyone else in government, having been on the front bench for 27 of the past 29 years since Harold Wilson appointed him a junior industry minister in 1974.

The Government is due to make a decision on GM foods later in the year, after the publication of a report next month by a team headed by the Government's chief scientific adviser, David King. The study is intended to be the most authoritative to date.

GM foods can be bought at supermarkets in the United States and have been consumed by millions of people, none of whom are known to have suffered any harmful effects.

The Paris-based International Council for Science published a study last week which concluded that the GM foods already on sale are harmless, though its report warned that there was uncertainty about more complex products that have not yet reached the market.

By Andre Leu

The Australian sugar industry is midst of a prolonged downturn, with a combination of low world prices, high input costs and yield decline in some districts. It is also under great pressure to reduce its chemical nitrogen applications and several herbicides due to several scientific studies showing adverse effects on the Great Barrier Reef.

The State and Federal government responses to the industry’s crisis have been predictable - complete deregulation and the dismantling of the systems that originally helped to build sugar cane into one of Australia’s most successful industries. This path of deregulation will see many sugar farmers suffer the same fate as dairy farmers. The only solutions to low prices have been to promote ethanol production and GMO’s with modified sugar cane producing plastics and medicines.

We believe that organic sugar production should be on the agenda as it can deliver good yields, higher prices and substantial environmental outcomes.

Backgound
The organic industry is one of the fastest growing markets and agricultural industries in the world. The US Department of Agriculture predicts that the organic market in just three regions, the USA, the EU and Japan will be worth over US $100 billion (A$ 160 billion) by 2010.

The Australian Financial Review estimated that in 2001, the Australian organic industry was worth $A 250 million in domestic and export sales and growing rapidly. We believe that this is a substantial underestimation as much of the organic industry sells directly to the customer through farmer’s markets, local markets and gate sales. These sales figures are not recorded. The Financial Review analysts further predicted that, by 2016, 30% of all food sales will be organic products.

Despite the current downturn in the world markets, the organic industry and markets are still growing with some markets such as the USA growing at a substantial rate. Organics is one of the few economic bright spots in world agriculture. Market analysis, from around the world, is showing that this trend will continue for the long term.

The latest published data from the University of Central Queensland shows that organic consumers are no longer greenies, yuppies or health nuts. Mainstream Australians are now the major consumers of organic products. The research showed that 40% of Australians had consumed some organic food in the last year. Similar studies exist for the major markets of the USA, Canada, Japan and Europe.

These studies show that concerns about health, environment, chemical residues and genetic engineering were some of the significant reasons why consumers were moving to organic food. The major constraint to buying more is the lack of availability.

The new organic consumer is the everyday mum and dad. They want to continue to eat their normal diet of processed, packaged and convenience foods. However they want it to be organic. These consumers are purchasing organic ice creams, yoghurts, flavoured drinks, cakes, pastries, chocolates, frozen and packaged deserts etc. These products have to have organic sugar so that they can be called organic.

The world demand for organic sugar continues to increase. In the UK, British Sugar, the peak body for their sugar industry is working with the Soil Association, the organic peak body, to teach farmers how to grow organic sugar beets so that they can meet the demand for organic sugar.

Last year organic sugar from Pakistan was selling for up to $ 1700 per tonne. A buyer from Europe visited Australia this year and was prepared to pay A$ 2000 per tonne but left empty handed. We believe he has taken his business to another country.

These prices are spot market prices for when organic sugar is needed to make up shortages in production runs. Contract prices of between A$ 650 - 800 a tonne are sustainable in the current world market, compared the around $500 a tonne for high quality conventional sugar. There are very good opportunities for processed sugars such as organic castor and icing sugars

Yields
Is it possible to grow economic quantities of organic sugar cane? There are organic sugar cane farmers in Australia. They are found from Ingham to Rocky Point. These farmers have pioneered the methods of organic sugar production, solving many of the problems that are unique to a new method of production. The best of the organic farmers are beginning to find that they can get equal and sometimes better yields of commercial sugar per hectare from their organic blocks compared to their conventional blocks.

One of these farmers, Steve Bartolo, the Treasurer of the Australian Organic Sugar Producers Association will be presenting a paper at the Inaugural Queensland Organics Conference, explaining the techniques he uses to get reasonable yields of organic sugar. Steve has also found that Orange Rust had minimal impact on his organic Q124 cane.

The significant issue is that we know that it is possible to produce good yields of organic sugar at costs that are equivalent to conventional sugar production. Further research will improve this.

Neil Cliffe of Mackay DPI will present a paper at the Queensland Organics Conference about the results of legume trials in organic cane systems. One of the trials uses legumes planted between the rows as a method of supplying low cost nitrogen to cane. This technique is being used successfully in other countries to supply nitrogen without a loss of sugar production through competition. A major benefit for the sugar industry will be a reduction in the need for urea and other sources of soluble nitrates. Not only will it reduce production costs, it will significantly reduce the amount of nitrates leaching into the Great Barrier Reef.

Environment
Organic sugar production can be a solution for two of the major problems facing the industry: low prices and environmental pressures. Higher returns for production and good environmental outcomes do not have to be mutually exclusive. Organic production has a proven track record of ensuring a better price for production and as an excellent solution to the environmental pressures that all rural industries are facing.

Numerous studies around the world have found that organic agricultural systems are the most environmentally sustainable and have the least off farm impact of our current agricultural systems. These studies show that there is minimal soil and nutrient run off from organic farms.

A long-term study conducted by Washington State University and published in the science journal Nature, showed that the total environmental impact of conventional farming systems was 6.2 times higher than organic systems. Organic agriculture offers a 500% improvement to the environment.

Organic production would ensure that no agricultural chemicals or fertilisers will end up in our rivers and the Great Barrier Reef. It is a viable way of ensuring farmers can achieve good environmental outcomes without losing production and income.

Conclusion
Australia is in a unique position to supply organic sugar to the world market at a sustainable premium.

At the current rate of expansion of the world markets for organic produce, organic sugar production is a long-term sustainable option for Australia cane farmers offering good yields, higher prices and better environmental outcomes.

The Australian certification arena has not changed much since my last report. There is still much distrust, though the Memorandum of Understanding is up and running and seems to be gaining momentum, with at least some of the certifiers taking the imitative, and supplying some feedback to what may prove to be a great step forward for the Australian certified organic industry. It’s great to see the O.F.A., your national peak body, heavily involved in this bringing together of our certifiers.

I am not in any way advocating a system of one certification body for Australia. On the contrary, I strongly support a system of multi-certifiers, for it is this system that gives rise to good healthy competition, and that means the producers at least have freedom of choice, and not a monopoly.

It’s good to see a lot of interest in the organic production system, coming from the medium to larger producers. If we are to progress to a system where organic produce is the norm, and not the exception in the Australian diet, a much larger production is a must.

The 2003 Organic and Biodynamic Conference hosted by the Organic Growers Association of WA that took place on June 6^th and 7^th at the Mandurah Performing Arts Centre proved to deliver an informative and memorable event for WA’s emerging organic industry.

The Conference had a total of 146 delegates attending from various parts of Western Australia and interstate. 22 trade exhibits showcased a range of certified organic and biodynamic input supplies and food products. Several representatives of Australia’s certifying bodies were there to answer questions on conversion to organic or biodynamic practices.

The keynote speakers included Melbourne’s retail outlet proprietor, ‘Organic Wholefoods’ Scott Kinnear who gave an overview of trends affecting domestic organic production and marketing; Jan Denham, owner of Karra Organic Farm in NSW discussed successes and hurdles facing organic farmers; and Ruth McGowan reported on her findings of a study she completed in May 2003 for the Victorian Government on a chemical residue monitoring program for Victorian fresh produce.

Following the keynote presentations series of workshops that focused on three key strategies under expansion within WA organic production- farm fertility management, development of strategic alliances for better marketing, and product quality assurance issues. Presentations were given by Phil Barnett of APAL Labs in SA; Graham McAlpine, co-developer of SQF2000; John Foss author of ‘Future Trends in the Global Agrifood Industry and strategies for Australia to remain Competitive’; Mel Vivian, farmer specialising in Holistic Farm Management; Lyn Abbott, professor of Soil Biology at UWA; Bob McIntosh, Inspector for Demeter Biodynamics; Christine Storer, professor at Muresk specialising in factors affecting agribusiness and the development of supply chains; William Newton-Wordsworth, biodynamic broadacre farmer from Williams; Colin Anstie, co-author of a study into E-Commerce for Agribusiness; John Orr, owner of Premium Grains; and David Lee, Organic Industry Business Development Officer spoke on direct marketing of organic beef.

A plenary session focused on future directions of the organic industry in WA and Matthew Hammond, secretary of the OGAWA overviewed a strategic plan currently being developed by the Association.

A conference dinner highlighted the evening with a menu primarily focused on products and produce from some of WA’s premier certified organic and biodynamic producers. Vince Garreffa, owner of Mondo Butchers in Mt. Lawley, gave a heartfelt talk on why he supports and markets organic and biodynamic beef production, and Gabrielle Kervella of internationally acclaimed Kervella Cheeses spoke of her experiences in moving towards her biodynamic certification under Demeter. Western Range of Chittering Valley and Settlers Ridge of Cowaramup provided their latest organic wines.

The OGAWA would like to thank all those who participated in the success of the event and in particular, the following sponsors for their support: The Department of Transport and Regional Services; the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation; Custom Composts; the City of Mandurah; the Peel Development Commission; Alcoa; the Perth Convention Bureau; the Department of Agriculture; Q-Safe and United Crates; Mondo Butchers; Kervella Cheeses; the National Association for Sustainable Agriculture Australia (NASAA); the Great Southern Area Consultative Committee; the Great Southern Development Commission; the Southwest Development Commission; and BFA.

Conference papers for purchase and further information are available through the OGAWA and can be ordered by calling 9336-1033, or emailing colleenyates@greenskills.green.net.au.

The old story of organic food tasting better has was brought home to me (again) when I indulged in a wee morsel of cerified organic bacon from Sam the Butcher, a certified organic butcher chain in Sydney. As with so many products these days, the taste has been manufactured out of them, and bacon is no exception. To me, mass produced bacon lacks the broad and more complex flavour that I found in Sam's certified organic bacon.

Of even greater concern are the chemicals and procedures that are used in the rearing of pigs and the 'curing' of bacon. Bacon is usually cured using a variety of chemicals. Conventionally raised pigs are often fed genetically engineered grains, and some research has suggested that the proteins from GMO's can accumulate in animals to which they are fed, resulting in humans consuming a higher concentration of GMO's than if they were to eat the grains themselves !

The curing process of this organic bacon is so much simpler and more natural. Sam's cure their bacon in a brine mix of certified pure Atlantic sea salt, water, and organic sugar, and then it is smoked. The difference in the final product is obvious. A great flavour and even the aroma of the bacon when you take it out of the packet is wonderful and rich.

Sam's are currently having a 20% off 'happy hour' at their San Souci store between 3pm and 5pm.

Sam the Butcher has stores in San Souci, Bondi, and is has just opened another store in Beecroft (more about this in the August issue)
For those who would like to get in before then, the new store is at
Shop 3, 5 Wongala Crescent
9484 7138

Sam's also provide home deliver free of charge from all stores, plus they appear at Fox Studios Farmers' Markets (contact Sam's for details).

If you are interested in learning more about how to get a Farmer’s Market started or where to go for more information then the Conference Proceedings and presentations are now available at a cost of $50 (GST+ postage included). Over 100 pages of notes and ideas, facts and figures and case studies from Australia and overseas are included in the package.

To order your copy of the Australian Farmers’ Market Conference Proceedings complete the attached order form and mail with payment to:

The OFA is the peak industry body for the Australian organic and biodynamic industry. Visit our webpage at www.ofa.org.au, or for organic industry and product enquiries click here . For information or help with this newsletter contact the OFA webmaster at webmaster@ofa.org.au. Feedback is always welcome !

DISCLAIMER: The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the OFA.


OFA Activities
• Chairman's Report
• 'Organic Futures for Australia' - National Organic Conference Update
• OFA Website
• APVMA Seeking Public Comment On Two Discussion Papers
• OFA Organic Industry Update Now One Year Old !
• Become An OFA Volunteer
• In Focus: The Organic Tradeline - International Trade Bulletin
• OFA Annual General Meeting - Preliminary Announcement
Industry Developments
• Important Research Proves Organic Food Free From Pesticides
• Two Scholarships Available for Biodynamic Beginners Course
• Fertiliser Blamed For Fish Kill
• Organic Food Consumption Increases
• West Australian Organic Map In Development
• The GMO Issue
	Japan: Some 'Organic' Soy Products Found To Contain GM Soybeans
	Albanian Parliament Votes For Ban Of GMO For 5 Years
	Majority of American Organic Farmers At Risk From GM
	NSW 3 Year Ban on Commercial GE crops
	OGTR Stops The Clock On Bayer's GE Canola
	UK Supermarkets Tell Blair: We Won't Stock GM
	Bush Calls For End To EU Opposition To Biotechnology
	'Superweeds' Signal Setback For GM Crops
	Blair Buried Health Warning On GM Crops Says Sacked Minister Meacher
• Feature Article
	Organic Sugar - by Andre Leu

• Certification Sector Report - By Certifier Representative Keith Morris

• The WA 2003 Organic And Biodynamic Conference Achieves Success

• Sam The Butcher Does Bacon The Way It's Supposed To Be

• Now Available: Australian Farmers' Market Conference Proceedings

• Let's Look At What's On This Month

• Discussion Forum, Organic Marketplace, Australian Organic Directory, Organic Tradeline, Organic Newsline

Date	Event	State
28th - 29th July	Biodynamic Sugar Cane Growing	QLD
31st July -1st Aug	Inaugural Queensland Organics Conference	QLD
8th Aug - 3rd Sept	Best Practice Organic Agriculture Education Tour To USA **	USA
23rd Aug	Hunter BD Group Field Day	NSW
29th - 31st Aug	National Biodynamic Workshop and AGM	NSW