Various Fruits

Celebrating NZ’s first official GE-free food producing region

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Hastings District Council’s decision to ban GE in their district is welcome news, says the Soil & Health Association. The just-released Hastings District Plan prohibits the release and field trialling of genetically engineered organisms, creating the first official GE-free food-producing region in New Zealand, and joining a number of regions around the world.1

“With a regional economy that relies on high-quality horticulture and agriculture and New Zealand’s clean green image, this decision makes sound business sense,” says Marion Thomson, co-chair of Soil & Health.

Retaining and strengthening the district’s valuable GE-free status is important for export and local food production. There is a strong and increasing demand for high-value, safe, GE-free food, and customers are paying a premium for it.

“The Council has acted on the wishes of 85% of the community,” says Thomson, “and the leadership shown by primary producer group Pure Hawke’s Bay has been absolutely brilliant.”
Soil & Health’s submission to the Council, in support of a GE-free district, drew attention to the 340-plus certified organic producers in the wider Hawke’s Bay. Organic producers would lose their certification if contaminated by GE organisms.

Soil & Health has made submissions to several councils around New Zealand in support of GE-free districts and regions. The Association has also invested significant amounts of money from members’ donations and participated in two landmark Environment Court cases.

One of the most significant Environment Court cases of 2015 was one in which Soil & Health and GE Free Northland led a group of section 274 (interested) parties in supporting Northland Regional Council’s precautionary wording on genetic engineering. Principal Environment Court Judge Newhook confirmed that there is jurisdiction under the RMA for regional councils to make provision for GMOs through regional policy statements and plans. [2]

This decision by the Environment Court was pivotal in the final decision made by the Hastings District Council. Soil & Health is supporting many communities around New Zealand – including Auckland Council, Bay of Plenty Regional Council, Whangarei District Council, Northland Regional Council, and Far North District Council – strengthening their GE-free status via district or regional plans.

“The GE-free movement is strong and growing, and community-led, similar to the nuclear-free movement of the 80s,” says Thomson. “New Zealand’s national legislation is inadequate to properly protect communities from the potential adverse effects of GE, so communities are acting to reinforce their existing GE-free status.”

CONTACT

Marion Thomson, co-chair, Soil & Health Association of NZ

027 555 4014

References

Links accessed Sept 2015

1.    https://www.hastingsdc.govt.nz/files/all/Proposed%20DP/Plan%20Text/29.1HazardousSubstancesAndGeneticallyModifiedOrganismsDistrictWideActivity.pdf

2.     http://www.organicnz.org.nz/node/1020

Notes

The Soil & Health Association of NZ is the largest membership organisation supporting organic food and farming in New Zealand, and one of the oldest organic organisations in the world, established in 1941. Our aims are to empower people and communities to grow, buy and support locally based sustainable, safe, GE-free and organic food in Aotearoa New Zealand. Soil & Health’s flagship magazine is Organic NZ, produced 6 times per year and sold nationwide.

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

Local tomatoes and capsicums hotter than nuked Aussie imports

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“There is no consumer demand for irradiated food from Australia, and labelling these new imports as irradiated will merely increase demand for New Zealand varieties of the same,” says Debbie Swanwick, Spokesperson, Soil & Health – Organic NZ.

New Zealand currently imports irradiated mangoes, papayas, custard apples and lychees from Australia, and tomatoes and capsicums will be arriving soon.

“People in nuclear-free New Zealand want local, safe and organic food,” says Swanwick. “Irradiated food has no benefits for consumers; in fact there is strong evidence to suggest that it has negative impacts on human and animal health.”

Irradiation of food began in 1986 in America but despite being deemed safe by the FDA many question it. Irradiation is often used as an alternative to chemical insecticides.

The Australian Government banned irradiated cat food four years ago when animals developed neurological defects after being fed high-dose gamma-irradiated food. The European Food Safety Authority is currently investigating the safety of irradiated food.
“The New Zealand Food Standards Code requires that all irradiated food is labelled as such, but retailer education on the issue and policing of it could result in these standards not being adhered to.”
“Of course the best way to ensure the purity of your food and that it is grown here is to buy New Zealand certified organic produce – that is labelled as BioGro, AsureQuality, Demeter and OrganicFarmNZ,” 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 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 http://www.facebook.com/OrganicNZ

To view online click here www.organicnz.org.nz/node/711

References

1) http://www.mercola.com/article/irradiated/nuclear_lunch.htm

2) http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10878382

3) http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU1308/S00299/irradiated-australian-tomat…

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…

Birkdale Primary

Local solutions needed to save orchards

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“The demise of many established orchards throughout the country may create a short supply of fruit in coming years and increase prices,” says Debbie Swanwick, Spokesperson, Soil & Health – Organic NZ. “We need local solutions such as co-ops or community supported agriculture (CSA) models to ensure their survival.”

The small profit margins received by growers, who often have limited marketing knowledge, are being eroded by low sell-in prices to supermarket chains and high distribution costs, despite there being high demand for fruit.

Windmill in Coastesville, Auckland, a 7 hectare orchard that has been in existence for 35 years, has most recently closed its doors. “A new motorway has diverted traffic away from our front door. Combined with the high cost of taking our product to market and needing to market our product ourselves due to the loss of the Auckland fruit agent, we just can’t compete with big business any more,” says owner Graham Jensen.

Di Celliers, founder of Community Fruit Harvest, says “A lot of local growers’ fruit is going to waste because they can’t get it to market. Limited supply will increase the price of fruit whilst compromising choice.”

Community Fruit Harvest picks unwanted fruit throughout New Zealand and donates it to charity. A lot of the fruit is spray-free, giving people on low incomes access to good quality food that typically they would not be able to afford.

“People having access to good food in general is a national problem with a local solution,” says Swanwick. “The community supported agriculture or farm-share option could be used to save these orchards or fruit distributed through food co-operatives.”

A CSA involves community members buying a share in the farm to support that farmer for a specified period. Seven Springs Farm in the Waitakere Ranges, which is profiled in the July/August issue of Organic NZ magazine, is an example of a local market garden CSA. “There is no reason why the model can’t be adopted by orchardists,” says Swanwick.

Alternatively local food co-operatives could market produce for orchardists. Food co-operatives purchase produce and dry goods at wholesale prices. Community members can then join the co-op and pay a small margin on top of the wholesale price giving, them good quality food (often organic) for less than retail. This makes organic food more affordable for people and gives suppliers better returns.

In New Zealand certified organic produce is labelled as BioGro, Demeter, AsureQuality and OrganicFarmNZ.

“Consumers need to start growing local and buying local if they want a say in what they will eat in years to come,” says Swanwick. “If they don’t, small growers will be pushed out of business and they will have to buy and eat what corporate farmers tell them to. That may be fruit that is genetically engineered and laden with pesticides. That kind of apple will send you to the doctor not keep the doctor away.”

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
To view online click here www.organicnz.org.nz/node/691

Photo caption: Students from Birkdale Primary participate in a Community Fruit Harvest pick. Low income earners will benefit from their labors through charity food banks.

References

(1) http://www.oanz.org/casestudies/OANZ-full%20report%202012.pdf

(2) http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/farming/245009/Apples-going-organic

(3) http://www.soilassociation.org/communitysupportedagriculture

(4) http://www.windmillorchards.co.nz/

(5) http://www.pickfruit.co.nz/

Birkdale Primary

GE crops fail to deliver food to the hungry

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New research from University of Canterbury researchers proves that genetically engineered crops have lower yields and use more pesticides than GE-free crops. The research, led by Professor Jack Heinemann, compared North American staple crop production to Western Europe over the past fifty years.
The world’s population is currently 7 billion but by 2020 it is forecast to reach 8 billion.
“Feeding the world’s hungry is a catchcry used by big agri-tech, but it is nothing more than an emotive rant appealing to our compassion, when these companies have none themselves,” says Debbie Swanwick, Spokesperson, Soil & Health – Organic NZ. “We can feed the world’s hungry now – we choose not to.”
Forty percent of food is currently wasted and whilst a billion people on the earth are starving, a billion people are overweight. Research shows that in developing countries, home to many of the world’s hungry, and where drought is common, not only can organic production increase yields by 100-200% it is also affordable for the people.
“The deplorable situation in many developing countries is that farmers are sold GE crops which they cannot afford and cannot grow in the traditional ways they are used to. The cost of having to buy patented seed each year and the need to buy more pesticides and herbicides to deal with resistant insects and weeds has made growing GE crops
increasingly unsustainable. Since the introduction of GE crops in the mid 1990s, more than a quarter of a million subsistence farmers in India have committed suicide . Big corporations that treat our global citizens in this way are committing a crime against humanity and this must stop,” says Swanwick.
“What we need to do is produce crops that consumers can afford, that provide good nutrition and are environmentally sustainable. Consumers worldwide do not want to eat GMOs. The movement to eradicate GMOs or at the very least label them is now at a tipping point that will see the demise of a practice that should never have been rubber-stamped by governments, whose remit is to represent people not corporations. People deserve real food,” says Swanwick.

Recently Hungary burnt all their GMO crops, and last month the Connecticut senate was the first US state to introduce a bill demanding labelling of GMOs. At least twenty other states are following their lead.
“The US market is set to fall and justice will finally prevail when these crops are banned by consumers – who will vote with their wallets,” says Swanwick. “Big agri-tech knows this. It is the reason why they spent US$45 million last year to defeat a bill that would have seen mandatory labelling of GMOs in California. The bill was narrowly lost by
3%.”
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

To view online click here www.organicnz.org.nz/node/687

References

(1) http://ideas.repec.org/p/fpr/2020br/5.html
(2) http://nz.search.yahoo.com/search?ei=utf-8&fr=aaplw&p=suicide+and+indian…
(3) http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2012/08/22/40-of-u-s-food-wasted-report-says/ 
(4) http://www.ucsusa.org/food_and_agriculture/our-failing-food-system/genet…
(5) http://now.msn.com/hungary-burns-1000-acres-of-gmo-corn-crops
(6) http://beforeitsnews.com/alternative/2013/06/connecticut-lawmakers-vote-…
(7) http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/SC1306/S00052/gm-a-failing-biotechnology-…
(8) Heinemann, J.A., Massaro, M., Coray, D.S., Zanon Agapito-Tenfen, S. and Wen, J.D. (2013) Sustainability and innovation in staple crop production in the US Midwest. International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability (early access online)http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/14735903.2013.806408

Proposed changes to Food Bill welcomed

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“Proposed changes to the Food Bill to take into consideration public concern regarding genetic engineering and unnecessary regulation and compliance on community and fundraising groups is a welcome relief. It appears that the same is true for small-scale producers” says Debbie Swanwick, Spokesperson, Soil & Health – Organic NZ.

Food Safety Minister, Nikki Kaye, announced the changes last week which include reinstating the reference to GM foods to make it clear that the Government has the ability to make New Zealand-only standards relating to GM food in the exceptional circumstances set out in the Food Treaty with Australia. Further changes have been made so that gifting, donating and swapping food in non-commercial exchanges is permissible and that fundraising and ‘Kiwiana’ activities such as sausage sizzles and school fairs will not be regulated other than to ensure food is safe and suitable. Nor will it be mandatory that low-risk and very small-scale activities have Food Handler Guidance.

Th Food Bill will replace the current legislation and regulation including the Food Act of 1981 and 34 separate sets of food safety bylaws around New Zealand.

The Bill will now go back to a Select Committee hearing with changes expected to be effective by summer of 2013. It is expected that there will be further public consultation by the Select Committee.

“Kaye’s ability to cut through the dross on this Bill which could impact the charitable activities of our communities is commendable as too is her insight that GM foods should remain a food safety issue and be reinstated. This is especially topical following the recent announcement of a new groundbreaking report analyzing the effects of GM feed on animals. Scientists have found that pigs fed a diet of GM corn and soy experienced numerous adverse health effects, including sever stomach inflammation and an enlarged uterus which can negatively impact fertility. It is likely that all animals in NZ now, unless organic, are given GM supplementary feed” 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 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

(1) http://www.nikkikaye.co.nz/2013/06/12/food-bill-changes-better-balance-l…

(2) http://www.voxy.co.nz/politics/food-bill-changes-better-balance-legislat…

(3) http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10890019

(4) http://beforeitsnews.com/health/2013/06/hard-hitting-report-pigs-fed-gm-…

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/

Food co-operatives in NZ on the rise

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“The increase in food co-operatives in New Zealand is enabling communities to take back control of their food supply, improve relationships between community members and achieve better health outcomes” says Debbie Swanwick, Spokesperson, Soil & Health – Organic NZ.
Food co-operatives provide better quality food, mostly organic, at a cheaper price.
“Stories of the average New Zealanders’ desire to remove contaminants in their food (GE, pesticides and additives) by establishing an organic food co-operative in their region will feed the next generation well. New Zealanders seem to have picked up on this worldwide trend at a great rate” says Swanwick.
Franklin’s recent success with The FROOB LTD (The Franklin based Real and Organic Organised Buyers co-operative) is a testament to the effectiveness of the societal model that is growing local economies. Franklin is one of Auckland’s largest food bowls that grows most of New Zealand’s onions, potatoes and green vegetable crops.
The Froob is dedicated to buying organic produce, preferably locally grown, that is Fair Trade at a price slightly higher than wholesale and re-selling it to their 300 members at a less than retail price. It is forecast that their turnover this year will exceed a million dollars. “The impact of this on the local economy is huge” says Debbie. Backyard growers are also encouraged to sell their excess produce to the co-op which is encouraging the development of gardens in the region.
Debbie Swanwick will be speaking at the Green Living Show, ASB Showgrounds Greenlane West on Saturday 29 June at 3pm. The subject will be ‘How New Zealand Communities are taking back control of their food supply’ and she will discuss how you can establish a food co-operative in your region. The board of The Froob will be available to answer questions.
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
1) http://www.growtogether.org.nz/community-gardens-and-other-projects/food…
2) http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/features/your-world/7910705/B…
3) http://good.net.nz/magazine/7/features/good-food-no-worries
4) www.thefroob.co.nz

Better food in hospitals will save money in the long term

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“It is about time hospitals in New Zealand administer the basics well. Food is medicine and it needs to be better in New Zealand, not cheaper,” says Debbie Swanwick, Spokesperson, Soil & Health – Organic NZ.

Her comments follow the recent announcement that the government is considering outsourcing hospital food to save ten million dollars.

“If they do, NZ taxpayers will end up paying the price in both their health and out of their back pocket,” she says. “Last year each New Zealander paid $2,500 to support the sick in this country. (3) We forecast that a government directive to put food on the menu of NZ hospitals that is over a week old and not locally sourced would increase those costs,” (4) says Swanwick.

In 2012 14.2 billion dollars was spent on healthcare in New Zealand (1).
In the latest OECD Health Data 2012 report, 83.2% of health spending is funded by the taxpayer. This is well above the average of 72.2% in other OECD countries. (2)

“We need a holistic approach to these problems. Taking money from one department whilst increasing the overall expenditure every year to care for our sick is short-sighted. Your diet should always be the first place you look for good medicine and the NZ public should have the best available, especially when they are sick. That food should be fresh, GE-free, pesticide and additive free and labelled organic, and locally sourced where possible. We call that good healthcare. It is also responsible management of taxpayer funds,” 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 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

To view online click here www.organicnz.org.nz/node/623

References

(1) http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10808180

(2) http://www.oecd.org/newzealand/BriefingNoteNEWZEALAND2012.pdf

(3) http://www.stats.govt.nz/tools_and_services/tools/population_clock.aspx

(4) http://www.3news.co.nz/Concern-over-hospital-food-plans/tabid/1607/artic…