| Project
Title |
Organic
polyculture systems: design principles, risks and benefits |
| RIRDC
Project No.: |
AGC-3A |
| Start
Date: |
30/04/99 |
| Finish
Date: |
30/05/00 |
| Researcher: |
Mr. Larry Geno |
| Organisation: |
Agroecology Associates Consultants
434 Ilkley Road
ILKLEY QLD 4554 |
| Phone: |
(07) 5478 8815 |
| Email: |
b.geno@cqu.edu.au |
| Objectives |
· To make informationavailable
on organic polyculture systems design that is currently in existence, nit
not widely available, through collecting analysing and distributing the
principles of successful organic polyculture farming in a report to RIRDC.
|
| Current
Progress |
A literature search of some 250
items covering the principles, benefits and risks of polyculture practices
in multiple cropping, agroforestry, and intercropping, as well as the ecological
basis for polyculture function, has been completed. From this extensive
literature review, the principles and design characteristics responsible
for polyculture yield advantage, risk reduction, pest management and landscape
interaction benefits are drawn from traditional and third world organic
examples as well as cases within industrial agriculture. This literature
survey has been structured into a conceptual framework that summarises
the principles underpinning polyculture farming systems with an emphasis
on plant components.
Given some evidence that Australian farmers may be using
polyculture practices, a survey of 7000 certified organic, sustainable,
and conventional primary producers was conducted to determine principles,
benefits and risks as perceived by the producer. The survey allows comparison
of Australian producers with practices utilised overseas, and illuminates
any Australian innovations. A subsample group of polyculture producers
revealed by the survey are interviewed on-farm to further understand polyculture
practice and uptake and to deepen the understanding of polyculture benefits
and risks. |
| Project
Title |
Identify,
disseminate and promote information/practices which establishes organic
as a viable mainstream food production system in Southern Queensland |
| RIRDC
Project No.: |
DAQ-254A |
| Start
Date: |
1/01/99 |
| Finish
Date: |
30/06/00 |
| Researcher: |
Mr. Lindsay Coghill |
| Organisation: |
Department of Primary Industries
(Qld)
PO Box 102
TOOWOOMBA QLD 4350 |
| Phone: |
(07) 4688 1334 |
| Fax: |
(07) 4688 1184 |
| Email: |
coghill@dpi.qld.gov.au |
| Objectives |
· identify,
collate and disseminate information and knowledge and integrate informtion
sharing in the region for the benefit of organic enterprises and industry
· improve understanding
of the organic practices and the prospects for wider adoption
· identify limiting
factors at all steps in the value-chain and provide options for solutions
· facilitate the adoption
of organic as a viable mainstream food/fibre system
· faciltate communciation
and networking between growers, researchers and industry
|
| Current
Progress |
Key achievements were:
Fostering Industry development – Further development
of the farmlink Organic segment in order to encourage more producers to
the industry by the provision of information, and supply and demand market
signals. This included:
§ Increasing
the number of producers registered on Farmlink so as to improve the dissemination
of information and encourage information sharing between growers, researchers
and industry.
§ Trialing the concept
of posting partially researched product-specific market opportunities on
Farmlink and providing a ‘forum’ to promote and gauge interest in the opportunity.
§ Trialing the facilitation
of industry seminars to further explore the opportunity and the formation
of production and marketing groups.
§ Developing a network
of stakeholders to support the production and marketing group to achieve
a commercial outcome.
The project team has been active using Farmlink and conventional
means to encourage more producers to the industry by the provision of technical
information and market signals.
Disseminate Information – In response to the requests
received at field days and seminars at Roma, Harrisville and Toowoomba,
a flow-on effect has been recognised where further events have been staged
(Growforce, Guano seminar, Organic bus tour, Cunnamulla, Barcaldine, Brisbane)
to transfer information between participants interested in the organic
industry. |
| Project
Title |
Integrated
development of intensive organic vegetable production systems |
| RIRDC
Project No.: |
DAT-37A |
| Start
Date: |
9/06/99 |
| Finish
Date: |
30/05/03 |
| Researcher: |
Dr Jason Dennis |
| Organisation: |
Department of Primary Industries,
Water and Environment (TAS)
PO Box 1283
DEVONPORT TAS 7310 |
| Phone: |
(03) 6428 3555 |
| Fax: |
(03) 6428 3550 |
| Email: |
jasond@fieldfresh.com.au |
| Objectives |
· To test and
document organic production protocols for carrots, broccoli, swedes and
possibly onions in a balanced rotation with pasture and livestock. These
protocols will be developed from collation, adaptation and demonstration
of technical knowledge sourced from both organic and conventional IPM systems.
The final two years will focus on providing information and training in
organic production protocols for existing and prospective growers.
|
| Current
Progress |
The first pilot commercial carrot
crop (1ha), grown in compliance with NASAA pre-conversion requirements,
yielded 64t gross and 45.5t net (75.4% pack out), which compares favourably
with conventionally grown crops of the same variety that on average yield
66t gross and 42t net (63% pack out).
In the absence of WWOOFers and a large itinerant labour
force, the logistics and cost of hand weeding were identified as potential
impediments to future industry expansion. One possible solution to this
situation was demonstrated in a second 1.4ha carrot crop; where the crop
was successfully hand weeded by a community group seeking to raise funds.
Class 1 product from the first carrot crop was sent to
Japan, Sydney, Adelaide and Melbourne for test marketing. Although the
market feedback was very positive regarding quality, all the markets indicated
that premiums for pre-conversion and conversion organic produce are difficult
to achieve. Data from the first crop indicates that organic carrot production
will cost $100-$130 a net tonne more than conventional crops. This poses
a difficult financial dilemma for the pre-conversion and conversion periods
in the absence of a suitable market premium.
The experimental shallot crop has been lifted, cured and
sent for test marketing, where feedback to date is similar to the carrot
situation. The pilot Broccoli crop (1ha) was ploughed in before harvest
due to excessive insect damage. |
| Project
Title |
Development
of organic crop and pasture systems for south east Australia |
| RIRDC
Project No.: |
DAV-142A |
| Start
Date: |
1/01/98 |
| Finish
Date: |
30/06/01 |
| Researcher: |
Carol Hollier and Viv Burnett |
| Organisation: |
Department of Natural Resources
& Environment
RMB 1145
Chiltern Valley Road
RUTHERGLEN VIC 3685 |
| Phone: |
(02) 6030 4500 |
| Fax: |
(02) 6030 4600 |
| Email: |
Viv.Burnett@nre.vic.gov.au |
| Objectives |
· Increased
area devoted to organic production systems (30%) and increase in organic
producers (20%) in south eastern Australia as a result of step-wise adoption
of known technologies by year 2001.
· Expanded grower network
to facilitate communication and link market opportunities.
· Increased share of
organic export food market to Japan and Northern Asia by the year 2001.
|
| Current
Progress |
This project aims to increase
the area under organic production, exports of organic food, and the number
of organic producers, and enhance communication between producers, marketers
and the broader organic industry. These aims are being met through conversion
sites, workshops and field days, surveys and newsletters. The project has
facilitated the establishment of two organic conversion sites on mixed
farms in south-east Australia. These conversion sites have produced both
crop and pasture in 1999 and have been re-established in 2000 to demonstrate
to broadacre producers the methods employed in organic farming systems
through field day participation and articles in the rural press. The network
amongst broadacre producers has been enhanced with the quarterly publication
of the Broadacre Organic Newsletter that is distributed to over 120 interested
producers. The project has conducted two major workshops for broadacre
producers interested in organic farming systems. The second workshop was
held in March 2000 and was directed towards conventional broadacre producers
interested in proceeding with organic production. Both events have been
highly successful and evaluation by participants has shown that the delivery
of information has been excellent. The project has conducted an extensive
survey of TopCrop® producers to gauge their interest in organic production.
Preliminary results from this survey have shown that more than 60% of respondents
are very interested in organic farming and want more information about
methods and results. Information collected from certified organic producers
via research and conversion sites, and surveys, will provide data for benchmarking
of organic methods. |
| Project
Title |
Development
of organic crop and pasture systems for south east Australia |
| RIRDC
Project No.: |
DAW-96A |
| Start
Date:
Finish Date:
Researcher: |
26-Aug-1999
30 Aug 2000
Mr Gerry Parlevliet |
| Organisation: |
Agriculture Western Australia
Locked Bag No. 4
BENTLEY DELIVERY CENTRE WA 6983 |
| Phone: |
(08) 9368 3333 |
| Fax: |
(08) 9368 3946 |
| Objectives |
· The project
will specifically arrange several seminar/forums to promote opportunities
for organic production and marketing.
· The output will be
several seminars. The outcome is anticipated to be a greater awareness
of organic opportunity and understanding of the organic industry by Western
Australian Agriculture Industry.
|
| Current
Progress |
Two seminars were planned under
this project. They were designed to increase the awareness of the Western
Australian Agriculture industry about opportunities in organic farming
and marketing.
One seminar was held on May 13th 2000 at the
University of Western Australia. It was a joint activity with the University
RIRDC and Agriculture Western Australia. The target audience was he whole
community but particularly the farming and agribusiness industry.
Press releases saw pre seminar publicity in the Western
Australian as well as rural press. One hundred and twenty people attended.
Speakers (Rod May, NASAA and Scott Kinnear, OFA) were flown across and
provided well-received presentations; the Gerry Parlevliet provided a review
of the RIRDC funded project results DAW 85A). Several speakers from the
organic and biodynamic industry gave in-sightful presentations about the
real organic world.
The responses since the seminar have been positive.
A second seminar is scheduled to be held in Margaret River
on Organic Viticulture on July 7th 2000. This will look specifically
at the organic wine industry. The RIRDC project funds have been utilised
to bring David Bruer from South Australia and Tony Scherer from Tasmania
to discuss their operations. Local organic and industry people will provide
other topics on production, marketing etc. It is anticipated 40-50 people
will be attending.
The benefit of the RIRDC support has been to enable high
profile seminars to be run in Western Australia. |
| Project
Title |
Presentation
of ecological sustainable land management systems to farmers |
| RIRDC
Project No.: |
EGO-1A |
| Start
Date: |
15/07/99 |
| Finish
Date: |
30/11/00 |
| Researcher: |
Mr. Alan Broughton |
| Organisation: |
East Gippsland Organic Agriculture
Association Inc
35 Haggers Rd
SARSFIELD VIC 3875 |
| Phone: |
(03) 5156 8547 |
| Objectives |
· To give farmers
the knowledge, impetus and confidence to convert to more sustainable land
management practices in order to improve their economic and environmental
viability.
|
| Current
Progress |
The East Gippsland Organic Agriculture
Association has completed most of the project, having presented two sustainable
soil management workshops to farmers, run by soil consultant Gwyn Jones
in 1999.
These soil workshops included:
· Soil science
made easy
· Soil PH
· Major and minor soil
elements
· Physical soil identification
· Plant and animal health
an mineral deficiencies
· Overview of organic
conversion.
Farmers from all over Gippsland attended the workshops. Farming
enterprises represented included dairy, beef, sheep, goats, alpacas, vegetables,
berries, fruits, flowers and herbs. Manufacturers and processors wanting
organic produce also attended.
Grow Organic 2000 was attended by 130 people. Speakers
and their topics included:
· Dr John Williams
– Topsoil protection in extreme weather conditions. Avoiding nutrient loss.
· Ms Sue Smart – Producing
organic beef.
· Mr Peter Frazer –
The energy field of living organisms. Human health and agriculture.
· Mr Phil Rowe – Organic
fruits and berries. Marketing. Pests and disease control. Permaculture
and soil fertility.
· Mr Jason Alexander
– Constraints to organic conversion and methods.
Workshops were also a feature of the Grow Organic 2000 weekend.
A booklet containing a profile of the speakers and a written
edited version of the taped presentations is still in the production stage.
A survey of the participants, evaluating the success of
the Grow Organics 2000, is currently being compiled. |
|
|
| Project
Title |
Pest
management strategies for organic agriculture |
| RIRDC
Project No.: |
IPM-1A |
| Start
Date: |
15/07/99 |
| Finish
Date: |
30/06/02 |
| Researcher: |
Dr. Paul Horne |
| Organisation: |
IPM Technologies Pty Ltd
PO Box 560
HURSTBRIDGE VIC 3099 |
| Phone: |
(03) 9710 1554 |
| Fax: |
(03) 9710 1354 |
| Email: |
paulh@c033.aone.net.au |
| Objectives |
· To provide
specific pest management recommendations for key pests in organic production.
· To test the efficacy
of pesticides suitable for organic production (that is, of botanical, elemental,
viral, bacterial and fungal origin) and so provide data to support registration
of suitable products.
· To provide information
on the effects of the pesticides tested on beneficial insects and mites
and so provide the basic information required for development of Integrated
Pest Management (IPM) strategies.
· To
test the effectiveness of augmentative releases of mass-reared beneficial
insects.
|
| Current
Progress |
Organic farmers do not use synthetic
chemical pesticides but many rely heavily on naturally occurring beneficial
insects and mites and/or just a few pesticides such as pyrethrum and BT-based
insecticides. The level of control achieved with background beneficial
insects is often insufficient, and the reliance on pyrethrum and BT is
not sustainable, is expensive, and certainly not desirable in terms of
pest management. This project will test new products for effects on beneficial
insects (predators and parasites) as well as on pests. It aims to provide
organic producers with a suite of compatible control measures that will
increase the level of pest control and increase the control options available.
The project aims to provide information on how growers can achieve more
effective and more sustainable control of major pests by maximising biological
control agents and suitable insecticides.
This project aims to provide specific pest management
recommendations for key pests in organic production. It involves testing
the efficacy of pesticides suitable for organic production (that is, of
botanical, elemental, viral, bacterial and fungal origin). This is now
providing information on the effects of the pesticides on beneficial insects
and mites, in addition to pests, and so is contributing the basic information
required for development of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies.
In addition to looking at the effects of pesticides, the
project is also testing the effectiveness of augmentative releases of mass-reared
beneficial insects and mites. This involves using predatory (or parasitic)
species against pests where the beneficials are not present in sufficient
numbers to achieve control, or in crops where they have not previously
been used. |
| Project
Title |
Non-conventional
options for effective nematode control in 'organic' sheep production |
| RIRDC
Project No.: |
RWO-2A |
| Start
Date: |
15/07/99 |
| Finish
Date: |
30/06/02 |
| Researcher: |
Dr. Rob Woodgate |
| Organisation: |
35 Martin Road
ALBANY WA 6330 |
| Phone: |
(08) 9841 6920 |
| Fax: |
(08) 9841 6075 |
| Email: |
writesci@albanyis.com.au |
| Objectives |
· The overall
aim of the project is to collect, summarise and investigate and successfully
validate or refute current, often anecdotal evidence circulating about
non-conventional sheep endoparasite treatment and control methods.
|
| Current
Progress |
The first year of the project
has involved literature search and review, discussions with ‘organic’ farmers
and other industry members and consultation with a range of scientists.
From this activity a wide array of more than 45 different
‘anthelmintic’ possibilities have been identified. The practicalities and
potential of these are currently being reviewed with an aim of selecting
some to be initially trialed in pilot field studies during the second year
of the study. The results of this pilot work will determine further activity.
The work thus far has also highlighted the potential contribution
to overall sheep worm control through ‘non-treatment’ options, which are
also less selective with regard to parasite resistance. These include the
selection of stock with enhanced natural resistance and resilience to nematode
parasites, management of stock grazing and pastures and methods of biological
control. |
| Project
Title |
Sustainable
weed management for organic herb and vegetable production |
| RIRDC
Project No.: |
UNE-65A |
| Start
Date: |
27/07/98 |
| Finish
Date: |
30/11/01 |
| Researcher: |
Dr. Brian Sindel |
| Organisation: |
University of New England
Division of Agronomy & Soil Science
University of New England
ARMIDALE NSW 2351 |
| Phone: |
(02) 6773 3747 |
| Fax: |
(02) 6773 3238 |
| Email: |
bsindel@metz.une.edu.au |
| Objectives |
· To remove
weeds as a major agronomic constraint to organically grown medicinal herbs
and vegetables by developing effective and flexible weed management systems
that suppress in-crop weeds, reduce the germinable weed seed population
in the soil, and which integrate readily adoptable and environmentally
friendly sustainable methods.
|
| Current
Progress |
The organic weed management research
project has achieved several major outcomes during the past twelve months.
The second year field trials have been completed, with a broad range of
weed management techniques being studied, including cover crops, tillage,
organic mulches and hand-weeding. The effectiveness of the treatments are
measured by their weed suppression, impact on crop yield and, importantly,
the cost of implementation. Aspects of the field trials are being further
investigated in a series of glasshouse and laboratory experiments. These
tests are designed to look at some of the factors related to weed suppression
in greater detail.
The mail-out survey results have been compiled into a
large database of current organic weed management practices and principles
in Australia. Searches can be made for particular weeds, crops, weeding
methods, geographical regions, etc. Further analysis of these data are
planned.
Extension and communication activities have been a significant
component of the project. Articles about the research have appeared in
various industry newsletters and two conference papers have been presented
to national audiences. A web site has been maintained since November 1998
and receives more than 100 hits each month. Informal requests for information
about particular weeds or crops are regularly received from the general
public through email, post, fax or phone. Information is provided through
verbal discussion or from the researchers’ archive of printed materials
and research database. Seminars on organic weed management have also been
presented to Rural Science students at UNE. |
