Project Title

Australian organic industry development plan

Objectives

• To identify key issues for the Australian Organic Industry
• To prepare an Industry Business Development Plan which includes:
• recommendation in respect of the development of an industry peak body;
• recommendation on the development of an industry accreditation program; and
• consideration and recommendation on the development of an R&D program.

The Australian organic/biodynamic industry comprises individuals and enterprises that have an interest in production, marketing or consumption of organic products. Research indicates there are around 1,500 growers of organic produce in Australia, 40% of whom have joined the industry in the last five years. Australia’s domestic market for organic produce is valued at $80-$100 million. While domestic market growth is forecast to be moderate, significant growth is forecast for exports of organic products.

The industry is somewhat fragmented in Australia, with many organisations serving either the national or regional interests of their respective members.

Research

Industry consultation (survey, telephone interviews and written submissions) was undertaken to identify the key issues for the industry. These issues were consolidated at an industry workshop, with the Development Plan to outline the outcomes of both activities.

Outcomes

This Development Plan sets out the strategies and responsibilities required to achieve the industry set goals and objectives. A structure for the Organic Federation of Australia (OFA) (peak body) was developed, with the priorities for the organisation for the first 12 months identified as R&D and Extension, and Promotion. Two sub-committees have been established.

Implications

Increasing interest in organic food and organic systems is driving up consumer demand. The OFA and its sub-committees must actively support the industry to ensure this growing interest is maintained and producers, processors, marketers and consumers are attracted into the industry.

RIRDC Project No: MAC-4A

Researcher: Ewan Colquhoun

Organisation: Macarthur Consulting, GPO Box 2452, BRISBANE QLD 4001

Contacts: Phone: (07) 3831 7330   Fax: (07) 3832 7298

Unification of Organic Product Certification Training.

Objectives

• The need to standardise and upgrade organic inspectors training skills is of paramount importance in maintaining and developing Australia’s reputation as an organic supplier in the world. This training project was aimed at providing an extended level of input, which will provide for a better inspector capable of covering increasingly complex operations and credentials which will clearly demonstrate their competence and independence.

Background

The organic certification industry comprising five certification organisations has seen the development of a more professional inspectorate as important. The need to demonstrate that an objective, competent and independent body is capable of acting on their behalf and in harmony with each other saw the project initiated.

Research

The research component was actualised through the duration of the project as participants, who, with the guidance of the Independent Organic Inspectors Association, synthesised their previous understandings and expertise and built an improved body of knowledge relating to organic production and processing systems throughout Australia.

Outcomes

Close to 30 individuals successfully completed the project and achieved, through the application of objective assessment, a competency qualification. The process of better understanding and articulating the organic operational requirements for Australia was moved forward significantly.

Implications

The implications, other than the unification/harmonisation of application of production and processing criteria, included the further development of criteria for the definition and application of organic production standards. All organisations represented were provided with a comparative framework within which they could better develop their standards and processes.

Publications

The final report of this project is available from RIRDC

RIRDC Project No: NAS-1A

Researchers: Researcher/s L Clay and R May

Organisation: NASAA, PO Box 768, Stirling SA 5152

Contacts: Phone: (08) 8370 8455  Fax: (08) 8370 8381   E-mail: nasaa@dove.mtx.com.au

Project Title

Development of organic crop and pasture systems for south east Australia

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 the 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.

An Industry Development Officer has been appointed to support the Principal Investigator. An Organic Steering Committee has been established representing industry, producers and agency staff. Four certified organic farmer cooperators have agreed to participate in the project to establish on-farm research sites. Preliminary experimental protocols have been established. A fertiliser and sowing rate experiment has been established. The ongoing demonstration site at the Institute for Integrated Agricultural Development, Rutherglen has been sown to perennial pasture, triticale and feed oats. Measurements to date have included a full soil analysis at two depths and emergence data on the triticale and oats.

Two feature articles have been published in the National Association for Sustainable Agriculture (NASAA) bulletin and Organic Retailers and Growers Association of Australia (ORGAA) newsletter. A poster presentation to introduce this new project has been displayed at the NASAA National Conference, in Launceston. Information is being collated on marketing pathways for producers of cereals and meat.

RIRDC Project No: DAV-142A

Start Date: 1 July, 1997

Finish Date: 30 June, 2000

Researcher: Ms. Carole Hollier

Organisation: Institute for Integrated Agricultural Development,  Agriculture Victoria,  RMB 1145,  RUTHERGLEN VIC 3685

Contacts: Phone: (02) 6030 4582   Fax: (02) 6030 4600    E-mail: hollierc@rri.agvic.gov.au

Evaluate the production potential and market processes for potential in providing Clean (organic, natural, low-input) food for export.

Objectives

To increase the export opportunity for Clean product able to be produced in Australia by identifying Japanese market opportunities and by developing best bet management packages for a selected short list of products. The existing growers and researchers involved in Clean product production will be invited to help determine short lists and management practices.

Current Progress

Lack of statistics collected on Clean commodities has resulted in the project casting its net wider than intended. International Trade and ABS export statistics have been analysed. We are developing a picture of competition and demand. This will be integrated with anecdotal information from all sources to develop a decision matrix to select commodities for further work. A tentative matrix has been developed. As part of the process an Access database for supply and demand has been developed to enable easier tracking and analysis. The objective approach taken by the project will ensure a solid foundation for many decisions being made around Australia based on anecdotal and trade requests.

The project has identified a real interest in creating a Centre for the exchange of information, every individual this has been discussed with suggested value in such an establishment. The network of contacts developed and the discussions we have had have enabled a clear picture to be developed on a whole of Australia approach to marketing and exporting Clean Food.

The project was likely to recommend the development of the Single Desk approach to marketing, however, this cannot wait for the final report. The partnerships are being made to help foster that Single Desk.

The project has identified activity around Australia, which will provide real change in export opportunity. These include new activity in Clean commodities such beef, bananas, rice and noodles. There is considerable interest from the market for non-organic but zero chemical products; individuals are exporting on this basis.

The market report is likely to be available in July 1998 with the project finalised in February 1999.

RIRDC Project No: DAW-85A

Start Date: 1 October, 1997

Finish Date: 31 December, 1998

Researcher: Mr. Gerry Parlevliet

Organisation: Agriculture Western Australia, Locked Bag No 4,  BENTLEY DELIVERY CENTRE WA 6983

Contacts: Phone: (08) 9368 3219  Fax: (08) 9367 2625  E-mail: gerryp@agric.wa.gov.au

Identification and coordination of strategic issues for the Australian organic industry

Objectives

The outcomes of this research will be a document which:

Outlines the strategic issues which need to be considered to make the Australian organic industry internationally competitive;

Identifies research, promotion and regulatory strategies to address these issues; and

Establishes a peak national body to take carriage of these issues.

Current Progress

The Organic Federation of Australia (OFA) was formed in response to a wish by industry for a national peak body to represent the interests of the organic industry. Since its inception in September 1997, the OFA has been successful in several key areas. It has formed two Committees (Research and Promotion). The Research Committee has provided a mechanism for RIRDC to sponsor research with key industry representatives providing input to ensure the most effective use of resources. The Promotions Committee has developed a set of initiatives that it has prioritised for action. In April 1998, the OFA was officially incorporated with its Articles of Association and other necessary formalities to enable it to operate effectively. It has in place a formal Policy Statement for its guidance. The OFA has been involved with Coles on the issue of national logos, with ANSFA in relation to domestic standards, and with Austrade concerning export issues. At present the OFA has about 70 full and 80 associate members and the first election of office bearers will take place in July-August 1998.

The challenge for the OFA is to try to overcome scepticism in some parts of the organic industry. It will do this by having democratic elections, by communicating to all industry and by generally showing the industry that the establishment of the OFA does not mean that the individual certifying bodies have lost their relevance.

RIRDC Project No: PJW-1A

Start Date: 20 September, 1997

Finish Date: 20 September, 1998

Researcher: Mr. Peter White

Organisation: Mr. Peter J White, 30 Howie Street, CLAYFIELD QLD 4011

Contacts: Phone: (07) 3357 8217  Fax: (07) 3357 8217

Economics of soil and environmental amelioration in intensive temperate rotations

Objectives

To complete, within one year, a full study and report on the feasibility and business value of carrying out, in Tasmania and southern Victoria, long term, large scale, replicated field research and demonstration in order to:

• Measure and demonstrate over time the economic costs and benefits of implementing soil loss control and structural/quality improvement methods applied to several intensive, temperate cropping rotations;
• Study and demonstrate the complementarity of inorganic and organic fertilisers and pesticides in such rotations and recommend those leading to highest profitable yields and sustainable improvements in environment quality; and
• Use such longer term rotational investigations in eduction and demonstration of the husbandry methods which lead to sustainability in intensive, temperate, cropping situations.

Two strategies, namely a review of literature and contact with potential stakeholders, are being pursued. Published literature on the broad topic of sustainable agricultural systems and environmentally sensitive agriculture is vast. Notable points relate to the importance of incorporating data from long term experiments into models of systems to assist in determining the overall relationships between economic and environmental effects and also of having regard to the compromises which are necessary to gain robust data on both the ecological and economic effects of systems treatments.

Positive benefits, both on and off-site, have been found to occur with organic matter addition to agricultural soils, extensification of rotations and more integrated crop management to reduce chemical inputs. A high level of technical management of alternative systems is important as is time to build both these skills and the robustness of the systems themselves. Economic analyses of such systems changes are very limited.

Since January, a wide range of potential stakeholders has been contacted, primarily to increase project awareness in the early stages but also to assess the likelihood of commitment. A one-page information sheet has been used in this process.

RIRDC Project No: TAR-2A

Start Date: 30 March, 1998

Finish Date: 30 June, 1999

Researcher: Dr. Rowland Laurence

Organisation: Tasmanian Institute of Agricultural Research,  P.O. Box 447,  BURNIE,  Tasmania 7320

Contacts: Phone: 03 6430 4901,  Mobile: 0417 392 052   Fax: 03 6430 4959    E-mail: Rowland.Laurence@utas.edu.au

Impact of tillage practices on soil microbiota associated with organic matter decomposition and root disease suppression

Objectives

• To determine the effect of conventional cultivation and direct-drilling practices on selected soil biological properties and functional groups of soil microbiota.
• To quantify linkages between tillage-induced shifts in soil biological properties and (a) soil chemical and physical properties, (b) the rate of organic matter decomposition, (c) root disease, (d) soil micro- and mesofauna, and (e) plant growth.

The project has been completed and the final report is being prepared. The research was carried out at two trial sites in NSW (at Harden and Cowra) and is the third of three linked studies funded by RIRDC at these two sites. In this project we have shown that microbial biomass, microbial activity (CO₂-respiration) and populations functional groups of micro-organisms (bacteria, actinomycetes, fungi, cellulose decomposers, root disease fungi) were all higher in direct-drill / stubble retained treatments compared to conventionally cultivated (stubble burned or incorporated) treatments. Analysis of fatty acid methyl esters extracted from the soils (GC-FAME assay) also indicated that the amount of mycorrhizal fungi in the soil was highest in the direct-drill treatments. In contrast, the rate of cellulose decomposition (measured using a cotton strip assay) was significantly higher in the conventionally cultivated treatments. This is indicative of greater turnover of organic matter in the soil following tillage. Evidence for the build up of microbial populations suppressive towards the cereal root pathogens Rhizoctonia and Take-all was found in the direct-drill / stubble retained treatments.

RIRDC Project No: CSO-6A

Start Date: 1 July 1995

Finish Date: 30 June 1998

Researcher: Dr. Clive Pankhurst

Organisation: CSIRO Land and Water, PMB 2, GLEN OSMOND SA 5064

Contacts: Phone: (08) 8303 8482   Fax: (08) 8303 8550

E-mail: Clive.Pankhurst@adl.clw.csiro.au

       Last updated: 25 August 1998 Copyright © RIRDC http://www.rirdc.gov.au/comp98/org.htm