Joining forces to clean up food and farming

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The urgency of what’s happening to our food supply has motivated two key organic organisations to join forces. To counter industrial-style factory farming and food production, which is causing environmental degradation and ill health, Soil & Health and BioGro are working together to offer clean, green organic solutions.

The Soil & Health Association (publisher of OrganicNZ magazine)1 and BioGro Society (owner of the BioGro organic certification company)2 are discussing a merger, following the approval by both memberships in July 2015 to explore a variety of options. Both organisations are well established in their own right, and are taking the opportunity to join their expertise and resources and work together to enliven the organic sector.

“New Zealand needs live up to its clean, green image. We urgently need to shift towards high-value, safe, sustainable, GE-free organic farming, for the sake of our health, economy and environment,” said Marion Thomson, co-chair of Soil & Health.

“Organic food and farming can play a major role in countering rising health problems like cancer, allergies, diabetes and obesity,” Ms Thomson said.

“There is a big future for organics in New Zealand, and a strengthened and unified organic sector will highlight our successes and take a leadership role in sharing the solutions to current problems,” says Gaz Ingram, chair of BioGro Society.

“With changing weather patterns, we need robust and sustainable ways of producing food and fibre,” Mr Ingram said.

As consumers increasingly demand clean, safe, GE-free, organic, ethical food and other products, there is a growing need for a strong, unified organic sector that can represent and advocate for consumers and producers alike.

The joint initiative is an exciting opportunity to combine forces and unite the two organisations, whose values and goals are very closely aligned.

A working party which includes members from Soil & Health’s National Council and BioGro Society’s board is developing a strategic direction that will see a refreshed and united organisation that will capture the strengths, skills and resources of both organisations. A plan will go out to all members around March 2016. Members will vote at the AGMs of both organisations in July 2016.

NOTES
1.    The Soil & Health Association is the largest membership organisation supporting organic food and farming in New Zealand. In 2016 it celebrates its 75th anniversary. Soil & Health was founded in 1941 as the Humic Compost Club by New Zealanders who were concerned about degraded soils, increasing refined foods, and the links of both of these with declining nutrition.
It promotes sustainable agricultural practices and principles of good health based on sound nutrition and the motto ‘Healthy soil – healthy food – healthy people’.
www.organicnz.org.nz

2.    The BioGro Society was formed in 1983 by Soil & Health, the Biodynamic Association and the Henry Doubleday Research Association, who saw the need for a credible and internationally respected organic standard and certification process, in order to safeguard the interests of producers and consumers.
The BioGro company (owned by the BioGro Society) is the premier organic certification agency in New Zealand. It certifies and accredits over 600 producers in New Zealand and the Pacific, is accredited to IFOAM (International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements) and has an excellent reputation with domestic and export markets.
www.biogro.co.nz

Climate-friendly farming: we have the solutions

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We have good news for John Key! At the climate talks in Paris, Prime Minister John Key said that cost-effective technologies for reducing New Zealand’s agricultural emissions were not yet available.

 

However, according to the Soil & Health Association, not only do we already have the technology and the know-how to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture, but using this technology will also have multiple other benefits for our economy, our environment, our soils and waterways, and our health.

 

“We already have low-emission climate-friendly farming practices – it’s called organic farming,” said Marion Thomson, co-chair of Soil & Health.

 

Because nearly 50% of New Zealand’s greenhouse gas emissions come from farming, we cannot continue to ignore this. By moving towards organic and biological farming, we will reduce carbon, methane and nitrous oxide emissions.

 

“Soil & Health is calling on the government to reinvest the taxpayer money going to the Global Research Alliance on Agricultural Greenhouse Gases, and instead use it to help farmers transition to organic practices,” said Thomson.

 

“The $20 million Mr Key just promised to the Alliance would be infinitely more effectively invested in growing the organic farming sector. Helping farmers transition to eco-friendly, climate-friendly organic farming will be good for our health, wealth and environment. What’s not to like about that?” asked Thomson.

The organic approach ticks all the right boxes. By farming organically, farmers can reduce stock numbers and still get the same income, because global markets are crying out for clean, green, pasture-fed, GE-free and organic food, and are prepared to pay a premium for it.

 

Lower stock numbers mean lower greenhouse gas emissions, as well as reducing the impacts on soils and waterways, which desperately need to be cleaned up.

Mixed pasture species including those with high tannins like birdsfoot trefoil can be grown to reduce methane emissions from ruminant animals.

In addition, organic farms have better soil structures and better soil moisture-holding capacity, which will help farmers cope with the effects of climate change that we are seeing already. Organic farms are more resilient in the face of floods and droughts.

 

Non-organic farms generally use pesticides that are either known or suspected carcinogens, so going organic will also reduce the nation’s health bill by reducing or eliminating the use of harmful chemicals.

 

 

MEDIA CONTACT:

Marion Thomson, co-chair, Soil & Health

027 555 4014

Maize spill shows risks of GE seed escape

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New Zealand’s valuable GE-free status is under threat from biosecurity breaches, says the Soil & Health Association. Two spills in New Plymouth last week of maize imported from the USA show how it’s possible for genetically engineered seed to escape containment – and potentially grow.

“Well over 80% of maize grown in the US is genetically engineered, so there is a high likelihood of this seed being GE,” says Marion Thomson, co-chair of Soil & Health. “MPI has claimed that the maize is not GE, but we want to see the documentation, such as certification and test results, to be assured of this.”

New Zealand imports hundreds of thousands of tonnes of seed to be milled for stock feed. Much of it, including maize/corn, soy, canola and cottonseed, comes from countries where these GE crops are widespread.

“Have there been other spills of viable GE seed that we don’t know about?” asks Thomson. “The longer we continue to import this seed, the greater the risks are from contamination, and reputation to New Zealand’s clean, green image and primary exports – including GE-free maize.”

“New Zealand needs to be more self-sufficient and grow more of our own maize,” says Thomson. “Especially in terms of pastoral and dairy farming we need to focus on healthy, biodiverse pastures and reduce our dependence on external inputs.”

Soil & Health agrees with the majority of Kiwis that New Zealand should be GE-free in our food and environment. This is part of a healthy lifestyle, environment and economy based on sustainable, organic farming and growing.

CONTACTS

Marion Thomson,

Co-chair, Soil & Health Association of NZ

027 555 4014

Will new farming leader jeopardise NZ’s GE-free advantage?

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The recent election of William Rolleston as president of Federated Farmers could mean a push towards genetic engineering (GE) in farming, warns the Soil & Health Association. Dr Rolleston has for many years been a proponent of GE, and some farmers, both organic and conventional, fear he may use his position to continue to promote the risky, unwanted and unnecessary technology.

“Markets the world over want clean, green, GE-free and organic food,” says Marion Thomson, co-chair of Soil & Health. “New Zealand is in the perfect position to satisfy this demand by remaining GE-free in our farming and environment. It’s not just organic farmers who want to stay GE-free; many other producers, such as Pure Hawkes Bay, recognise the advantages.”

Federated Farmers has to date said that farmers should have the right to choose how they farm. However in practice GE crops cannot coexist with GE-free crops.

“Once the genie is out of the bottle there is no putting it back in,” says Thomson. “Overseas experience shows crop contamination causes huge problems for GE-free farmers, such as loss of markets, loss of organic certification and court cases.”

Soil & Health deplores the fact that millions of dollars of New Zealand taxpayers’ money has been spent on GE experiments over the past two decades, with no benefits yet produced. GE crops planted overseas have led to more pesticides being used, the rise of resistant pests and ‘superweeds’, and no long-term increases in yields. Our public money should instead be spent on agricultural research that will benefit everyone: farmers and consumers, our health, economy and the environment.

“Farmers already have great systems and know-how – we don’t need GE,” says Thomson. “Organic and biological practices provide particular benefits such as excellent soil health and structure, animal health, biodiversity, drought-resistance and nutrient density, plus organic products are free from nasty chemicals.”

Think tank calls for GE-free farming

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A Wellington think tank’s call for New Zealand to be a GE-free food and fibre producer has been welcomed by the Soil & Health Association. The latest McGuinness Institute report, ‘An Overview of Genetic Modification in New Zealand, 1973–2013’ was released on 29 August.

“This comprehensive and thoroughly researched report sums up a lot of what we’ve been saying for years,” says Marion Thomson, co-chair of Soil & Health – Organic NZ. “Soil & Health agrees with its recommendations, including a moratorium on growing genetically engineered crops, and a thorough review of the systems and policy gaps around GE.

“The McGuinness report also calls for the implementation of all the recommendations made by the Royal Commission on Genetic Modification in 2001. Soil & Health has continued to ask for this. Many of the recommendations have never been carried out, such as adequate liability laws, or have been discontinued, like the Bioethics Council.”

“The risks of GE are too high, and our laws don’t protect the public from financial liability when things go wrong. This is why local governments are moving to protect their communities,” says Thomson.

“This report should be required reading for all New Zealanders involved in decision-making about genetic engineering. This includes all levels of government, from central government agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency and CRIs like AgResearch and Scion, to local governments.”

The McGuinness Institute report points out the lack of investment value for New Zealanders in genetic engineering. Of the 57 field trials held here since 1988, ‘Not one of these has resulted in any commercial benefit or tangible return on the public’s investment, while all experiments have presented a constant risk.’1

Media contact: advocacy@organicnz.org.nz, 09 419 4536

Soil & Health, established in 1941, is one of the world’s oldest organic organisations and publishes Organic NZ. We advocate for people’s right to have fresh, healthy, organic food and water free of GE, pesticides and additives. Oranga nuku, oranga kai, oranga tangata.
https://soilandhealth.org.nz
http://www.facebook.com/OrganicNZ

Reference
1.     McGuinness, Wendy, and Mokena-Lodge, Renata, ‘An Overview of Genetic Modification in New Zealand, 1973–2013: The first forty years’, McGuinness Institute, Wellington, 29 August 2013
https://www.mcguinnessinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Project-2058-Report-16-Web.pdf

Country of origin labelling initiative applauded

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“Soil & Health applauds the recent initiative by Quality Mark to identify on the label all beef and lamb that is not grown in New Zealand,” says Debbie Swanwick, Spokesperson for Soil & Health – Organic NZ.

Numerous groups and organisations, including Soil & Health, Horticulture New Zealand and the Green Party, have been campaigning for mandatory country of origin labelling for several years.

“Despite intense lobbying, the government has failed to implement such a policy, but it is inspirational that retailers are listening to consumers who want to know where and how their food is grown. Even internationally retailers are stepping up to enable consumers to make better purchasing decisions,” says Swanwick.

In the US a major retailer, The Whole Foods market, has seized a marketing opportunity and committed to labelling GMOs by 2018. This initiative is in contrast to legislation which still does not require mandatory labelling of GMOs in the US despite consumer demand for it.

“With the rising incidence of food contamination throughout the world and the absence of mandatory country of origin labelling, the most reliable way to ensure you are buying local food grown is to buy New Zealand certified organic food. Of course that also ensures it is safe, healthy and meets our animal welfare standards,” says Swanwick.

New Zealand produced certified organic food carries one of these four labels:  BioGro, Demeter, AsureQuality or OrganicFarmNZ.

Soil & Health is one of the oldest organic organisations in the world and advocates for the consumer’s right to have fresh, healthy, organic food and water free of GE, pesticides and additives and their right to know what is in their food and water. Oranga nuku, oranga kai, oranga tangata. To learn more about what is really in your food subscribe to our Facebook Page http://www.facebook.com/OrganicNZ

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References

1) http://www.cool.org.nz
2) http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=1090…
3) https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1205/S00059/australians-beating-us-over-meat-labelling.htm
4) http://www.foodnavigator-usa.com/Markets/Whole-Foods-Market-commits-to-G…

Toxic fracking waste entering food supply?

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”The practice of dumping toxic oil drilling and fracking waste on farmland is compromising the ability of New Zealand farmers to grow good food,” says Debbie Swanwick, Spokesperson, Soil & Health – Organic NZ.

Her comments follow recent media attention that 12 farmers in Taranaki practicing so-called ‘land farming’ are providing milk to Fonterra.

Land farming allows toxic waste from oil drilling and fracking which may include arsenic, lead and mercury to be dumped on land in the hope that it will be neutralized by providing pollution-eating organisms with fertilizer, oxygen, and other conditions that encourage their rapid growth.

”Whilst big oil would have you believe this is effective it really isn’t rocket science that it is not. Their profits should not come at the expense of human health,” says Swanwick. “Fracking wastes have already contaminated groundwater in the US and elsewhere and we need to learn lessons from this.”

Oil companies are giving dairy farmers the same returns for land that would be used for milk production to instead dump this waste, and are also paying for pasture renewal.

With 140 new oil wells in the region forecast in the next two years more land is being demanded.

”To grow good food you need good soil that is contaminant free. Dumping fracking waste on farms is compromising the 100% pure NZ brand and it must stop,” says Swanwick.

”The only way New Zealanders can be assured that our food is free of GE, pesticides, additives and contaminants is to grow or buy organic. Look for the organic certification labels of BioGro, AsureQuality, Demeter or OrganicFarmNZ,” says Swanwick.

Soil & Health – Organic NZ is one of the oldest organic organisations in the world and advocates for the consumer’s right to have fresh, healthy, organic food and water that is free of GE, pesticides and additives, and their right to know what is in their food and water. Oranga nuku, oranga kai, oranga tangata. To learn more about what is really in your food subscribe to their Facebook Page and subscribe http://www.facebook.com/OrganicNZ

References

http://ei.cornell.edu/biodeg/bioremed/

monsanto march

New Zealanders protest for better food for world citizens

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New Zealand was one of 52 countries around the world that protested on Saturday against genetically modified food that big agritech giant Monsanto produces.
The worldwide “March against Monsanto” is the first global protest against genetically modified food.
“The level of participation in New Zealand in these marches is evidence that New Zealanders want what we offer – real food for real people,” says Debbie Swanwick, Spokesperson, Soil & Health – Organic NZ.
Thousands of concerned citizens marched in Whangarei, Auckland, Tauranga, Rotorua, Wellington, New Plymouth, Nelson, Christchurch and Dunedin.
“GE is but one issue that compromises the nutritional value and goodness of real food – pesticides and additives are others. In addition to protests consumers are voting with their wallets” says Swanwick. “Last year organic sales in New Zealand increased 8% and between 2007 and 2012 the total land area in New Zealand under organic certification increased by 67%.”
Genetically engineered plants are designed to resist insecticides and herbicides and it is suggested they increase yields but the 2009 Failure to Yield report by the the Union of Concerned Scientists proves they do not. They are also producing super weeds and super insects who have developed a tolerance and increasing the use of dangerous chemicals. Between 1996 and 2008, US farmers sprayed an extra 383 million pounds of herbicide on GMOs. Last year 80% of American corn was also compromised when the BT rootworm, that attacks it, developed a tolerance to the insecticide.
“GE crops always cross contaminate. Having only one crop is agricultural suicide if it fails, as America experienced last year with their BT corn crops, and US farmers have learnt from that experience. Many are choosing not to replant this year, but by far the greatest danger of GE crops is the threat they pose to human health,” says Swanwick.
“People need nutrients in their food, not chemicals,” says Swanwick “and it is long overdue that we took a stand against companies that breach our code of human ethics. If your policy is to compromise the food that we feed our children our policy is to compromise your profits by buying organic. Thankfully New Zealanders have never been afraid to speak their truth in that way. We made world history when we declared ourselves nuclear-free and yet again, we are setting the benchmark for the rest of the world who already admire us for our clean, green image,” says Swanwick.
No GE crops are grown commercially in New Zealand.
Soil & Health – Organic NZ is one of the oldest organic organisations in the world and advocates for the consumer’s right to have fresh, healthy, organic food and water free of GE, pesticides and additives and their right to know what is in their food and water. Oranga nuku, oranga kai oranga tangata. To learn more about what is really in your food subscribe to their Facebook Page and subscribe http://www.facebook.com/OrganicNZ

References (Links accessed May 2013)
1) http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/americas/united-states/1…
2) http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/8719648/Protesters-join-…
3) http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=1088…
4) http://www.oanz.org/casestudies/OANZ-full%20report%202012.pdf
5) http://www.ucsusa.org/assets/documents/food_and_agriculture/failure-to-y…

woman with dog

Organic farmers cope better in drought

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“The recent suggestion from Federated Farmers vice president William Rolleston to allow genetically engineered ryegrass into NZ to alleviate the drought is outrageous and factually inaccurate,” says Debbie Swanwick, spokesperson for Soil & Health – Organic NZ.

“Rather than going down the risky GE path, farmers will do better using sustainable organic practices,” Swanwick says. A 2007 study led by Ivette Perfecto, of the University of Michigan, showed that in developing countries, where the chances of famine are greatest, organic methods could double or triple crop yields. (1) This is also supported by a similar study conducted by the United Nations in 2010. (3)
“To take advantage of farmers in their time of need by force feeding them incorrect science is not protecting the interests of those that you are supposed to represent – it is betraying them,” Swanwick says.

GE crops have no proven resilience in drought conditions but instead introduce multiple risks and problems. Last year the failure of the genetically engineered Bt corn crop put over 70% of America’s corn at risk. The rootworm, now resistant to the Bt protein, prevents corn roots from absorbing water. “The situation became agricultural suicide in the middle of last year’s drought in the US,” says Swanwick. (2)
By contrast, Soil & Health – Organic NZ is getting reports that organic farmers in the North Island are generally doing better in the drought than their conventional counterparts. Armed with better soil structures and water-holding capacity, the use of a diversity of pasture species including deep-rooted species like chicory that withstand drought better, and tree crops and shelterbelts, they have been able to protect their animals and their incomes. Some are even capitalizing on their investments by selling baleage for additional stockfeed which is now in high demand.

“In the absence of Federated Farmers giving their members all the facts, we will. The success of NZ internationally is built on farming and our farmers and to undermine them and their investment is scandalous, especially when your remit is to protect this sector,” says Swanwick.

Soil & Health is one of the oldest organic organisations in the world and advocates for the consumer’s right to have fresh, healthy, organic food free of GE, pesticides and additives.  and their right to know what is in their food. Oranga nuku, oranga kai oranga tangata. To learn more about what is really in your food subscribe to their Facebook pagehttp://www.facebook.com/OrganicNZ

References

(1) http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2011/12/organic-can-feed-the-w…

(2) http://www.thenewamerican.com/tech/environment/item/12658-drought-and-su…

(3) http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2011/12/organic-can-feed-the-w…

Man with hen

Decision makers chicken over egg debate

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“Revised legislation phasing out battery cages over ten years and introducing colony cages in NZ does little to curb animal welfare issues -we are just putting more birds in bigger cages” says Debbie Swanwick, Spokeperson – Soil & Health – Organic NZ.
Colony cages house 60 chickens in a 3 metre cage (1) versus battery cages where 3 or 4 chickens live together. Both options give each hen a space to live in smaller than an A4 sheet of paper and both options prevent them from expressing their normal behavior. (6)
SAFE’s executive director Hans Kriek says 80 percent of New Zealanders want battery cages banned (4). “That is not surprising, New Zealanders care about how their food is grown” says Swanwick.

“The continuation of cages is shortsighted as New Zealand consumers and animal advocates will simply not accept colony battery cages. The fight against this cruelty will only stop when all cages are gone” says Kriek.

“In the absence of decision makers refusing to support consumers concerned about animal welfare and deliver the best product available to them, the only option is for consumers to vote with their wallets” says Swanwick.
Although a better option than battery, colony or barn laid eggs, unfortunately there is no industry certification for ‘free range’. The only guarantee therefore that a hen is not confined in a cage, able to display normal behavior, able to adequately exercise and can roam outdoors is to buy organic. (3)
“People can also choose to buy direct from the farmer which oftentimes is cheaper than store bought” says Swanwick.
Under the new Code of Welfare for Layer Hens (released December 2012) standard barren battery cages will not be banned until 2023 and will then be replaced with colony cages (2).

“This attempt to improve the lives of these hapless caged layers fails miserably and still contravenes the Principles of the Animal Welfare Act.   For a Government that professes that ‘Animal Welfare Matters’, I can see no proof of that in this meagre attempt to walk the talk” says Bob Kerridge, President, Royal New Zealand SPCA.

Swanwick cites recent legislative changes to be prejudicial. “Sow crates in NZ will be banned by 2015 (although farrow crates will not) for contravening animal welfare codes but the same rights have not been afforded our feathered friends” says Swanwick. (5)

“Our politicians seem to be chicken over chickens. You can count on the fact that pork will taste better in future but it still must leave a bad taste in the mouths of politicians who sold out on chickens whilst protecting the welfare of pigs ” says Swanwick.

Soil & Health is one of the oldest organic organisations in the world and advocate for the consumers right to have fresh, healthy, organic food – GE, pesticide and additive free and their right to know what is in their food. Oranga Nuku, Oranga Kai Oranga Tangata.

References

(1) http://www.suekedgley.com/article/no-future-hens-cages
(2) http://stopfactoryfarming.org.nz/takeaction/
(3) http://www.safe.org.nz/stop-factory-farming/layer-hens/egg-labels/
(4) http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10691325
(5) http://www.safe.org.nz/Campaigns/Battery-hens.