The Principles ofOrganic Production

Peter HastieBDM ACO

Organic Principles

• Organic is a ‘whole system’ approach to farming and food production.

• Recognises the close interrelationships between all parts of the production system from the soil to the consumer.

Aims of Organic Production

• To maintain the long term fertility and biological activity of soils.

• To work within natural systems and cycles throughout all levels from the soil to plants and animals.

• Respect for regional, environmental, climatic and geographic differences and appropriate practices that have evolved in response to them.

A Living Soil

Health of the Nation

Healthy Soil Healthy Food Healthy Population

Organic Land by Geographic Area

• Australia is home to the largest amount of certified organic farmland in the world: over 27 million hectares

• 7% of Australian farmland is under certified organic management

• Australian organic farmland has• Increased fourfold since 2002

• Doubled since 2006, and

• Increased by 23% or over 5 million hectares between 2015 and 2016

Australian Organic Production

• 2,075 organic producers, mainly extensive rangelands and geared towards producing beef for the domestic and export markets.

• A significant proportion of Australian organic products are exported, below are the top 5 destinations in 2016:

1. USA

2. South Korea

3. China (excluding HK)

4. Hong Kong

5. Singapore

Global Organic Market

• In 2003/04, the global market for organic food was worth an estimated £15 billion.

• 24 million hectares of farmland managed to organic standards across the world.

• Australia has the largest organic land area in the world (13 million hectares).

• Organic food and drink sales are increasing at over 10 per cent a year in Europe & the U.S.

Australian Organic Market

• Australian organic market worth $1.72 billion in 2014 (growing 15% p.a.)

• Anticipated to reach or exceed $2 billion by 2018 given the current growth trajectory

Organic Certification Process (ACO)1. Enquire – receive Information Kit

2. Complete and submit application documents (and application payment)

3. Certification Team conducts Initial Document Review based on application

4. If successful, initial audit is allocated to a Registered Auditor, Auditor will call new client to arrange a mutual time and date

5. Auditor will perform onsite inspection, take soil/tissue samples for testing, create Audit Report

6. Certification Team reviews Audit Report

7. If no major corrective actions raised, first Certificate OR Pre-Certification Letter will be issued

8. If major corrective actions raised, new client to provide a response to these prior to moving forward

TIMEFRAME:Approx 6-8 weeks (from Initial Doc Review until receiving P-C

Letter/Certificate)

Certification period

Demonstrate 36 month of organic management.

achieve a minimum of 12 months- In Conversion.

• 3.1.10. Certification of farm units as “Organic” may be given where it has been verified that the past three years of farm management have been in compliance with the relevant sections of this Standard at or before the point of harvest of the crop/s in question, that organic quality criteria have been achieved, and that management plans and ability are sufficient to achieve ongoing conformance with the Standard.

The use of mulch and Compost

• 4.2.8. Certified and uncertified natural mulching materials applied to the soil surface do not require composting prior to use. In crop production where mulches are allowed direct contact with the edible plant material, chemical residue testing of the mulching materials may be required.

• 4.2.6. All manures, from both certified and uncertified sources, shall be composted, as per Section 4.3, prior to use on the production unit. Exceptions to this are where manure arises from natural stocking practices, in restricted instances, outlined in 4.1.3(b), or where processes have been applied to achieve a similar outcome as outlined in Section 4.3.4

The use of ground cover in a plantation

Keep it Covered!• 4.6.4. For perennial production systems such as orchards and

plantations, permanent and/or a diversity of floor coverings shall be required to be documented in the OMP by the operator. Such coverings shall assist in soil protection as well as biodiversity enhancement on farm. Diversity management in the orchard may also entail consideration of refuge plantings which assist as predator harbours and trap crops

Soils-Heavy metal contamination- MRL’s

125 Zinc (Zn) 100 700

Agricultural Inputs

• Lets keep them natural (No GMO’s)

•Compost the poo to AS4454

• Lets keep them safe- no nasties4.7.9. Exceptions to amendments and fertiliser heavy metal levels may be granted in instances where consideration of application rates is made, where such inputs otherwise comply with the Standard, are of a nature as to require limited volumes to be used on the farm unit, and where accumulation of residues can be verified to not pose contamination risk to soil, crops or stock.

Need More Information?

•AO market Report: https://user-cprcmgz.cld.bz/AOMR-2017-Web-File-Download

•AO Organic Standard: http://austorganic.com/consumers/australian-certified-organic-standard2/

• Email:peter.hastie@aco.net.au

•Phone: 0402 069 354

Questions?Peter Hastie

Primal Foods Group