Saturday, March 30, 2024

Organics’ standard just a start

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A national standard for New Zealand’s organic sector is welcome but is also only just in time as the rest of the world moves on to even higher organic standards, former Organics Aotearoa chief executive Brendan Hoare says.
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It took five years and three ministers to get to the point where a law will be passed.

“This has been something very, very close to my heart and it is great to see that logic has finally prevailed across all parties,” Hoare, who has yet to be replaced, said.

NZ is one of only two of the top 25 organic markets in the world to have voluntary rather than compulsory standards.

For the first time in NZ’s agricultural history it will, when the law is passed next year, have a national standard for a primary production sector.

The regulatory standard is a stick in the ground, from which more far-reaching standards can extend.

“First and foremost this is a production and retail standard but it’s just the beginning of the discussion,” Hoare said.

Many of NZ’s main markets expect a standard  expected and also want low carbon, recyclable packaging, soil health standards and even have expectations around how staff are treated.

“The next level is regenerative organic certification. 

“It’s a more holistic process that includes animal welfare, fair treatment of growers and robust requirements for soil health and land management.” 

Work by the likes of the Rodale Institute argues changes to regenerative organic agricultural methods would generate soil carbon levels sufficient to help keep global warming under 1.5C.

NZ has come dangerously close to losing credibility in the five years it has taken to get the standard this far and risks being even further behind by the time it is actually in place.

“Many countries are now in phase two of organics, looking hard at pesticide reduction in particular. 

“NZ has really only just got our L plates on when we get the national standard passed.”

Taiwan now has an integrated organic supply chain with 14 special organic farming districts supplying almost half a million school students with meals made using organic vegetables and is integrating organic supply into its military forces.

Hoare urges the sector not to rest on the success of getting the base regulation over the line and to move quickly to catch up with the rest of the world.

“I know there are countries out there that will require these phase two standards, otherwise they will not allow our products in, so we need to move quickly.”

The scope of regulations will have to be defined once the standard becomes law.

“Of course it will include food and beverage but will it also include cosmetics, aquaculture, honey? This remains to be determined.”

The concept of true-cost accounting where the full costs and benefits of different food and farming systems are identified and costed into the true production cost for farmers is also being considered by some organisations and countries.

“It is work that involves a debtors’ ledger for food production and determining who you send the bill to.”

Hoare said the concept is a valuable way to better inform consumers about organic standards and highlight organic benefits over conventional production systems. 

The latest NZ organic market report said the organic sector has grown by 30% since 2015 and is now worth $600 million a year, boosted by both overseas and domestic demand. 

And 80% of NZ consumers buy fresh, frozen or packaged organic products at least once a fortnight and just under half do so based on concern for the environment.

Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor said a national standard for organic production gives consumers confidence in organic claims and businesses certainty to invest and innovate in the growing sector.

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