Organics is climate action! A round-up of the 2022 Organic Action Day
The 2022 Organic Action day was the ultimate place to connect and collaborate with Aotearoa's organic community. Over 100 people gathered on 23rd September at Prefab Hall, Wellington, to kōrero about the future of the organics, but more importantly, to discuss the question, how can we come together and collectively grow the Sector?
Ask, and you shall receive! Through 12 mainstage presenters, two guest speakers and plenty of audience discussion, the 2022 Organic Action day tackled major topics shaping the future of organics.
Organic agriculture is a fast-growing sector for Aotearoa New Zealand, delivering better environmental outcomes and sustainable returns. The Sector currently produces $723 million of product (+20% from 2017) generated from approximately 86,000 hectares of certified organic land. The 2022/25 Organic Sector Strategy highlights several projects that will accelerate Sector growth, and the Action Day provided the perfect platform to discuss how we get there.
Here's a round-up of the significant take-outs—each project setting the Sector on a growth path for the health of our soil, people and planet.
Up-skilling and connecting our farming communities
Christina Robinson (Zespri) and Jon Manhire (AgriBusiness) took us through Sector feedback regarding extension needs. Action Day participants were fired up and supportive of progressing work on the organic farmer extension programme plan that connects producers and draws on the diverse talent and knowledge found across the Sector. Ultimately, the goal is to help farmers connect, understand best practices, build confidence for those transitioning, and entice the next generation to join the organic movement.
Using technology to share organic resources and knowledge
How helpful would it be to have a national database of all organic resources in an easily searchable format? Malkiat Singh (Kingseat Organics) and Pete Huggins (GM Soil & Health Assoc) and their team have been working towards an Organic Knowledge Hub. The Hub will harness the power of community and drive behaviour changes in farming, supported by technology. The Hub aims to better connect farmers and producers with new ideas, solutions and resources. It will provide easy-to-follow information through video, guides, or tutorials. It also aims to leverage the power of community by being open source and volunteer led.
Working together for greater organic cooperation
New Zealand's farmer levy organisations are responsible for much of the innovation in, and the support of, the Agricultural Sector. There is an opportunity to pool resources for mutual goals, especially those that support regenerative and organic principles and sustainability outcomes.
Tiffany Tompkins (OANZ CEO) facilitated a conversation between Ed Massy (GM Sustainability NZ Winegrowers) and Clive Dougall (Chair Organic Winegrowers NZ) about the relationship that has grown between the two organisations. One main takeaway from the crowd was a relief that, FINALLY, an industry body is beginning to embrace organics as one important way of transitioning New Zealand to a clean and green future. Ed's messaging around being positive and finding common ground when talking to levy bodies resonated with many people. It was also exciting to hear about the market demand for organic wine from New Zealand.
Organics IS climate action!
Robyn Vickery (BioGro) and Kath Dewar (GoodSense) have been on a journey with fellow Acion Group members to discover how best to communicate organics to consumers. Robyn and Kath presented key messages that the Organic Sector can use to help consumers understand the benefits of organic in a quick and meaningful way.
In the current climate emergency, "organics is climate action" resonated with everyone in the room. Imagine if all we had to do to halt the climate crisis was to choose organic. That's a powerful choice.
Organic Products Bill: Protecting the Organic Sector through regulation
The Organic Products Bill currently moving through Parliament will provide greater integrity for organic growers and protect consumers against greenwashing and false organic claims.
The Sector hopes the new regulation will provide a sound basis for the ongoing expansion of organic production within Aotearoa, leading to greater volumes and variety of organic products.
Derek Broadmore (OANZ Board Advisor) facilitated a discussion with MPI regarding an update on the standard and regulations development. While the Organic Products Bill is still awaiting its second reading, there has been a lot of work behind the scenes on the regulations and standard.
In 2021, MPI publicly consulted on proposals for regulating organic food, beverages, and plant and animal products. A summary of the submissions we received is now available on MPI’s website.
MPI is developing further advice for the Government on the design of the regulations, which will consider the feedback it received during the 2021 consultation period. However, before any advice is given to the Ministers, MPI wants to hear the Sector’s views through another consultation process over the next couple of months. In the meantime, the five standard working groups (General, Plants, Livestock, Processing & handling and Inputs) have met in person and are now moving into virtual workshops to cover areas that were missed.
At the end of all the workshops a draft standard will be released for further Sector consultation.
Kaitiaki of Hua Parakore
Dr Jessica Hutchings enlightened the audience to the latest happenings with Te Waka Kai Ora and the Māori organic verification system, Hua Parakore. It was amazing to learn that since moving online they now have 38 producer groups and individuals in the three-year programme. The Hua Parakore korowai is awarded in the 3rd year of implementing Ngā Tikanga.
Hua Parakore was developed to map to the NZ Organic Standard, which is currently working with MPI to reposition in light of current reforms.
Jessica highlighted some key ways the Organic Sector to help:
Tiriti training and understanding the role of a Tiriti ally
Uplift the Hua Parakore as the Māori organics pathway
Partnership funding opportunities
Lift the load (not add to it) - speak up and elevate
Leading change organically
Karen Mapusua is the president of IFOAM - Organics International, a global organisation started by organic stakeholders in Europe 50 years ago to support the organic movement with resources and knowledge and to share best practices on policy development. IFOAM has successfully advocated for organics in the UN agenda, and many governments worldwide are slowly recognising the benefits of organic ag as a solution for climate change and biodiversity loss. In many countries, the science is in to back this up, but we recognise some gaps, including NZ.
Karen has been involved in the global organic movement for over 20 years and joked with the rising popularity of regen ag; organics aren't the cool kids anymore. Karen stressed the importance of the various sustainable agricultural movements working more closely together. Significant gains for the food system will come from collaboration to identify common goals. However, the Organic Sector needs to get clear about our point of difference, what we bring to the table and think about how we communicate that, reminding us that organic has a definition and is a whole system approach.
Over the last two years, major disruptions caused by Covid, coupled with the war in Ukraine and the increase in synthetic fertiliser prices, have had devastating impacts on farmers worldwide. Unfortunately, instead of seeing this as an opportunity to wean the world off synthetic chemicals and embrace organics, policymakers are looking at GE as a solution to feed the planet. There is a very powerful lobbyist movement behind this narrative, and the Organic Sector needs to find a way to overcome this so the government and farmers can make decisions based on facts, not fear.
The Organic Sector has to continue to be proactive to maintain the integrity of organic and hold strong to continue work in upholding its four principles: Health, Ecology, Fairness and Care and continue to work together at all levels.
A big thank you to everyone who came along
Special thanks to our guest speakers, Karen Mapasua and Dr Jessica Hutchings; it was a privilege to have you in the house; thank you for sharing your knowledge and wisdom. Thank you to all the Organic Sector action group volunteers; your time and dedication have been invaluable. Thank you to each of the 12 action group presenters - John Manhire, Christina Robinson, Clive Dougall, Edwin Massey, Malkiat Singh, Pete Huggins, Robyn Vickery, Kath Dewer, Derek Broadmore and the MPI team Justine Hobbs, Sharlene Hogan and Shona Scott.
A special shoutout to Derek Broadmore; you have worked tirelessly facilitating the Organic Products Bill action group and OANZ Technical Committee. Your contributions to the Organic Sector over the last 30 years are outstanding. Please accept our humble thanks and heartfelt appreciation from Organics Aotearoa New Zealand (OANZ). In honour of your achievements, we present you with a lifetime membership to OANZ.
Thank you to the OANZ board and CEO Tiffany Tompkins, who pulled the whole event together and for facilitating the organic action groups over the last six months.
Thank you to OANZ members and event sponsors for providing a delicious selection of wine, beer, soft drinks and coffee - The Darling Wines, Halcyon Days, IncaFe Coffee, Karma Drinks, Panhead Custom Ales, Stonecroft Wines and Te Whare Ra Wines. Your support is appreciated.
The Action Day reinvigorated us all, and one thing is true, we are all in agreement what happens on our farms has enormous consequences for our climate and impact on climate change. In Aotearoa, nearly half of our national greenhouse gas emissions come from agriculture. So how we farm can make or break the health of our atmosphere.
The good news is that organic farming is climate-friendly and could even counteract climate change if practised on a large enough scale, and OANZ is here to help accelerate the growth so urgently needed. The Organic Action Day provided a space to progress the hows and whys, and it's fair to say we all came away inspired, invigorated, and ready for the next steps.
For now, we will retreat, collate all of the presentations, and write an analysis and results in a report published in November.
