GE free

GE potatoes set to sneak into our food

/in , , , ,

The Soil & Health Association has serious concerns about another GE food line being approved in New Zealand – this time for six food lines derived from potatoes.

Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ), the organisation that controls food approvals for New Zealand and Australia, is calling for submissions on an application to permit GE potatoes for human consumption. The potatoes have been genetically engineered to reduce bruising, to reduce acrylamide formed during cooking, and to protect the potatoes from a type of blight.

Soil & Health is concerned about the growing number of genetically engineered foods approved for sale in New Zealand and the long-term and cumulative health effects of consuming them. While New Zealand does not grow any GE crops or animals, there are many imported GE ingredients in food for sale here.

“Since 2000 FSANZ has approved every single application for GE food lines, and there are now a staggering 71 different GE food lines approved for sale in New Zealand,” says Soil & Health chair Marion Thomson.

“An estimated 70% or more of processed non-organic foods for sale in New Zealand contain genetically engineered ingredients, but consumers have no idea because our labelling laws mean that almost all GE ingredients don’t have to be listed on the packaging.”

“In addition to human food, New Zealand imports large quantities of animal feed that is almost certainly genetically engineered, but again, not labelled as such,” says Marion Thomson.

While a FSANZ safety assessment on the GE potato application has not identified any public health and safety issues, previous FSANZ assessments have been shown to be incomplete, with an absence of biological studies on the impacts of the foods when eaten. Further, assessments have largely been reliant on industry assurances of safety, with no independent science to back up industry assertions.

“One of the main concerns about eating GE foods is that many have been grown with dangerous levels of pesticides,” says Thomson. “Many GE crops are designed to be resistant to pesticides. These crops are designated ‘safe’ for human consumption by FSANZ and the Ministry for Primary Industries, despite not having undergone adequate safety tests independent of the companies developing them.”

The best way to avoid consuming GE foods is to grow, buy and eat certified organic food, says Soil & Health.

The GE potatoes application is open for public submission until 7 July 2017.

Organic dairy farmers reaping just rewards

/in , ,

The huge rise in the milk payout to organic dairy farmers is a welcome encouragement for the dairy sector to move towards clean, green and high-value production, according to the Soil & Health Association.

Fonterra just announced a big jump in the milk payout to organic farmers, due to increasing global demand. For the 2016-17 season organic farmers will receive $9.20 per kg of milk solids, up from the current organic price of $5.65. Non-organic milk solids fetch just $3.90.

“Consumers worldwide are demanding safe, healthy food, and are prepared to pay for high quality, GE-free, organic dairy products,” said Marion Thomson, co-chair of Soil & Health.

“It’s great to see Fonterra responding to this demand,” Thomson said. “Their announcement is a much more positive backing of organic dairy farmers than we have seen from them in the past.”

New Zealand organic dairy consumption mirrors the global trend. Domestic organic milk sales reportedly rose by 50% in 2014, according to the recently released NZ Organic Market Report. Nearly all the growth in domestic milk sales in 2015 came from organic milk (https://drive.google.com/file/d/18f0vUhTC4w8HMZ1o_I4Kg5Uy7_applRv/view?usp=sharing

To meet the demand, Soil & Health says organic milk processing needs to be more widely accessible in all regions, including the South Island.

Soil & Health expects to see increased interest from farmers in converting to organics.

“Organic dairying not only brings in a decent income for farmers, it also results in cleaner rivers and healthier people,” said Thomson.

Organic dairy farms have a lower environmental footprint than conventional farms, with improved soils and reduced nitrate leaching, resulting in cleaner waterways. Organic farms have lower greenhouse gas emissions and greater carbon capture in the soil. They have lower stocking rates, but receive a premium for a high-value, healthy product.

“To help farmers make the transition to organics, Soil & Health would like to see the government reinstate the successful organic advisory programme,” said Thomson. “New Zealand urgently needs to shift away from environmentally unsustainable farming practices and big irrigation schemes, and instead focus on sustainable farming.”

About two thirds of producers who took up the organic advisory programme went on to convert to organics.

NOTE:

The Organic Advisory Programme was established as part of an agreement between the Green Party and Labour Government, and ran from 2006–2009. http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0906/S00692/organic-advisory-programme-ends.htm

MEDIA CONTACT

Marion Thomson, co-chair, Soil & Health
027 555 4014
advocacy@organicnz.org.nz

Celebrating 75 years of organics in NZ

/in , ,

Cutting an organic cake at Parliament today marked the 75th anniversary of the Soil & Health Association, one of the world’s oldest organic organisations. The cake ceremony was a highlight of the launch of the OANZ 2016 New Zealand Organic Market Report.

 

“We’re so proud to be part of a movement that is championing healthy soil, healthy food and healthy people,” said Marion Thomson, co-chair of Soil & Health.

 

According to the Organic Market Report, two out of every three Kiwis are buying organic products. The organic sector in New Zealand has grown by 11% per annum every year since 2012, being driven by consumer demand, which is outstripping supply. Organic grocery sales through supermarkets have increased by 127% since 2012.

 

“More and more people are looking for organic food, which gives assurance that it is safe, healthy, environmentally conscious and GE-free,” said Marion Thomson.

 

“The report is a powerful validation of the growing strength of organics when it comes to Soil & Health’s legal cases, as we defend the rights of communities via their councils to retain the right to be GE-free, or determine the use of any outdoor GMOs in their areas,” she said.

 

The Soil & Health Association has, since it was founded in 1941, promoted organic gardening and farming methods, healthy food and good nutrition. It is the largest organic membership organisation in New Zealand, and publishes Organic NZ magazine.

Can we trust the label ‘organic’?

/in ,

More than ever, consumers need to know they can trust food labels, but the word ‘organic’ is being misused by some producers. The Soil & Health Association is therefore disappointed that the Ministry for Primary Industries has abandoned discussions about the regulation of the word organic until 2017.

“People want clean, safe food, and are increasingly turning to organics,” says Marion Thomson, co-chair of Soil & Health. “Many farmers and producers are responding to demand and producing high quality, certified organic products. But there are a few producers claiming their products are organic when in fact they aren’t.”

Some producers may be unintentionally misleading consumers; others may be deliberately using the word organic as part of their marketing strategy to sell more product and/or at a higher price.

Consumers can trust food or other products (e.g. skincare) that are labelled as certified organic, because they are subject to rigorous third-party audits to ensure their safety and integrity. Organic systems use no synthetic fertilisers or pesticides, and are GE-free. Certified organic farms have healthier soils, are better for waterways, have a lower carbon footprint and increased biodiversity compared with non-organic farms.

“We would love to see some leadership from the Ministry for Primary Industries in regulating the word organic, so consumers can have some certainty,” says Marion Thomson. “Other countries have done this, so there are examples to follow.”

Soil & Health wants New Zealand to live up to its clean, green image, and become a completely organic nation, to benefit our health, the environment and the economy.

Organic practices will improve water quality

/in , ,

A shift towards organic farming practices and diversification is needed to protect and enhance our waterways and our economy, says the Soil & Health Association. The recently released report by the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment, Jan Wright, shows that water quality is deteriorating, particularly in areas where there is expansion or intensification of dairy farming.
“The current push for more dairy farms and more animals on the land is not sustainable,” said Marion Thomson, co-chair of Soil & Health. “We need to be farming smart and farming to the conditions of each area, rather than trying to wring as much as we can out of the land, or extracting huge volumes of water to irrigate naturally dry areas.”
Already many farmers are using smart farming practices that reduce nutrient leaching. Organic farming methods improve the soil biology and soil structure, which means better water retention and less nutrient leaching. Organic and biological farmers make use of natural fertilisers including legumes, instead of soluble artificial nitrogen fertilisers that are more prone to leaching.
“There are limits to how much our land and waterways can take, and we must live within those limits if we are to continue to earn a livelihood from the land, and protect, preserve and improve the land for future generations,” said Thomson.
“There are also health concerns as nitrate levels in drinking water increase,” said Thomson. In October, Environment Canterbury released a groundwater survey which found that nitrate levels in their region had increased in about 30% of tested wells over the past ten years. In the Ashburton area 20 wells exceeded the safe nitrate level, and the Canterbury District Health Board’s medical officer of health warned that infant death could result if nitrates were not more strictly controlled.

Reference
‘Water quality in New Zealand: Land use and nutrient pollution’, Jan Wright, Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment
http://www.pce.parliament.nz/publications/all-publications/water-quality-in-new-zealand-land-use-and-nutrient-pollution

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

Birkdale Primary

Local solutions needed to save orchards

/in , ,

“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

Free range eggs

Organic certification labeling the best available for consumer

/in , ,

In New Zealand ‘certified’ organic food is the best labelling system available for the consumer,” says Debbie Swanwick, spokesperson, Soil & Health – Organic NZ.

Her comments follow recent media attention around food labelling.

Food Safety Minister Nikki Kaye signed off changes to legislation this week that producers cannot claim health or nutritional value on their labels unless they meet standards set by the Ministry for Primary Industries.

The change is designed to help consumers make healthier food choices.

Two hundred pre-approved standards will be the only health claims allowed by producers, under the new system. (2)

“Whilst we agree that many producers have misled consumers in the past by making bogus claims of their products, and legislation around this needs to improve, these changes don’t go far enough,” says Swanwick.

“In New Zealand the best food labelling system is ours – organically certified products guarantee that a product is free of pesticides, synthetic additives and genetic engineering,” says Swanwick. Non certified products, conventional and GE products cannot claim this. (3) For consumers who do not wish to introduce contaminants into their bodies via their food, certified organic products are their guarantee that this is so.

The four organic certification bodies in New Zealand are BioGro, Demeter, OrganicFarmNZ and AsureQuality and their products are labelled as such. These certification agencies provide rigorous third party audits that meet international organic standards, and consumers can have confidence that organic products with their logos are healthy, environmentally friendly and have high standards for animal welfare.

A study published this month by Cornell University’s Food and Brand Lab researchers showed that an organic label can also influence much more than health views: perceptions of taste, calories and value can be significantly altered when a food is labelled “organic”.

One hundred and fifteen people were asked to evaluate three pairs of identical products – yoghurts, cookies and potato chips – but one of each pair was falsely labelled organic. Consumers rated the labelled organic products better on many counts even though the product was identical. (1)

“That is what we would expect and proves that the consumer is aware that organic products taste better are healthier and often lower in calories,” says Swanwick. “Consumers seem to be well aware that organics that are  labelled and certified do have merit. It is a disgraceful however that Cornell have misled the public to prove the point.”

“We would have question who is funding such research. It is also ironic that despite the millions of dollars that big agritech companies (such as Monsanto) spend each year in trying to sway the public that organics have no merit, they refuse to label their own GE products,” says Swanwick. Big Agritech is currently spending US$1 million a day to stop GMO labelling in the US (4) and in the past two years Monsanto alone spent $279 million on advertising and public relations to denounce organics and promote GMO’s. (5)

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 visit our Facebook page and subscribe _http://www.facebook.com/OrganicNZ_

Photo caption: “AsureQuality is one of the four organic certification labels in New Zealand, the others being Demeter, Biogro and OrganicFarm” says Debbie Swanwick, Spokesperson, Soil & Health – Organic NZ.

To view online click here http://www.organicnz.org.nz/node/649

References
(1) http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/04/130401121506.htm
(2) http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10876085
(3) http://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/news/article.cfm?c_id=6&objectid=108…
(4) http://riverhead.patch.com/blog_posts/label-gmos-a-million-a-day-and-77b…
(5) http://truth-out.org/news/item/15512-the-monsanto-protection-act-a-debate-on-controversial-new-measure-over-genetically-modified-crops

Free range eggs

woman with dog

Organic farmers cope better in drought

/in , ,

“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…

Family in Bhutan

Race on for NZ to be world’s first 100% organic food producer

/in , ,

New Zealand has a decade to clean up its act if it is to be world’s first 100% organic food producer. Bhutan recently announced its intention to claim the tittle and be pesticide free in the next ten years if we fail to do so.  Now the race is on.

“This is an accolade that should be our own,” says Debbie Swanwick, Spokesperson, Soil & Health – Organic NZ. “The rest of the world holds our clean, green image in high regard and we should live up to that expectation. As a country we are also renowned for our ability to lead the way for other nations and do the right thing first, whether giving the vote to women or declaring to be nuclear free.  Being the first 100% organic food producer would align with these philosophies and label what New Zealanders value,” says Swanwick.

The Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan is bordered by China and India, both strong trading partners to New Zealand. With a population of just over 700,000, mostly Buddhist and two-thirds of whom depend on farming for their livelihoods they have an enviable approach to economic development, centred on protecting the environment and focusing on mental well-being.

“Bhutan has decided to go for a green economy in light of the tremendous pressure we are exerting on the planet,” said Agriculture Minister Pema Gyamtsho last year.”If you go for very intensive agriculture it would imply the use of so many chemicals, which is not in keeping with our belief in Buddhism, which calls for us to live in harmony with nature.”

Organic certifier BioGro’s CEO Michelle Glogau says “We strongly believe that organics should be the standard rather than alternative way of growing, processing and trading in New Zealand – for wellbeing of our environment and communities and animals. The ongoing success of our certified-organic producers is proof enough that consumers in New Zealand and around the world want more of what we (organics) have got.”

The 2010-2012 Organic Market Report, commissioned by Organics Aotearoa New Zealand (OANZ) reports that in 2012 the NZ organics export market grew by 25% from 2009 to $220 million dollars in 2012. Between 2007 and 2012 the total land area under organic certification increased by 67% and our export market now accounts for 77% of the the total organic sector.

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.

Family in Bhutan

Consumer backlash shows 100% pure way forward for NZ economy

/in , ,

Fonterra’s lack of transparency and the finding of dicyandiamide (DCD) residues in milk last September has caused a huge consumer backlash in international and financial markets.

Consumers around the world want clean, green, 100% pure,GE-free and organic products.  Nw Zealand needs to embrace this and meet the demand, rather than continuing with environmentally damaging farming and unwanted residues in food, according to Debbie Swanwick, spokesperson for the Soil & Health Association – Organic NZ.

“There is an opportunity here for Fonterra  to set a benchmark on the international stage and show other NZ producers how we can become a leading world economy whose strategic advantage is the purity of our food. Organics is the key to our future.. Consumers are clearly stating by their response to milk contamination that they want clean, safe milk,” says Swanwick.

New Zealand’s biggest dairy importer, Taiwan, raised serious concerns over the DCD issue (2) and dairy sales in all markets nosedived. A NZ exporter, Biopure Health, selling NZ made infant milk formula in China, reported sales fell to zero after Fonterra made the announcement. (1)

Statements in the Chinese press such as ‘NZ milk is poisonous’ and a Wall Street Hournal article questioning the safety of NZ’s milk further exacerbated the PR nightmare for Fonterra.(1). The Chinese market is already sensitive to milk contamination following the 2008 melamine scandal. (1)

“Fonterra is now also being judged by the financial markets with subsequent losses hitting NZ shareholders – the largest group being NZ dairy farmers,: says Debbie Swanwick, Spokesperson, Soil & Health – Organic NZ.

Fonterra’s shares have fallen from $7.30 on the day of the public announcement of the DCD issue to $6.95 this week. Questions are now being asked as to why government officials were not made privy to the issue at the time of its discovery or why prospective shareholders were not informed prior to Fonterra’s launch on the NZX. (3)

In 2010 Fonterra announced  that it would expand its organic milk supply but, in a surprise move in 2011, made the decision to reduce its separate collection of organic milk. This resulted in the loss of premium price for affected organic producers and the mixing of their milk in with the main supply. (2)

“We urge Fonterra to rethink that decision and live up to New Zealand’s clean, green, 100% pure reputation by encouraging organic dairy farming” 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.

References

(1) http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=1086…
(2) http://www.greens.org.nz/press-releases/organic-milk-solution-dcd-fears
(3) http://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/business/8260564/Coverup-concern-wh…

woman holding milk