Ken Shirley: Our Organic Future

Organics Aotearoa New Zealand

Our Organic Future

Speech by Ken Shirley, Executive Director of Organics Aotearoa New Zealand To the "Organics - the future" seminar, Lincoln University, Thursday May 3, 2007.

Thursday, May 03, 2007

Good afternoon.

The American revolutionary, Patrick Henry, once said, "I know of no way of judging the future but by the past". The history of organics in New Zealand is long and fruitful, with many pioneers shaping the path that has led us here tonight. Whatever the shape of our organic future, it will be built on strong foundations.

Organics New Zealand is an incorporated society, formed in March 2006, with the goal of providing leadership, coordination and strategy across the organics sector.

We have a target of boosting organic production to $1 billion by 2013.

Our members are national organisations, focusing exclusively on organics. The membership includes certifiers, producers and special interest groups.

Whether you're an organic kiwifruit grower, dairy farmer or apple orchardist, your industry organisation is part of the OANZ family. Organic exporters are represented through OPENZ - the Organic Product Exporters of New Zealand - and Te Waka Kai Ora provides a strong voice for Maori organic producers. Both of these organisations have representatives on our Council and our Board.

Fourteen months after formation, Organics New Zealand runs three task teams - dedicated to communications and advocacy, research and education, and market access. We are lobbying on behalf of organic producers and their industry organisations, and we are growing the organics sector through the Organic Advisory Programme.

Our organic future looks bright.

Worldwide demand for quality, clean and ethical organic produce is growing rapidly.

According to IFOAM's recent report "The World of Organic Agriculture", almost 31 million hectares of land around the globe - more than 633,000 farms - are being managed organically. Global sales are currently about US$40 billion - almost 4% of the world food and beverage market.

But with sales of organic products increasing between 10% and 20% each year, the demand still outstrips supply.

Between 1999 and 2005 the amount of New Zealand land that was either certified organic or under conversion increased by more than 400%.

Today, our major organic export markets are Japan, Europe and the United States.

North America, which contributes almost half of global demand for organic products, farms just 2% of the world's organic land.

This rapidly expanding, high value, discerning global market offers a golden opportunity for New Zealand's certified organic producers - and for contemporary producers who are prepared to make the transition to organic production systems.

Helping them is the role of our Organic Advisory Programme.

New Zealand's organic exports are worth around $100 million a year. The domestic market consumes around $60 million, and another $40 million of organic products are imported each year.

To grow this organic pie, the Organic Advisory Programme has launched "Smart Start", which will offer a hand up to 50 new producers this year.

Last week our public meeting in Gore was attended by over 130 people - with strong representation from sheep and beef farmers seriously considering switching to organics.

But many non-organic farmers see conversion as an expensive and scary option. The costs are often over emphasised, and the benefits understated. There are entrenched prejudices against organic production systems. We intend to dispel the myths and break down those prejudices.

Smart Start offers farmers and growers a chance to have a trained consultant - at a subsidised cost - visit their property for an in depth review and discussion.

They can help identify options and the benefits of "going organic", as well as answer questions about the conversion and certification processes.

Smart Start will show producers the door into New Zealand's organic future. Those we've met with so far are keen to walk through it.

The Organic Advisory Programme also administers "Industry & Community Directed Programmes". Recipients will be given funding to distribute accurate and proven information to the organic sector.

In these ways, the Organic Advisory Programme will provide the support and assistance that Kiwi farmers need to make educated choices.

And those who do well will be rewarded.

Between 1996 and 1999 the premium for organic kiwifruit averaged 50%. Also in 1999, organic peas had a premium of 41% and organic sweetcorn, 57%.

Certified organic apples are enjoying a 100% premium, as is certified organic lamb.

So there are significant financial rewards for those who make the effort to convert, and Organics Aotearoa New Zealand wants to facilitate the transition.

At our conference in August, we will present the inaugural Organic Awards, which celebrate excellence in growing, retailing, and exporting.

Our organic future presents New Zealand with many opportunities - in health, the environment and trade.

These opportunities are based on the health benefits that come from producing food with high nutritional quality.

The environmental benefits come from farming in harmony with nature, using natural microbial activity to build active humus and healthier, more resilient soils, rather than fighting nature with synthetic chemicals and poisons.

Other environmental benefits include less erosion, greater biodiversity, enhanced water retention in drought prone soils, and less pollution.

Perhaps the most significant environmental benefits are the potential for active humus formation to sequester atmospheric carbon and reduce nitrate contamination of our waterways.

And trade benefits flow from offering a premium product, at premium prices.

However, there is no such thing as a free lunch - even a free organic lunch - and these opportunities come with risks.

Genetic engineering is incompatible with organic production systems, and we should be alarmed that the Environmental Risk Management Authority is looking at authorising field trials of GE Brassica.

Then there is the threat to international trade posed by the fundamentally flawed "food miles" concept. A Lincoln University study last year showed that - even taking into account transport to the UK - importing dairy products, lamb, apples and onions from New Zealand required less energy than producing the same goods locally. Nevertheless, market perceptions can be driven by these campaigns of distortion.

To make the most of our opportunities, I intend to tackle these issues head-on, and hope to have the full weight of the organics sector behind me.

The momentum of Organics New Zealand, and the Organic Advisory Programme, has built over our first year.

Now Smart Start, the Industry & Community Directed Programmes, our task teams, and our research programme will build on the strong foundations that we have.

By drawing the organics sector together, we can make the most of the huge opportunity - for health, environment and trade.

Together, our organic future is bright.

ENDS

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