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IN THIS ISSUE
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| Experts Line Up for GMO Showdown |
The issues surrounding the introduction of GMO's in Australia have the ability to elicit passionate responses and to polarise views. This has been heightened by the news that US-based multinational, Monsanto, has now applied to our national regulator for permission to grow weed-resistant GM canola commercially after testing it in Australian conditions for the last five years.
In response, ChemCert Australia will be hosting a major debate as part of the National Forum at Old Parliament House in Canberra on 17th & 18th September. Entitled "GMO's - Friend or Foe of Pest Managers?' the debate will bring together a diverse and eminent range of industry stakeholders facilitated by Robyn Williams, AM, of the ABC Science Show.
Juliet McFarlane, a member of the Gene Technology Community Consultative Committee, has been growing GM-free canola in southwest NSW for 30 years. Along with Rod May, Chair of the Organic Federation of Australia, they will represent the many who are anxious about the widespread release of GM canola.
McFarlane questions the evidence of supposed agronomical benefits, such as reducing herbicide use and increasing yields, and raises concerns about the creation of super weeds through cross pollination. May concurs explaining that the' reductionist' view which sees them as silver bullets for control of a pest or a weed are overly simplistic and "fail to recognise the integrated approach of organic or agro ecological systems, which rely on 'system design' rather than 'designer plants'".
There is also concern that farmers would be disadvantaged economically if all canola seeds are controlled by major biotech companies and McFarlane warns, "we have to remember it's an irreversible technology, so we need to get it absolutely right."
Jim Peacock, Head of the CSIRO Plant Industry, who is introducing the debate, believes we will. Referring to existing regulatory procedures and the extensive research completed, he notes that the scrutiny that goes into genetically-engineered food is even greater than for conventionally-engineered food. "There's 53 million hectares of genetically modified crops being grown in the world - four times the total cropping area that we use in Australia, " he states, "that's big business that's been happening for six years and there's not a single case of harm to a human or to anything else."
Dr Jim Prately, Dean of the Faculty of Science & Agriculture at Charles Sturt University, insists GM technology is needed to provide new options for farmers, "GM varieties do not produce an excuse for poor management in the field or in the supply chain," he explains, "they do not represent a panacea - they are just different varieties requiring proper levels of management."
Representatives of the chemical industry, Australian Consumers Association and producers will be joining them in the debate. The ChemCert Australia National Forum will provide delegates with an opportunity to examine issues regarding the future of chemical management for farm, food and fibre safety. It will also enable direct input into policy development through the development of the 'Call to Action" Paper for presentation to government.
Full program and registration details are available on the ChemCert Australia website at www.chemcert.org.au.
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Australians Reach Out to the World |
A large delegation of Australians was present at the 14th IFOAM world congress
in Victoria BC, Canada, over the past week. Representatives from the OFA, NASAA,
the BFA, researchers from Universities and departments of agriculture and representatives
from the social justice movement were all present and made a valuable contribution
to the proceedings. The OFA's Rod May presented an Australian perspective on
"Certification and Harmonisation" with illustrations of the vastly
differing geographic and climatic conditions which influence the nature and
operation of the certification systems in Australia. He drew particular attention
to the issue of phosphorus deficiencies in soils with implications for the need
for possible alternative treatments for deficiencies and the vastly different
animal management systems including the need for mulesing for example.
He also presented the new IFOAM standards section dealing with crop production
and moderated a very well presented and well attended session of "Certification
- Does it Deliver?". Various speakers including Australia's Peter Cornish,
suggested that organic certification should focus on improvement in several
areas including measures to increase best practices in soil management and balanced
fertility improvement. At the same session, however, substantial evidence was
presented by the Rodal institute which revealed from literature reviews over
a long period, that all biophysical indicators were positive for certified organic
farms.
Other delegates were engaged in the important business of the world board. The OFA secretary, Liz Clay, once again was voted onto the world board and takes on the many months of voluntary work demanded of the position in the next 3 years leading up to the IFOAM congress in Australia in 2005.
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| Rod May joins Jorge Casales (left) from Argentina
in a discussion of sheep standards with the Iceland representative of the
IFOAM General Assembly. |
Rod May delivers a range of recommendations to the GA on behalf of the IFOAM Standards Committee | ||
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| OFA Rejects AQIS Proposals for New National Logo |
In a communication to AQIS last week, the OFA rejected the current proposals for a new national logo. Whilst it strongly supports the development of a logo, the content of the current draft and the process of arriving at such a logo were inadequate in the opinion of the OFA.
To back up just a little, in May, the Organic Produce Export Committee (OPEC) asked AQIS to investigate calling up a logo in the Export Control orders. The committee also received a detailed proposal from the OFA to put in place a process to arrive at a widely recognized and professional image of the Australian organic industry both domestically and internationally. This proposal for a "visual identification" development was worked up with the assistance of a professional consultancy and described a process with great detail.
It is the belief of the OFA that there was agreement of the OPEC to pursue this process, leaving the legislative position to AQIS.
"What has now happened, is that AQIS has proposed a logo, based on less
than 1 week of consultation which offers several 'artistic variations' but only
one set of words - "AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT CERTIFIED".
Apart from the inadequate process, there are grave deficiencies with logo, according
to OFA chair, Rod May. "There is no mention of the word organic, the government
does not certify, but it accredits and there is no consumer confidence likely
to arise from identification with Government".
The larger certification bodies have rejected the serious flaws in the proposal,
but the opinion of the OFA has not been officially taken into consideration
by AQIS.
"This is a serious threat to the principles of democracy within the committee",
according to Rod May, who claims that it is difficult to comprehend how non-certifier
members of OPEC can be overlooked in the process.
The OFA will be consulting further with industry members in the coming weeks
to attempt to head off a major threat to the Australian organic industries image
and independence.
| Reminder: OFA Annual General Meeting |
Saturday September 14th
Burnley College Campus (Melbourne University) - Institute of Land and Food Resources,
500 Yarra Boulevarde, Burnley
"Linking the Organic Industry - How to tap into existing funding and
support structures."
Various speakers will talk about successful case studies and provide ideas on
how members can access funding and industry support for developing the organic
industry in their industry and regions.
Followed by the AGM and an organic dinner.
For more information contact: Rod May - OFA Chairperson, capck@netconnect.com.au Liz Clay - OFA Secretary, liz-clay@sympac.com.au Sid Cowling - Membership and Treasurer, cowlings@netspace.net.au
2.30 pm Afternoon tea - Organic of Course!
3.00 PM AGM
Notice of Constitutional Changes -
4.30 PM Board Elections and announcements of Board
5.00 PM Where to from Here? Wind up comments.
OFA members Dinner - Details TBA
Sunday – 15th September
Field excursions to organic farms - Petty's Orchard and Farm Tour - certified
organic heritage apple and pear orchard - Templestowe
| BFA Attains IFOAM Accreditation |
Australian Certified Organic (owned by the BFA) achieved success in attaining
IFOAM accreditation. The IFOAM GA announced in Canada last week that BFA is
now accredited by IFOAM. This announcement means that the majority of certified
operators in Australia are now under the wing of IFOAM accreditation and will
be able to bear the IFOAM seal.
The OFA welcomes this positive development in Australia and congratulates the
BFA on its achievement. This is a major development for the industry.
They joined JONA from Japan, and Bioland from Germany in adding to the total
of 21 certifiers worldwide who now certify an estimated 60% of organic products
worldwide. The presentation was made by Ken Commins, manager of the IOAS (the
International Organic accreditation service is owned and contracted by IFOAM
to do its audits) and accepted by Quentin Jones who heads up the BFA certification
program.
The significance of this new development will not go unnoticed in the certified
sector, with implications for greater ease of transference of products between
NASAA and BFA being an obvious advantage.
On a related matter, the agreement by AQIS at the last OPEC meeting, to accept
IOAS audits as the basis of the governments accreditation program promises to
add an economy of scale to the industry with the possibility of cost reductions
through the sharing of audits between the IFOAM and AQIS program. Some smaller
certifiers have indicated an interest in IOAS audits that are considerable cheaper
than AQIS and meet with widespread international acceptance. These certifiers
have indicated that they would simply use this audit, free of the need for complex
and costly AQIS accreditation as the basis for domestic market acceptance.
The OFA conducted discussions with the IOAS whilst in Canada and will be urging
AQIS to follow up this development by seeking acceptance from importing countries
of this arrangement.
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Note: To have your company and product news published in the OFA newsletter, send information to the webmaster at webmaster@ofa.org.au
| O-Organic Produce Goes to Market |
O-Organic Produce has teamed up with Organics Out Of The Box and opened a Saturday morning market at Homebush. It runs from 8.00 am to 12.00 midday at 4/177 Arthur St Homebush.
We are excited to be able to offer our freshly produced organic products along side our friends at Organics out of the Box, who have a delicious range of organic fruit and veggies on offer at their warehouse at the markets. It's a great opportunity for customers to purchase something yummy and healthy like a roast veggie and tempe wrap or perhaps a hommus and pesto bruschetta, or just peruse the many exciting foods on offer in a relaxed atmosphere. For your convenience, don't forget to check out our wide range of take home meals such as the popular gluten free vegan gnocchi or the Mexican spiced chicken, tomato and saffron potato hotpot and the many other hotpots and frozen soups to satisfy the appetite.
For more information contact O-Organic Produce on 02 9319 4009.
Shane Hillard
O-Organic Produce
| Heavenly Organic Launches New Lines of Hummus |
Award winning chef Craig Morrison has launched two new certified organic
products to add to Heavenly Organic's range of gourmet hummus.
The first is a beautiful beetroot hummus. Craig has not left the traditional
spice of cummin out of this one and is a big seller in Sydney and Melbourne.
It is certified by the Organic Herb Growers of Australia.
Orange spiced hummus is his second with a special blend of spices from Herbies
Spices Rozelle, Sydney. It uses only certified organic orange juice and is also
certified by the Organic Herb Growers of Australia. Both of Craig's great tasting
new lines of hummus are 97% fat free.
For more information contact Craig Morrison on 02 6681 6555 or visit the website at www.heavenlyorganic.com.au
Heavenly Organics| Feijoa - Old Fruit in a New Market |
Feijoa Australia, founded by the Casey family in Lower Wonga, QLD, are 18 months away from processing their first crop of Feijoa fruit into juice. Until then they are distributing Feijoa and other juices for the 'Huia' brand, grown and processed in New Zealand. After a successful initial trial plant, they are preparing to plant another 3,000 trees this year and up to 7,000 in total over the next 3 or 4 years. They will also be encouraging other growers into the industry and support by offering local processing. Juice extraction will be done on the property and will be followed with a fruit winery.
The Feijoa fruit is native to Brazil and is already popular in New Zealand. It is bright green in colour and can grow to the size of a duck egg. It is a sweet-tart, fleshy fruit, and can be used in fruit or pasta salads, smoothies, jams, pickles, and so on. The main selling point of the feijoa is that it is high in vitamin c and low in sugar making it a good diabetic fruit and juice.
Retailers interested in carrying these lines of juice, and other enquiries, contact Feijoa Australia on Ph: 07 5486 1280 and feijoaaustralia@bigpond.com
| Could Pranic Healing Help in Dry Times ? |
This unorthodox approach is sure to find both supporters and critics. We let you draw your own conclusion.
The following is an extract from a paper read by Nona Castro, who is in charge
of Pranic healing in Canada:
"In 1997 the Okanogan Valley, particularly the Kootenays, was hit by the
potato blight for the first time. It was thought to have come in on a contaminated
air mass, travelling up from the south, and overnight attacked the potato and
tomato crops over much of southern British Columbia, killing the plants and
seriously ruining the crops. In 1998 it hit again, more serious this time, the
like of which was responsible for the death by starvation of millions of people
in Ireland in the 1800's.
Pranic healing techniques were used on the McIntyre farm. This involved transferring
bio-energy into the land, which is a living organism and using cleansing and
energizing techniques as well as other protocols for treating contaminated land
and to prevent bug infestation. On the farm which was treated, the tubers did
not become contaminated to the extent that they had been the previous year and
the crop recovery was amazingly good considering how early the plants had died.
It is worth mentioning that as a proof of the Pranic Healing treatments, the
farms north and south of the McIntyres had very poor potato recovery and got
almost no crop at all. The blight stopped and has not come back to affect the
potatoes. Since then carrots are possibly the SWEETEST ever grown on a farm
already famous for its sweet carrots. The cabbages, many tons of it, are free
of insect infestation. And the synergistic and symbiotic harmony with the rest
of Mother Nature's creatures is incredibly touching, as one meets them in the
daily life in the field."
"Secondly, there is Pranic cultivation and fertilizer for the faster and
bigger yields of crops. Mr Harold Herman, a Menonite farmer and graduate of
Pranic Healing allotted one and a half acres of his commercial fields for garlic,
tomatoes, cabbage and broccoli to be worked on by Sanjoy Choudhri and his crew
of Pranic healers. The field was cleansed and energized regularly and the seeds
were also treated with Pranic healing. Harold was requested not to spray any
fertilizer or insecticide on the field, and the crops remained purely organic
and pranic. Total number of healing sessions done equals nine, at twice a week.
Results: Organic vegetables are normally smaller since they are not given any
artificial grower. The organic Pranic vegetables grew four times bigger than
the ordinary ones. Cabbages weighed from 19 to 23 pounds, tomatoes were sweet
as fruits and measured some 8 inches in diameter, similar to cantaloupe. Garlic
(not the elephant species) was as big as fists."
Pranic Healing is now available in Australia. A basic course in Pranic Healing
will be held on the 7th and 8th of September. Full scholarships to do the basic
Pranic Healing course will be available for those farmers undergoing hardship.
Voluntary assistance and advice will also be offered to farmers who would like
their farms to be treated with Pranic Healing.
For more information email infoaiis@optushome.com.au
or phone on 03 9887 8230 or 0419 594 285 or visit the website www.aiis.com.au
Editor's note: While not strictly a market, co-op's are somewhere in between markets and retailers, and we like this inspirational story about starting something from nothing. Hope it encourages more.
| The Story of OFEI (Organic Food and Education Inc.) |
At Southern Cross Uni the ever inspirational SRC could see the benefits of providing students with an alternative food outlet that sold quality produce at outstanding prices. One conversation between a gorgeous man and a spirited woman and the seeds were sown. Miriam, studying Naturopathy at the time, took on the labour of love of bringing an organic food co-operative to the Lismore campus of Southern Cross University.
The first step was gathering enough information to accomplish the task. She
called on a university with an established co-op for some assistance. Griffith
Uni Co-op were more than happy to help (AS WE WOULD BE! J).
OFEI is conscious of environmental and ecological issues with a major focus
is on education.
In 1996, with funds gathered from membership and donations, a shed was established underneath the Uni-bar clubhouse, with a real shop promised in the future. Initially bulk dry grains and fruit & veg were offered. We needed to prove that there was sufficient demand to run a viable shop.
The next phase began... The University, the SRC and the Union were approached for funding. The SRC was eager to have it up and running. Slowly but surely, six months later after winning the heart of Vice Chancellor Barry Cunningham, the current general store came into being. Run as a co-op it allows many wonderful and generous people to combine their efforts.
OFEI is filled with organic or chemical free produce. Organic dry fruits and nuts, carob mixes, snack foods, grain, rice, cereals, pastas in bulk. Refrigerated goods: tofu, tempeh, soya cheese and butter, drinks, homemade pesto, shelved items: soy milk, fresh baked breads, soups, herbal remedies, teas, pasta sauces, spreads and bush foods. Helpful information regarding organic gardening and genetic engineering issues is also available.
OFEI is always changing, expanding the product range and adapting to the shifting demographics of the university.
Volunteers run the co-op and tasks are divided amongst the members. Joining is easy. There are substantial discounts for different levels of membership. These are based on time committed to the shop. All our fresh produce is purchased weekly from local growers at the TROPO certified organic market. A procedure manual has been developed with step by step instructions detailing the running of the shop. We challenge other university campuses to start a co-op shop and support certified organic growers in your area. DO NOT HESITATE to contact us to help and inspire you! (02- 6620-3000)
| You will find more OFA and other industry services in the links below. |
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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
