RIRDC Completed Projects in 2001-2002 & Research in Progress as at June 2002

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To Organic Produce  Research in Progress

2.5 Organic Produce - Completed Projects
PROJECT No	PROJECT TITLE	RESEARCHER	PHONE	ORGANISATION

DAQ-271A	Industry development for organic vegetables in North Queensland	Mr. Kynan Gooding	(07) 4783 2355	Dept of Primary Industries (Qld)
DAV-180A	Decision support for organic conversion through workshop activity	Ms. Vivianne Burnett	(02) 6030 4500	Dept of Natural Resources & Environment (Vic)
IPM-1A	Pest management strategies for organic agriculture	Dr. Paul Horne	(03) 9710 1554	IPM Technologies Pty Ltd
ORG-2A	1800 Phone links to provide Public face to Organic Industry	Mr. Chris Alenson	(03) 5968 3040	Organic Retailers & Growers Association of Australia
UNE-65A	Sustainable weed management for organic herb and vegetable production	Dr. Brian Sindel	(02) 6773 3747	University of New England

Project Title:	Industry development for organic produce in North Queensland
RIRDC Project No:	DAQ-271A
Researcher:	Kynan Gooding
Organisation:	Queensland Department of Primary Industries - (Formerly) Rural Enterprise Management and Training Services (REMaTS) - (Current) PO Box 4962 Sunshine Coast MC
Phone:	(07) 5476 3105
Fax:	(07) 5476 1012
Email:	remats@bigpond.com
Objectives	The key outcomes of the proposed project were: · three regional North Queensland (Mackay, Ayr and Cairns) Industry Development Seminars, illustrating farmer/processor conversion from conventional farming to organic farming systems. However, the content of the Industry Development Seminars was not confined to the conversion process and included further organic industry information. · the production of information manuals for distribution at the Industry Development Seminars and beyond. · the establishment of a working group to progress organic industry development in North Queensland.  The above mentioned process is in line with RIRDC's Organic Communication and Education Program key priority of, identify, collate and disseminate information and knowledge for the benefit of organic enterprises and the industry.
Background	The existing economy of North Queensland is based primarily on two sectors – primary industries and tourism and will be stronger if it diversifies into other areas. Diversification will help to provide more jobs, more choice and greater economic stability in the region. Consumers are increasingly aware of the quality and safety of the food they consume – many are willing to pay more for guaranteed quality and safety. At the heart of this world-wide trend there is a desire to consume products, especially foods, that are safe, produced from environmentally sustainable farming systems, and that are ethically and socially acceptable. In growing numbers, consumers are seeking organically grown products in response to this concern. For these reasons, there is a need for the development of a stronger organic industry in North Queensland.

Research	An Industry Advisory Committee was firstly established. Desktop research was conducted to access information from secondary sources on past and current organic produce research. The QDPI team members also worked closely with industry participants to identify agronomic, economic and market features of the organic produce industry. From the preliminary research, relevant information was collated for compilation into the Organic Industry Information Manuals. Relevant speakers for the Industry Development Seminars were also identified. Regional seminars were conducted in Mackay and Townsville. Four key speakers were allocated an equal amount of time to address the three core topics on the agenda - markets, agronomics and economics. All industry development seminar participants received a copy of the Organic Information Manual. Interested growers formed working groups to progress the North Queensland Organic Industry.
Outcomes	All objectives of the project were met. The seminars were well attended (approx 90 people attended over the two days) and written feedback suggested that the information was well received. A number of growers formed groups in the two regional areas. In Mackay a group of sugar cane producers are now in the process of conversion and have plans for the processing of organic sugar.
Implications	The project has highlighted the strong need for the provision of more information on organic production and the high level of interest in organic farming throughout the North Queensland region.

Project Title:	Decision support for organic conversion through workshop activity
RIRDC Project No:	DAV 180A
Researcher:	Viv Burnett
Organisation:	Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Rutherglen Research Institute RMB 1145, Rutherglen Victoria 3685.
Phone:	(02) 60304500
Fax:	(02) 60304600
Email:	viv.burnett@nre.vic.gov.au
Objectives	· To deliver one annual workshop and three farmer meetings to provide broadacre farmers with information to convert to organic production, · To produce an information package that includes production, economic and certification information, which is delivered at the workshops.
Background	The demand for organic produce is increasing rapidly yet the rate of farm conversion to organic agricultural systems is relatively slow. In economic terms, this means that opportunities for increasing organic exports are not being captured, and in environmental terms, there are continued risks to natural resources with current agricultural practices. Two reasons for the slow rate of conversion are the inadequate provision of information to farmers on organic production, and the relative isolation (geographic, information support) of farmers who want to convert their farms. This project addressed both these issues with the provision of timely information, and the opportunity for farmers to attend an annual workshop.
Research	The project consisted of a sample economic survey of five conventional and five certified organic farmers to determine relative profitability during the years 1998/99 and 1999/00. An information package consisting of production and certification information was produced, and two workshops were held to deliver organic conversion information. The information package was also promoted at a number of conventional farmer events throughout Victoria and southern NSW.
Outcomes	Results from the economic survey showed that financial performance for organic farms could be similar to that of conventional farms in at least one of the survey years. However, the survey also found that those farmers who have most recently converted their farms to organic production were not as well rewarded as those who had been organically certified for longer periods of time. The information package allowed farmers to see a realistic snapshot of what other certified organic grain farmers were doing on their farms. The package documented what crops were being grown, the length of rotations, management methods for weeds, and soil fertility inputs. The package also utilised generic agronomic data such as crop densities for Victoria, yield losses due to ryegrass infestation, nutrient removal data, and stubble management information. The use of this information is significant because there is a substantial quantity of knowledge that has been generated within the conventional research sector that has direct applicability to organic farming. Workshop evaluation showed that half of the farmers indicated that they would begin adopting organic practices on their farms as a result of the new learning supplied. The additional commitment of commencing an organic conversion paddock wasn’t as popular with 33% of farmers in 2001, and 22% of farmers in 2002, indicating that they would do this.

Implications

Whilst many farmers realise the issues associated with conventional farming systems, the benefits of organic systems in terms of financial performance, and social and environmental outcomes have yet to be sufficiently validated in the Australian context. Significant research and development investment will be required to demonstrate environmental benefits of organic farming within the Australian environment. Only when problems during the first three years of conversion can be solved convincingly with examples of market success or advantage for producers, will movement towards organic conversion occur more rapidly.

Publications

Burnett, V.F., Neeson, R., and Wynen, E. (2001) Organic Grain Production – An Information Kit for primary producers, Natural Resources and Environment Victoria, NSW Agriculture and RIRDC.

Project Title:	Pest management strategies for organic agriculture
RIRDC Project No:	IPM-1A
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
Background	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) usually of botanical or elemental origin. The level of control achieved is often insufficient, and the reliance on pyrethrum and BT is not sustainable, is expensive, and certainly not desirable in terms of pest management.
Research	This project tested both existing and new products for effects on beneficial insects (predators and parasites) as well as on pests. It aimed to provide organic producers with a suite of compatible control measures that will increase the level of pest control and the control options available. The project also aimed 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 aimed to provide specific pest management recommendations for key pests in organic production. It tested the efficacy of pesticides suitable for organic production (that is, of botanical, elemental, viral, bacterial and fungal origin). It provided 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. The project also tested the effectiveness of augmentative releases of mass-reared beneficial insects.

Outcomes	Most of the pesticides that can be used by organic producers are not as effective as most of the synthetic pesticides used by conventional growers, when assessed on their own. Many compounds, including pyrethrum, oils and soaps can also have harmful effects on beneficial species. This project provides information on what effects pesticides have on beneficial species so that organic producers can integrate the use of beneficial species and pesticides.  Some new products are likely to be of use to organic producers as well as conventional growers. These include spinosad, nuclear polyhedrosis viruses and entomopathogenic fungi. These products are either available now or very near to commercialisation. Augmentative releases of beneficial species was found to assist in pest control in several instances, but cannot be used in isolation. The combination of releases to inoculate a crop with specific beneficials along with appropriate cultural methods or selected pesticides can achieve good control of pests.
Implications	Pest management by organic producers should focus on integrating biological and cultural control methods as the primary tool, and use selected pesticides to support these methods. Simply because pesticides are allowed to be used by organic organisations does not mean that their use will improve overall pest control.  Augmentation of beneficial species by the introduction of mass-reared species (possibly already present) will be of use to organic producers in some circumstances. If this approach is used, then great care will be needed with the use of pesticides.
Publications	Functional diversity, Pest management and Restoration ecology. Pp184- 185 in Inaugural OFA National Organics Conference, Sydney 2001. Paul Horne

Project Title:	1800 Phone links to provide Public face to Organic Industry
RIRDC Project No:	ORG-2A
Researcher:	Mr Chris Alenson
Organisation:	Organic Retailers & Growers Association of Australia
Phone:	(03) 5968 3040
Fax:	(03) 5968 3959
Email:	oas@alphalink.com.au
Objectives	· Provide public face to organic industry · Direct certification inquiries to AQIS certifiers · Direct growers to technical support · Respond to consumer inquiries re. accessing organic produce · Educational material forwarded to students and other inquirers · Provide industry information to corporate and government enterprises
Background	The concept of an 1800 Hotline for the organic industry was seeded from market growth observations and the realisation that providing a public face to the rapidly expanding organic industry and supplying information to the many sectors interfaced with it was of a major importance. A decade of dealing with consumer issues in relation to the organic industry convinced the ORGAA committee that a dedicated phone link and information service was an extremely high priority. The realisation was that an ‘Organic Hotline 1800’ would supply an interface with the Australian consuming public and farming sector and that it also provided the opportunity to collect data on the range of incoming inquiries which might assist the industry in better allocating resources to further the growth of the industry.
Outcomes	An important service has been provided with this phone link with broad industry information being provided as requested to over 1312 people across the entire organic supply chain. The data base itself however also provides vital information on the sectors most in need of information. This will assist major organic industry associations and State government agencies with strategic planning to ensure these areas are serviced appropriately. The consistent inflow of calls is a reflection on the activity and interest being generated in the organic industry around Australia and is a reminder of the value of having an interface to the public to facilitate its public relations and promotional role.
Implications	The ORGAA 1800 organic hotline project enabled a public face to be created for the organic industry that provided a much needed avenue for information requests. It is apparent that despite the number of organic associations, both regional, state based and national, there still appears to be a need for such a service. The data collected from this project provides an opportunity for major national organic associations to revue their promotional and advisory capabilities to see whether they are adequately catering for the range of inquiries handled by this ORGAA project.

Project Title:	Sustainable weed management for organic herb and vegetable production
RIRDC Project No:	UNE-65A
Researcher:	Associate Professor Brian Sindel
Organisation:	Agronomy and Soil Science School of Rural Science and Natural Resources 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.
Background	The organic industry has identified weeds as the principal agronomic constraint to the production of a variety of crops (including medicinal herbs and vegetables). Organic weed management has so far received little research attention in Australia.
Research	A mail survey of organic herb and vegetable growers was used to determine industry attitudes to weeds and current weed management methods. Field experiments based on the survey findings and literature assessed the performance of commonly used weed control methods for the short season salad vegetable, lettuce, and longer growing medicinal herb, echinacea.
Outcomes	Survey respondents were concerned about weed management and the impact of weed competition on crop yields. The worst weeds were heavily seeding annuals and those with persistent underground parts that resist physical disturbance and mulching. Of the 40 weed control methods identified, manual weeding, organic mulches and tillage were the most successful. In the field trials, hay mulch produced good lettuce yields but was less cost-effective than other methods due to high labour requirements. However, it greatly reduced bolting in the lettuces. Paper mulch gave excellent weed control but it stunted the growth of lettuce, presumably due to nitrogen immobilisation. Hand weeding and hay mulch both provided cost-effective weed management for the higher-valued echinacea.
Implications	This project has identified the importance of weeds for organic agriculture, methods by which they can be controlled effectively and economically, and research needs for continued improvement in sustainable organic weed control, such that weeds are no longer a major agronomic constraint to organically grown herbs and vegetables.
Publications	Kristiansen, P.E., Sindel, B.M. & Jessop, R.S. 2001. The importance of diversity in organic weed management. Inaugural OFA National Organics Conference 2001. Sydney. Kristiansen, P.E., Jessop, & Sindel 2001. Organic weed management survey: methods used by Australian herb and vegetable growers. 10th Australian Agronomy Conference. Hobart. Kristiansen, P. 2000. Work with nature for effective weed control. In: Horsley, P. (ed.) 2000. The Organic Alternative: The Complete Guide to Organic Farming. Kondinin, Cloverdale. pp. 80-84.