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Download full report (900kb)
Summary Report of
July 2007
RIRDC Publication No 07/134 RIRDC Project No RFR-1A
Objectives
The objective of the report
is to research and develop farm management systems to enable economically
viable and standards compliant transition to certified organic production.
By developing systems to enable producers to adopt progressive and programmed
organic management practices, producers in previously high input farming
systems such as irrigated cotton and horticulture may be in a better position
to convert to organic production. Our strategy to achieve this was to work
with producers, advisers and certifiers to develop and test models that
may allow the impediments to conversion to be overcome.
Background
The Australian organic industry
has grown considerably in the last five years. Acceptance by consumers
is strong with demand forecast to grow by at least 20 % a year. What is
concerning is that supply growth is forecast at little more than 10 % a
year (Moore 2003). This fact highlights the need to increase the number
or scale of producers converting to certified organic production. Identification
of impediments to conversion is important and ongoing. Decision support
tools that assist producers considering a change to organic production
systems are necessary and an important step in the continual efforts to
increase the adoption of sustainable farming systems.
The conversion process is viewed as daunting, long and drawn out by many conventional producers who have briefly investigated a change to organic systems. Practical information has been difficult to source. A common perceived impediment among larger conventional producers was the misconception that currently productive land had to be taken out of all production for a period of time. There were also concerns regarding irrigation systems and how to internally fund the transition to organic production. A review of previous research on conversion issues highlighted the need to develop systems to enable a viable and standards compliant transition.
Producers and agronomists argued that while there is a significant amount of technical information and case studies on organic production systems and certification, there is limited practical information on planning the conversion process. They argued that before professional producers consider a change in enterprise or diversification, they undertake thorough planning and investigation of the impacts of the change. It was the gap between investigating organics and submitting a request for certification that required addressing. This diagram below outlines the current general advice given in both industry associations and state agricultural department information sources.
Insert diagram
Those interviewed for the
project suggested a need for a general framework and structure to work
through when considering the conversion planning process.
Methods used
Desktop research examined
existing literature and technical information on various techniques of
conversion to certified organic systems. This included certifying organisation’s
websites both in Australia and internationally. Travel to the high input
agricultural areas of northern New South Wales and southern Queensland
allowed researchers to meet with conventional and certified growers to
discuss existing information resources as well as understanding what they
required from the process. Researchers also met with agronomists during
the research to understand their requirements as they have an influence
on grower decisions. As part of the travel a number of mini case studies
were undertaken in an attempt to understand how a management model could
be developed that would allow all types of agricultural enterprises assess
the potential changes and challenges of converting to organic production.
Existing decision support
tools were investigated and examined with the target groups. A combination
of the best factors of each contributed to a draft structure of both the
flow chart and pilot self-test diagnostic developed as a result of this
project. These drafts were reviewed with the target groups and feedback
collected. The methodology of the project evolved to develop the self-test
diagnostic tool as well as a simple flow chart that highlighted the issues
involved in the conversion process. The steps in the project are outlined
below.
Results/Key findings
The research identified
a key area that needed addressing in order to assist an economically viable
conversion process. This was the need to assist producers in understanding
the key factors considered important for successfully converting to a certified
organic system.
Two initiatives have been developed to address this need. The first initiative is the development of a user-friendly report that includes a simple flow diagram to outline the individual steps and factors involved in the conversion decision-making process. The second is the development of a pilot selftest diagnostic for producers investigating the potential of organic production systems. It is intended that these may be built on and integrated over time to develop a partially certifiable self-test diagnostic accessible on line through organic organisations’ websites with broad applications.
The advantages of the timeframe diagram and flow chart are:
Producers, agronomists
and certifiers reviewed the flow chart and generally agreed that it assisted
in setting out the key decisions in a logical and structured format. It
was felt that the flow chart would add value to those investigating the
conversion process, while understanding of the fact that specific detail
is difficult to provide due to the nature of organic systems and individual
enterprises history and potential.
The pilot diagnostic model was developed along the lines of an interview process. The information collected is analysed and a simple report generated. The self-test process provides a preliminary evaluation and helps determine the potential eligibility of the property for conversion to an organic system. It needs to be noted that the model is provided by way of a guideline only. The reports and results generated do not amount to professional advice or a guarantee that the property will be certified organic in a certain timeframe.
The self-test diagnostic tool developed as part of this project is a pilot example of what could potentially be expanded into the starting point for the conversion and certification process. The tool has been developed using Microsoft Access, a readily available and user-friendly database program.
The potential exists to develop the tool so it can be hosted on organic industry or state agricultural department websites as the first point of entry for producers investigating conversion.
Implications for relevant
stakeholders
The results of this research
may allow producers considering certified conversion to organic systems
to investigate the opportunity in a structured and logical framework ensuring
that they do not overlook key criteria and issues. By involving the learning
requirements in the process the producer has to determine what may potentially
suit his/her requirements rather than a ‘one size fits all’ approach.
By incorporating the ability to collect and present information to certifiers for formal assessment, the model may save time for both producer and certifier /adviser. By presenting the information in a structured format both producer and adviser can examine key factors and potential issues in the conversion planning process.
Recommendations It is recommended that;
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