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OANZ Organic News

Saturday, May 16, 2009
Posted in Organics | Tagged Organics

It may be a cold, grey, wet and windy day across most of the country today, but there’s a glow of heat from the intense activity that is going on within OANZ. So what is keeping OANZ members so busy?

Our Education, Extension and Research Task Team is making preparations for National Fieldays (10-13 June) where OANZ will again occupy a premier stand. The theme for Fieldays this year is “My Land, Our Environment”, and the OANZ-coordinated stand will outline the reasons which make organics the best news for the environment. We will leave visitors to the OANZ stand in no doubt of the contribution that our members are making to enhancement of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

OANZ’s Communications and Advocacy Task Team is making great strides in the organisation of the National Organic Conference, to be held at the University of Waikato from 13-15 November. A host of local and international keynote speakers are being confirmed to talk to the theme of “Innovate: Go Organic!” and we have just opened our doors for the submission of papers from local presenters (see www.goorganic.org.nz for details on submitting papers).

Meanwhile, the Marketing and Market Access Team is steering preparation of the 2009 Organic Sector Report. To be published in November, this will give an update on growth and developments in the sector since the last report was published in 2007. At the same time, the team is partnering with government to address organic market access issues with China and Australia.

The rain may still be travelling horizontally outside the window, but inside organics, the heat is very much on.

Organic benefits from Biochar?

There is an increasing interest in Biochar as a technological method to mitigate the affects of anthropogenic climate change, led by the International Biochar Initiative.

What is Biochar?

Biochar is not simply charcoal, or char, or activated carbon. Biochar is the slow burning of organic matter to create “a fine-grained charcoal high in organic carbon that is largely resistant to decomposition”. This is produced by a process called slow pyrolysis which is the slow burning (at a low heat) of organic matter with a controlled (low) amount of oxygen.

Why Biochar?

The theory of converting organic matter to Biochar prior to adding it to the soil is that it sequesters carbon out of the atmosphere, altering the carbon balance within the system and increasing soil carbon. Increases in soil carbon play a potentially significant role in mitigating climate change, and the process of storing carbon in soil is described as being potentially carbon negative.

Biochar and organics?

The organic sector needs to asses this technology to determine if it is an option which “fits” with organic systems of food and fibre production. OANZ Board member Mike Palmers attended a seminar at Massey University on 24 April 2009, reaching the conclusion that a significant amount of research still needs doing.

Mike recommends that New Zealand’s organic sector needs to consider whether Biochar should - or can - be part of any organic system, saying we need to better understand how changing the percentage of carbon in the sources and sinks within the carbon cycle will affect the biosphere.

Mike believes Biochar technology seems likely to be promoted as an option for mitigating climate change - maybe in conjunction with conventional primary production systems - and warns that this comes at the risk of bypassing what organics has to offer.

The benefits of Biochar seem to mirror those that can be attributed to building soil organic matter in general, so the question is which is more sustainable - the quick conversion of organic matter to Biochar, or the conversion of production to organic systems.

Organic orchards ‘may be able to trade carbon credits’

A Massey University researcher has found organic fruit growing operations are environmentally sustainable and could trade carbon credits in the future.

Dr Girija Page has developed a new framework to assess the sustainability of organic fruit growing.

Her research analysed energy efficiency and environmental impacts of organic kiwifruit and organic apple growing operations in the Bay of Plenty and Hawke’s Bay.

Dr Page says her assessment was based on two criteria: efficient use of energy and non-degradation of the environment from energy and material use.

She has identified indicators such as energy efficiency, carbon dioxide ratio, changes in the soil carbon level, nutrient balances and the leaching of nitrogen.

Dr Page organic orchard systems are sustainable in terms of energy use and most of the environmental impacts they have on the soil, water and atmosphere.”

She adds, “In fact, they were a carbon sink, so they could potentially trade carbon credits under the Kyoto Protocol.”

Dr Page says more research is needed on a larger number of organic orchard systems to back up her findings. She adds some of the data she used came from international literature, so it would be good to have similar data available from within New Zealand.

NZAID supports organics in the Pacific

New Zealand’s International Aid & Development Agency (NZAID) is backing organics as a way to help Pacific nations develop high-value export markets.

Samoa’s Women in Business Development Incorporated (WIBDI), funded by NZAID, has just successfully completed a trial of organic misiluki (’lady finger’) banana exports to New Zealand.

With support from Biosecurity NZ, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, the Samoan Ministry of Agriculture, and New Zealander Chris Morrison (formerly of Phoenix Organics), WIBDI has conducted two export trials of organic misiluki bananas. The first trial shipment by boat failed to meet biosecurity requirements but the second trial, sent by air, was a success. Four boxes of misiluki bananas were treated with different organic methods, including simple washing instead of chemical treatment. All boxes passed inspection.

Currently all other banana imports are sprayed on arrival to New Zealand. Because of this there is an unmet demand for spray-free organic bananas. Exporting organic misiluki bananas to New Zealand provides a vast opportunity for Samoan farmers as it gives market access for a product that has almost no local economic value in Samoa.

WIBDI hopes that in the near future misiluki bananas will be available for purchase at every organics store in New Zealand.

Meanwhile, another NZAID-sponsored project in Vanuatu is using virgin organic coconut oil to make soap. The Palm Project began as a women’s collective and has since grown into a successful commercial venture, based in Maskelynes, a remote group of islands in Vanuatu.

The collective found that adding tea tree oil gave the soap anti-fungal and anti-bacterial qualities, which is ideal for treating scabies and lice. With financial assistance from the NZAID and the NZ Children’s Health and Education Trust (NZCHET) a soap factory has been built in Meskelynes. The soap has attracted significant interest from local hotels and resorts and the Palm Project hopes to secure contracts with these businesses soon.

Plans are now in place to extend the range of organic products made by the Palm Project to include shampoo, conditioner and moisturisers. 

New Zealand organics on Facebook

OANZ has launched a Facebook group for supporters of New Zealand organic products. The group lets people post photos and videos, and comment on a discussion board, as well as publicizing organic events and encouraging people to connect to others interested in organics.

Join us at http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=79415081571.

‘Greenlist’ - new directory of sustainable businesses

The Sustainable Business Network, in collaboration with green living site Ecobob.co.nz, has launched a new online directory of sustainable businesses.

Called Greenlist (www.greenlist.co.nz) it is believed to be the world’s first online directory of green products and services where listings are compared against sustainability principles.

Suppliers rate their sustainable products and services against six sustainability principles: cyclic, solar, mega-efficient, safe, social, and certified. Only products or services that meet Greenlist’s minimum criteria are listed.

Users of the site have the opportunity to share their thoughts about the product or service by commenting on the listings. This results in a full 360-degree view of green Kiwi products and services and keeps listings honest, because claims can be endorsed, refuted, questioned, or discussed.

Greenlist is offering a free introductory listing on the site for six months for the first 1000 businesses to sign up.

‘Make Wellington Fair Trade’ campaign launched

A campaign has been launched to make Wellington the first Fair Trade City in New Zealand.

This would require a resolution by the Wellington City Council, following the examples of councils in London, Chicago and almost 250 other cities worldwide that have already declared themselves as Fair Trade.

The initiative was raised at the Wellington City Council Strategy and Policy Committee last week by Marion Woods from Commonsense Organics, and Paul Barber from the Trade Aid Wellington Trust.

Over the past few years the sales of fair trade products in NZ have grow exponentially to reach an estimated $40 million in 2008.

The Wellington region has been a leader in this growth of fair trade in New Zealand, and if you would like to support Wellington’s campaign, you can sign the online petition at www.wellington.govt.nz/haveyoursay/e-petitions/ep/details/76.

Organic agriculture and women’s empowerment

Te Waka Kai Ora member Dr Jessica Hutchings, with colleague Dr Cathy Farnworth, has recently completed an international study looking at the relationship between organic agriculture and women’s empowerment.

The report was prepared for the International Federation of Organic Agricultural Movements (IFOAM) and presents case studies from around the world - including case studies from Te Waka Kai Ora and Women in Business Development in Samoa.

Electronic and printed copies of “Organic Agriculture and Womens’ Empowerment” can be ordered through the IFOAM website - www.ifoam.org.

Database of Maori organic producers

To allow better communication and support, Te Waka Kai Ora is preparing a database of Maori organic producers around Aotearoa.

If you would like to be added to this, email Wade Wereta-Osborn on weretaosborn@xtra.co.nz.

USDA offers $50 million in funding for organic food production

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is offering $50 million in new funding to encourage greater production of organic food in the United States.

A portion of the funding has been allocated for every state and is available exclusively through a special signup under the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, administered by USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service.

To qualify, a producer must be certified through the National Organic Program or be in the process of transitioning to organic production.

The Organic Trade Association (OTA) has welcomed the new funding, which it says shows the USDA recognises organic farming practices represent positive environmental practices. The OTA believes the funding will further encourage farmers to use such practices and help increase the US production of organic food to meet growing consumer demand.

The USDA also intends to create a division within the agency that is dedicated to organic agriculture.

Diary these dates

May 26, 2009. Seminar run by OANZ and Fonterra as part of the Focus Farm Programme. Te Awamutu Rugby Sports and Recreation Club. Understanding organic certification, carbon footprinting and more. Optional tour to Focus Farm. More information: Sally Lee 0274 924 751 or email sally.lee@agfirst.co.nz.

June 5 and 7, 2009. Te Waka Kai Ora National Wananga. Roma Marae, Ahipara.
Powhiri Friday 5th June 10am; and Poroporoake Sunday 7th 12 noon.

Calling together Maori organic farmers and gardeners to enjoy korero and kai in the winterless north, including Hua Parakore (kaupapa Maori framework for farming and gardening) Growers Hui, celebration of the young gardeners who participated in the TOPIS Te Manawhenua challenge and Italian inspiration in the wharekai with celebrated Slow Food chef Maria Pia.

This wananga will be a celebration of our kaupapa, our whanaungatanga and the plentiful harvest we share both now and in the future. This wananga will be an opportunity to share our mahi and korero around the direction we want to see Hua Parakore take.

For information and registration contact: Pounamu Skelton, TWKO National Coordinator,
Phone 06 7546256 or 021 373519 or email pounamu1@ihug.co.nz  or visit www.huamaori.com.

Organics News Roundup

USDA to conduct first wide-scale survey of organic producers
ObserverToday.com 23/04/2009

The 2007 Census of Agriculture counted over 20,000 U.S. farms engaged in organic production. To learn more about how the growth of organic farming is changing the face of U.S. agriculture, the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will soon conduct its first wide-scale survey of organic agricultural producers and producers in transition to organic agriculture.

“The Organic Production Survey comes in direct response to the growing interest in organics among consumers, farmers, businesses and others,” said Stephen Ropel, director of the NASS New York Field Office. “This is an opportunity for organic producers to share their voices and help ensure the continued growth and sustainability of organic production in the United States.”

The survey will look at many aspects of organic agriculture during the 2008 calendar year - from production and marketing practices, to income and expenses.

“The results will help shape future decisions regarding farm policy, funding allocations, availability of goods and services, community development and other key issues,” Ropel noted. “In addition, the information can help organic producers make informed decisions about the future of their own farming operations.”

NASS will mail the Organic Production Survey in early May to all known organic producers in the United States. They are required to respond by June 17. Results are expected to be available in late 2009. More…http://www.observertoday.com/page/content.detail/id/522416.html
The individual comments and views in this newsletter do not necessarily represent the view of OANZ.