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Rural Industries
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Australian Organics is
a joint newsletter of RIRDC and OFA. It is distributed quarterly by direct
mail to 4,500 researchers, industry, government, farmers, libraries and
consultants. Contributions are welcome. Printed on recycled paper.
Editor: Eva Hickman, RIRDC Publications Manager. Phone 02 6272 3186, Fax
02 6272 5877,
email: evah@rirdc.gov.au
In this issue:
Eastwood says that the organic foods market has been boosted by a number of developments in the last decade or so. The first of these was the establishment of some reliable suppliers in the mid 1980s. Another was the Alar pesticide scare in the apple industry in 1988. Now, concern over genetic engineering is giving it further impetus.
Evidence for this can be found at Macro's Bondi Junction shop, which has seen sales grow by 100% or more in the last 15 months. But such growth in the retail trade is causing problems in the industry.
“At the moment, demand in many cases far exceeds supply,” says Eastwood. “I also think the infrastructure of the local industry is under-resourced and still pretty disorganised.”
Macro would like to replace imports – which currently fill the supply vacuum– with Australian products, he says, but local manufacturers are only now starting to realise the potential of the organics market. “We're just waiting for the (local) industry to catch up with us, I guess. We're confident that when it does the demand will still be there.”
Market character changing
Eastwood says that
the character of the market is changing in some fundamental ways. While
the 'green' element has always been important, there are new players.
“What we're getting now is people who are into the best of everything. They drive the best cars, they live in the best houses, they send their kids to the best schools. Whatever the product, they're into the best. And I think organics has now gained credibility as being of superior quality.”
Macro Wholefoods is riding this wave of popularity and is improving its own infrastructure with a view to expansion.
“How far we take
that I don't know,” says Eastwood. “But there's definitely great potential
for anybody who wants to open up a store like ours to have the confidence
to do so.”
Contact: Grant
Eastwood, phone (02) 9389 7611, fax (02) 9389 0707
The current debate raging
about GMOs and labelling tells you that many consumers are increasingly
concerned about what
goes in their mouths.This
is a big issue and it's going to get bigger – this technology couldtake
away a lot of the risk that consumers face in their food choices.
The other side of the coin was recently well presented at the Agribusiness Association of Australia congress.Julie Caswell from University of Massachusetts spoke about the changing preferences of global consumers.The new approach consumers are using to buy food has three criteria:
1. Search attributes
that can be seen and inspected
on the product e.g., color, nutritional quality;
2. Experience attributes
that consumers can judge
after using the product e.g., taste
3.Credence attributes
-
those that consumers can't
judge even after consuming the product (e.g., pesticide residues, whether
the product was organically produced, etc).
The first two have been around for many years and are just repackaged. But credence attributes are increasingly risky (and therefore important) to consumers, because these attributes can not be readily verified before, during or after the product is consumed.
So what is this opportunity
for Australia?
As an export intensive nation
of agricultural producers we will significantly benefit from technologies
that can prove the wholesomeness, integrity and credence of our products.
What we need now is a technology that will identify and track organic foods
all the way to customers that really want and value them.
Ewan Colquhoun
RIRDC Organic Produce Research
Manager
Phone: (07) 3831 7330
Fax: (07) 3832 7298
Email: macagri@ozemail.com.au
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Developing organic crop and pasture systems
Project aims
This industry development
project aims to increase the area under organic production, the number
of organic producers and exports, and enhance communication between producers,
marketers and the broader organic industry.
Current progress
The project works closely
with certified organic producers to obtain the relevant information needed
for conventional producers to convert to organic production.This has involved
the establishment of research sites on four case study farms, the collection
and dissemination of data from those research sites, and the description
of those farms for a conversion manual, the 'Opportunities in Organics'
.
A workshop for broadacre organic producers held at Rutherglen, (Vic) in February 1999 provided a significant forum for the exchange of organic production and marketing information amongst the participants. The workshop collected valuable information for the conversion manual, as well as greatly enhancing the links between producers, marketers and the industry. Workshop proceedings have been keenly sought by interested producers and are currently available from Agriculture Victoria Rutherglen (see contact details below).
The establishment of two organic conversion sites on co-operators' farms, and the organic certification of the Demonstration Site at Agriculture Victoria Rutherglen, is providing conventional broadacre producers with greater opportunities to see organic production principles first hand.
These sites consist of both pasture and crop establishment techniques. Information collected from the project is regularly published in the conventional rural press as well as the specialist organic industry newsletters.
Ms. Carol Hollier
Department of Natural
Resources & Environment
RMB 1145
Chiltern Valley Road
RUTHERGLEN VIC 3685
02 6030 4500
02 6030 4600
hollierc@rri.agvic.gov.au
Current progress
Current progress has included
the completion of background research into the organic industry and initial
market research.
Market research included
the completion of a number of focus group meetings held in Western Australia,
New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland and a survey was sent out to over
1000 farmers (organic and conventional growers).The aim of the survey was
to help direct the content of the package and confirm the specific areas
of organic farming the information package needs to cover.
The results of the focus group meetings and survey have been analyzed and summarised.
An outline for the package has also been developed which details the content of the package on a chapter by chapter basis.The survey results have been incorporated into the outline for the manual to ensure the package is a true reflection of the information farmers want to see included in the manual.
A reference group has also been formed to assist with the development of the package and to ensure the information is accurate and reliable.
The reference group is made up of seven people involving various areas of the organics industry including certification, government departments, education, farming and research.
Over the following three months technical information will be sourced in accordance with the outline and farmer case studies will be completed.
Mr. Gary McKenzie
Kondinin Group – in association
with ORGAA
177 Great Eastern Highway
CLOVERDALE WA 6105
08 9478 3343
08 9478 3353
gary@kondinin.com.au
Current progress
An industry survey of organic
weed management methods has been completed and returned by over 320 organic
growers around Australia. The return rate was about 42%.These responses
have been entered into a database and an analysis of the findings has begun.
Field work for the 1998-99 season was completed in March.Several weed control methods in echinacea and lettuce were compared, including cultivations, mulches and hand weeding.The effectiveness of these techniques will be assessed on the basis of weed suppression, crop yield and cost.All measurements have been recorded and a preliminary analysis of the results has been carried out. Cost factors still need to be included in the analysis and a proper statistical evaluation of the data carried out.
A number of short articles have been published in industry papers and bulletins.The articles were designed to raise awareness about the project and to report on general progress of the survey.A web site has been established which has been receiving about 25 visits per week.
Dr. Brian Sindel
University of New England
Division of Agronomy
& Soil Science
ARMIDALE NSW 2351
02 6773 3747
02 6773 3238
bsindel@metz.une.edu.au
Each ingredient averages ten to fifteen stages of production from purchase of seed to sale of the food product. Assuming they would each have to be tracked, segregated and tested, the report estimated costs of $3 billion in the first year and $1.5 billion annually thereafter.
GM foods and ingredients
Many of these ingredients
are derived from GMOs. GM soybean, for example, is used to make soybean
flour, soybean protein, hydrolysed vegetable protein, textured vegetable
protein, soybean oil, lecithin, additive and flavour carriers/diluents,
tocopherols and vitamin E. These are used in soy drinks, soy sauce, tofu,
processed meats/sausages/salamis, dairy drinks, yoghurts, desserts, ice
cream, baked goods, bread, cakes, pies, pastries, biscuits, soups and sauces,
cooking oils, salad dressings, margarines, spreads, confectionery, savoury
snacks, peanut butter and infant foods. The other GM foods on the market
- corn, canola oil, potato, beet sugar and cotton seed oil - likewise,
are in processed foods as a multitude of hidden ingredients.
'GMO-free'
the exception?
The strategy of the food
industry has been to engineer a situation where GM foods are accepted as
the norm and those who wish to keep their foods 'GMO-free' become the exception.
The costs of auditing and testing foods would then fall on this latter
group, which includes organic producers, instead of on those who use GM
foods.
However, organic food producers need only to source all of their ingredients from Australian-grown to avoid the costs of audit trails and testing, since the only Australian GM ingredient at present is cotton seed oil. All the rest are imported, yet Australia grows non-GM versions of all of them. The organic industry needs also to keep pressure on governments not to allow any more GM crops to be grown in Australia.
Dick Copeman,
Consumer Representative
on the OFA Committee and Coordinator, Consumer Food Network
Ph (+61) 07 3217 3187
Fx (+61) 07 3217 3028
This group will ensure that the industry remains in conformance with Codex, IFOAM and with export criteria for specific countries. This will also ensure that eventual domestic regulation criteria will be internationally recognised and accepted.
The team is made up of four industry representatives, with backgrounds in auditing, food technology and primary industries, certification and international regulations. These people are: Rod May, Andrew Monk, Tim Nelson and Frances Porter. The AQIS representative is Ian Lyall.
Start up funding for the Committee was recently provided by RIRDC.
Submissions or issues to be addressed can be submitted via AQIS, via one of the members listed above, or via your own certification body - requesting that they send this on to the Standards SubCommittee.
Andrew Monk
Speakers from all parts of the supply chain (certifiers, producers, processors, exporters, retailers) presented information and advice about converting to organic and establishing commercial supply chains.
The day was sponsored by the Maranoa Development Assn, QLD DPI and RIRDC.For workshop papers contact Sally Scott (Ph: 07 4622 5432 or metdass@tpg.com.au)
Please see this newsletter insert for your application form.
Organic Federation of
Australia
C/- 452 Lygon St
East BrunswickVIC3057, Australia
Ph 61 3 9386 6600Fax 61
3 9384 1322
Email ofa@netspace.net.au
The OBE Beef group was formed in 1995 to explore the potential fororganic beef production.The group numbers more than 32 pastoralenterprises covering an area of 7 million hectares of the Channel Country.
Commercialisation phase
OBE has recently moved into
a commercialisation phase.We has developed a unique partnership with Stockyard
Pty Ltd over the last 12 months resulting in a committed and united team
of vertically integrated business enterprises, stretching from Birdsville
in Western Queensland to Japanese supermarkets.
This has culminated in a successful trading environment that is based on the integrity of the OBE Organic Beef System that is traceable from the Japanese supermarket right back to the related supplier and product.
The OBE members have invested a tremendous amount of time and money in the development of a permanent change in the traditional bush culture.We now have the emergence of a corporate professional group of cattle operators ready to take a place in the global marketplace.
It is not unusual for a client to place an order by email - and on the same business day, the OBE management team agree to meet specifications, negotiate contract, and authorise Stockyard to close the deal, with OBE members arranging shipments 14 days later.
Youth scholarships
OBE has set in motion a
procedure to dedicate funds and time to providing scholarships to our youth.This
will be through a process of scholarships in market exchanges, foreign
language incentives, and corporate governance skills.
We will be endorsing and nurturing the next generation of Outback global entrepreneurs with the confidence to maximise returns in a rapidly changing marketing environment.
The next 12 months will find
OBE working harder than ever.Issues such as corporate governance, IT solutions
to complex trading fund distributions and reinvestment in existing and
new supply chains will dominate the business.We are going into uncharted
waters and believe that ourefforts will provide a pathway for other agribusiness
to follow.
Contact Simone: bingara@tpg.com.au
Since 1994 the growth of the organic meat market in Western Europe is estimated to be around 70%. While beef is only one part of the growth phenomena in the organic industry, demand outweighs supply with many countries importing product to satisfy consumer demands.
Europe and Japan main
importers
Europe and Japan are the
main importers of organic products while even in the UK 70% of organic
produce is imported.
Although price premiums for farmers and subsidies are available for farmers to convert to 'organics', the demand for organic food is recognised as being consumer driven with perceptions of this healthy produce beingproduced on environmentally managedproduction systems that protect diversity and are sustainable over time.
Concerns about the use of growth promoters or other drugs in animal production, and the intensive nature of many of these enterprises, are the major reasons influencing consumer purchases. Morerecent publicity given to genetically modified organisms (GMO's) and health scares associated with meat products is also generating increased demand.
Certification key to market
entry
Many major supermarket chains
in Europe are selling certified organic beef. The emphasis on 'branded'
or certified product is a key to market entry with consumers educated as
to the guarantee provided by the organic certification process. At the
present time in the UK it is generally the affluent health conscious consumer
that is prepared to pay up to triple the price for the organic meat. Beef,
lamb, chicken, pork, ham and bacon are products now supplied across a broad
range of markets.
AQIS is involved because they were responsible for lodging the original application on behalf of the organic industry.As a result of the shift in AQIS of the organic program from the policy area to operations, AQIS will now be handing responsibility for the labelling application over to the Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry, Australia (AFFA).
AQIS and AFFA staff have indicated support for theamendment to the food standard to control the use of the words organic and biodynamic.There may need to be an exception for small growers who produce say less than $10,000 per year, who register with their state dept of agriculture and lodge a statutory declaration.
The OFA has also raised the issue with ANZFA of people who are chemical sensitive or for example on cancer treatments that make them vulnerable. We maintain that there is a public health and safety concern for these people who require genuine organic food.Dick Copeman has written a response for ANZFA which is on our website (http://server.green.net/ofa)
We have been in regular dialogue with the New Zealand organic industry and the good news is that they are considering moving to a system of government accreditation of their certifiers similar to what we have in Australia with AQIS.This will resolve any issues as to how such a standard would relate to NZ.
We now expect ANZFA to accept the application for consideration within several months.After they accept the application they have to deal with it within twelve months and make a recommendation to the Health Ministers Safety Council that makes the final decision.Anyone who has been following the genetic engineering debate will know how difficult this can be.We will need to start a letter writing campaign to lobby state Health Ministers to support our application.
Another aspect in our favour is the adoption by Codex of the organic production, processing and labelling standards except for livestock.This move supports our application because countries are obliged to have equivalence between exports and imports.
Scott Kinnear
Organic Federation of
Australia
Background
In Denmark intensive methods
of agricultural production have been employed at the expense of environmental
and natural resources. The use of resources, the environmental impact,
landscape aesthetics, bio-ethics and food safety play a vital role in the
expectations and standards which now apply in agriculture. The environmental
advantages of organic farming are part of the reason for the public subsidy
for conversion to organic production and for sustaining organic cultivation
on Danish farms.
As a result of this recognition, a strong, sustained interest has arisen, amongst consumers and farmers, in organic methods of food production and in organic foods.
The Organic Foods Council
The Organic Foods Council
was appointed in 1987 by the then Ministry of Agriculture to encourage,
monitor and assess the opportunities to develop Danish organic food production,
to assess the current advisory and research work, to formulate proposals
for additional activities and to comment on standards for the control of
production, marketing, storage, transport, labelling, distribution and
retailing of organic goods.
Organicorganisations and
government agencies are represented on the council and these people and
arange of outside organisations and individuals had input into the first
Action Plan.
Danish Action Plan
In June 1998 Action Plan II was drawn up for promoting organic food production in Denmark
“The Action Plan sought to identify and assess the need for:
Since 1987, the Organic Foods Council has attached
great importance to an integrated approach ranging from the individual
holding, through processing and marketing, to a focus on consumers' needs.
The aim of Action Plan II is to put Denmark in the forefront of the development, production and sales of organic foods.
A state-accredited model for certification and labelling was established. Furthermore, aid schemes to encourage conversion, research into and development of the organic production system and educational and information activities were all initiated.
High conversion rates
As a result of this plan there has been considerable
growth since 1995 in the numbers converting to organic production. In 1997,
the organic acreage amounted to some 65,000 hectares and in 1999 it is
expected to ride to at least 150,000 hectares over 4% of agricultural land.
Consumer demand is strong with some 47% of Danish households buying organic products frequently or occasionally.
Danish organic food production will in time develop a significant export potential with a number of traditional export markets experiencing marked growth in the demand for organic goods.
Future development of the organic industry must ensure that the organic food producers can give improved consideration to the environment, health, animal welfare, working conditions, education and training and traditional product qualities such as taste and appearance.
| Bio-Dynamic Research Institute |
| Biological Farmers of Australia Co-Operative Ltd |
Organic Herb Growers of Australia Inc
PO Box 6171
SOUTH LISMORE NSW 2480
Phone: 02 6622 0100
Fax: 02 6622 0900
Email: herbs@om.com.au
| National Association for Sustainable Agriculture (Australia) Ltd |
| Organic Vignerons Association of Australia Inc |
| Eco-Organics of Australia |
| Organic Food Chain | |||||
| PO Box 2390 |
ORGAA is not AQIS accredited, however
it does offer an organic advisory service and voluntary retail certification.
PO Box 12852
MELBOURNEVIC3000
Phone: 03 9737 9799Fax: 03 9737 9499
Tollfree: 1 800 356 299
|
Supplied through the Organic Federation of Australia |
VICTORIA
Paul
Simmons
Customer demand has been strong with particular interest in mangoes, stone fruit, broccoli, carrots, new seasons potatoes and avocados. The strong demand does mean that supply is tight however across these lines.
More suppliers
It is encouraging
that there are more producers supplying the market and although smaller
as far as their output goes it does of course add to both the volume and
the variety of goods available for sale.
ORGAA reports continued
increased interest in shop certification with new certified shops joining
the scheme which further authenticates organic and biodynamic produce in
the eyes of the consumer.
Nutritional quality study
An ORGAA funded
study looking at the nutritional quality of some organic produce has recently
been released to the media and is creating great interest.
A Conversion Workshop
at Hanging Rock on the 26th
November is expected to entice new producers looking to organics as a possible
management option.
NORTHERN TERRITORY
John Etty and Caroline Milwright
In the beginning of the season we experienced a record long, cold dry season making it extremely difficult to get seedlings up or direct sown plants going.Now, at the end of the season, an early wet has begun with suddenly over 10 inches of rain in the last week. It seems as though the wet has arrived! The cucumbers, tomatoes and eggplants just gave up.
The melons and pumpkins have taken a hiding in waist high grass and the mangoes decided to all ripen at the same time. That's our season in a nut shell, but apart from the usual 'joys of farming in the Tropics', demand has been high for all our crops.
We are looking forward to slowing down over the next few
weeks but of course 'slowing down' means mulching, fertilising the tree
crops and planting more of the same. The best bit is that we won't have
many workers around.
TASMANIA
Philip Tattersall (Secretary T.O.P.)
TOP quality system
TOP has now completed
its QS system,met the requirements for the AQIS desk audit and just completed
a three day on-site field audit.
The TOP QS system is based on ISO9000 and includes certification standards, operational and administrative procedures, job descriptions and audits.
TOP projects
Promotional CD:
TOP has now released a promotional CD containing editions of its journal
'Seasons', farm profiles, information on standards, organisational structure
and general information. The CD has a sound track and offers search and
hypertext linking.
Innovative communication approach: as part its farmer participation program TOP has designed a communication approach that will see organic farmers developing and running their own information sessions.
Inspector training:
TOP has also developed a comprehensive inspector training program covering
such things as interview techniques, audit trailing, sampling of soils,
water, produce for heavy metals, pesticides and microbiological contamination.
TOP have decided
not to charge producer levies and raiserevenue in other areas.
NEW SOUTH WALES
Catriona MacMillan
Growers markets
The “gourmet” growers
produce market that commenced recently in Sydney at Pyrmont has created
great interest, with many growers taking the opportunity to directly market
their produce to consumers. Contact Andrew Birley for details (02 9699
4100)
The Double Bay Chamber of Commerce is also startinga growers market on the second Saturday of every month. Contact Georgiefor details (02 9328 6419).
Retailers are concerned about the shortage of some lines of produce and wonder whether perhaps demand for Australian goods on the export market is affecting the domestic supply.
Smaller growers are making inquiries on what is required for them to convert to 'organics', and investigating the market opportunities that exist.
Greater consumer awareness
Media interest in
the organic industry remains strong. There is certainly greater understanding
of what organic food and farming is all about and of course with genetic
engineering being the hot item of discussion, the debate ultimately comes
back to organic food as being the only sound alternative.
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Montana Jones
Genetic engineering
Genetic engineering
is again in the news in South Australia where a petition was recently launched
at Urrbrae Agricultural College to make S.A. a GE free state. The aim is
to prohibit any form of GE research in agricultural field trials. A consumer
boycott of all GE foods will follow. This initiative has received considerable
publicity and already has enormous support from consumers.
A new certified abattoir and butcher at Loxton will increase competition in Adelaide and should provide additional supply for the growing organic beef market. Organic beef has been an under promoted line for many years despite demand from consumers.
Kangaroo Island products
A new Demeter grower
supplying eggs from Kangaroo Island now means both eggs and honey are being
shipped from this island. Will Kangaroo Island become an organic food haven?
Only time will tell.
Supplies of lentils
as well as chick peas are now available from growers in the southern region
of South Australia.
The growth of the
industry is encouraging in South Australia with new developments occurring
across all industry sectors.
QUEENSLAND
Howard Wilkinson
Inaugural organic market
The first Organic
Market Day, where certified organic producers and manufacturers meet to
sell their produce to the wholesale, retail and restaurant trade -was launched
on 1 December 1999 at Lismore on the north coast of NSW. It is the first
market of its kind in Australia.
The 'Rainbow Region Organic Market' wasinitiated by TROPO (Tweed Richmond Organic Producers Organisation), and involves a dedicated group of organic growers and buyers who perceived a keen need in the region for such a venue.
Benefits may include reduced freight, fresher and better quality produce, and a meeting place where industry concerns can be discussed.
By combining produce growers can forward their produce cheaper to the city markets and perhaps down the line be able to market more efficiently and to value add second grade produce.
Department of Agriculture NSW, local council, certifiers, sellers of organic farm inputs,restaurants, retailers and wholesalers attended.
Following the success of this initial event, the Organic Markets will now be held regularly at the Lismore Showgrounds from 7am-9am each Wednesday. A $5 entry fee applies.
The Swedish National Board of Agriculture has recommended that organic produce should form at least 20% of total Swedish farm output by 2005. At the moment around 9% of Swedish farm land receives EU environmental support for organic farming.
While grain production should meet the 20% target, more effort will be needed in the meat sector to meet this goal. While the Board has kept the 20% goal for dairy cows, beef and lamb, it is allowing for a slower pace in the pig and poultry sector, where the aim is for a 5% share.
It is hoped that financial
support will be phased out in the years to come as the marekt for organic
products stabilises.
Reproduced with kind permission
from Meat International 1999, Vol 9, No. 7
Marketing Manager Tom McNeill said while the current market for organic sugar was limited, the Corporation would continue to monitor market changes in order to identify potential opportunities.
“Worldwide interest in organic produce is increasing, but less than 0.1% of world sugar production is organic,” he said.Within
Queensland, sugar cane is organically grown on several farms in the Burdekin and in the Rocky Point area.
Reproduced with kind permission from the Queensland Sugar Corporation Newsletter, Third Edition 1999.
Shortlisting was completed in mid November and proponents will be advised shortly. Full proposals for the projects selected will be due at RIRDC by 4 February 2000.
| Title | Researcher | Phone | Organisation |
| Organic polyculture systems: design principles, risks and benefits | Larry Geno | (07) 4936 3607 | Agroecology Associates Consultants |
| Identifying organic practices with wider significance to science or agriculture | Jason Alexandra | (03) 5627 8420 | Jason Alexandra & Associates |
| Changing agriculture - curriculum development for facilitating the adoption of organic systems | Liz Clay | (03) 5628 9557 | Bioscape |
| Impact of tillage practices on soil microbiota associated with organic matter decomposition and root | Clive Pankhurst | 08 8303 8482 | CSIRO Land and Water |
| Identify, disseminate and promote information/practices which establishes organic as a viable mainstream industry | Lindsay Coghill | (07) 4688 1334 | Department of Primary Industries (Qld) |
| Integrated development of intensive organic vegetable production systems | Jason Dennis Julia French | (03) 6428 3555 (03) 6421 7649 | Department of Primary Industries, Water and Environment (Tas) |
| Development of organic crop and pasture systems for south east Australia | Carol Hollier | (02) 6030 4500 | Department of Natural Resources & Environment |
| Evaluate the production potential and marketing processes for providing clean organic food | Gerry Parlevliet | (08) 9368 3219 | Agriculture Western Australia |
| Seminars to create awareness about organic industry opportunities | Gerry Parlevliet | (08) 9368 3219 | Agriculture Western Australia |
| Presentation of ecological sustainable land management systems to farmers | Alan Broughton | (03) 5156 8547 | East Gippsland Organic Agriculture Association Inc |
| Pest management strategies for organic agriculture | Paul Horne | (03) 9710 1554 | IPM Technologies Pty Ltd |
| An information package for organic farming in Australia | Gary McKenzie | (08) 9478 3343 | Kondinin Group |
| Development of a business development plan for the organic industry of Australia - Macarthur Agribusiness | Ewan Colquhoun | (07) 3831 7330 | Macarthur Agribusiness |
| Unification of organic product certification training | Rod May | (08) 8370 8455 | National Association for Sustainable Agriculture Australia |
| Promotional poster and pamphlets for the organic industry | Chris Alenson | (03) 9560 7066 | Organic Retailers & Growers Association of Australia |
| 'Make a clean break - attend the Maranoa Organic Day' | Sally Scott | (07) 4688 1467 | Department of Primary Industries (Qld) |
| Identification and coordination of strategic issues for the Australian organic industry | Peter White | 07 3357 8217 | Peter J White |
| Non-conventional options for effective nematode control in 'organic' sheep production | Rob Woodgate | (08) 9841 6920 | Rob Woodgate |
| Soil nutrient management for increased production on broadacre organic farms | Chris Penfold | (08) 8303 7735 | University of Adelaide |
| Sustainable weed management for organic herb and vegetable production | Brian Sindel | (02) 6773 3747 | University of New England |
| Travel Project | Organisation |
| International Biodynamic Advisors Workshop, New Zealand - Ms Cheryl Kemp | Bio-Dynamic Farming and Gardening Association in Australia Inc. |
| Travel - Kinnear "Eating into the Future" | Organic Federation of Australia |
| Travel - Philip Wheeler "Sustainable Farming Systems Seminars" | Biological Farmers of Australia |
| Organic Federation of Australia Industry Workshop Canberra 10th and 11th February | Organic Retailers & Growers Association of Australia |
| Organic Federation of Australia Industry Seminar/Workshop Melbourne 15th May 99 | Organic Federation of Australia |
| IFOAM Conference - Sasha Courville | Australian National University |
| Travel - IFOAM Conference in Italy - Liz Clay | Bioscape |
| Travel - Launch of Innovate Australia - Scott Kinnear | Organic Federation of Australia |
| Travel - Scott Kinnear to attend Mad Cows, Meat Pies and Modified Food - Seminar | Organic Federation of Australia |
| Economics of soil and environmental amelioration in intensive temperate rotations | Tasmanian Institute of Agricultural Research |
Some are also available as free downloadable word and pdf files.
Last updated: 14 December 1999
Copyright © RIRDC
http://www.rirdc.gov.au/pub/organic4.htm