Executive Summary
What the report is about
This publication is the first in a series of manuals; it is part of a project coordinated by the NSW Department of Primary Industries and jointly sponsored by the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation. The first stage of developing the package involved a series of workshops for key NSW Department of Primary Industries staff and organic industry specialists. During the workshops the similarities and differences between conventional and organic systems were discussed and, where possible, measures designed to help overcome any perceived impediments to conversion or diversification were identified.

This formed the framework for preparation of the draft package.

Stage two involved presentation of the draft to organic and conventional producers at additional workshops across regional New South Wales and a final review of the package by organic certifying organisations.

Target audience
It is the aim of the report to provided information for producers and the related industry bodies that will help make the transition to organic production or to diversified organic production a smooth one.

Background
Market signals, both domestic and international, indicate significant demand for organically produced product. By the year 2015 it is predicted that the world trade in organic products will be US$100 billion. Australia has an opportunity to capture a proportion of this market. However, whilst demand for organic products is high, particularly in export markets, the rate of farm conversion to organic agricultural systems is relatively slow. Currently only about one per cent of Australian producers are involved in organic production and the area devoted to such production is only about 0.8 per cent of total area farmed.

Objectives
One of the major contributing factors to the slow conversion rate is that there is limited relevant information about how to go through the conversion process available to producers. Existing information is largely anecdotal, undocumented, irrelevant to Australian conditions, or not readily accessible through mainstream agriculture extension programs. The aim of this project is to determine relevant conventional and organic production techniques for a number of key organic products, as well as identifying what further information was required to assist conversion in these systems.

Methods and Results
This project identified a number of key products with potential for organic production in N.SW.

Through a series of interactive workshops, key impediments to growers undertaking successful organic production of these products were identified and three conversion packages have been produced. Feedback from producers attending a series of final workshops was collated and has been incorporated into the packages.

A survey of producers indicated 86% thought the packages were very useful, whilst 14% indicated the packages were of moderate use in providing information to assist them towards achieving organic conversion.

Conclusions
This project has developed valuable information to assist agricultural producers to successfully make the transition from conventional to organic production for a number of key commodities. Following this, institutional support (research, development and extension) from mainstream providers must provide further impetus for the development of a sustainable organic industry in Australia.