Organics the only way to ensure purity of food

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“The failure of Proposition 37, the initiative requiring mandatory labeling of GMO’s, at the polls this week in California is a sad day for consumers” says Debbie Swanwick, Spokeperson for Soil & Health – Organic NZ.
Over $45 million dollars was funded by big Agri Tech and corporate America to sway voters which resulted in them securing a narrow victory.  Fifty three percent of voters opposed the initiative. Monsanto, PepsiCo, Coca-Cola, Kellogg, General Mills, DuPont, Bayer and other food and pesticide companies funded advertising and PR campaigns to stop labeling of their products. (2)

Organic products worldwide are labelled because doing so attracts customers who value pure food; free of GE, pesticides and additives. In NZ certified organic food is labelled as BioGro, Demeter, Organic Farm or AsureQuality.

“Big Agri tech keeping consumers in the dark by not labeling suggests not only do they not believe in what they sell but they recognize there could be a consumer backlash if GMO’s had to be labelled” says Swanwick.

“The fact they had to spend $45 million dollars says something else – it suggests public opposition to GMO’s in the US is strong – which is also true here” says Swanwick.

California grows 80% of all the fruits and vegetables in the US (3) and Prop 37 was seen as a testbed case for the US as a whole. (2)

Despite the loss, proponents of the initiative have vowed to fight on. (1) In addition to California many other states (including Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, Massachusetts, New Mexico, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Vermont, West Virginia and Washington) have also proposed legislation requiring that food labels bear information disclosing GE content. (4)

“The failure of Prop 37 paves the way for the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement, to be tabled in December this year, to demand revocation of existing GMO labeling laws in New Zealand” says Swanwick.

“Since the 1960’s the only way to ensure the purity of food is to buy organic.  Legislation which permits big Agri tech to not disclose what is in their products is merely forcing more consumers to vote with their wallets which is why organic sales worldwide are increasing dramatically and forecast to double by 2015” says Swanwick.

Soil & Health is one of the oldest organic organisations in the world and promote GE free, organic, fresh and healthy food. Oranga Nuku, Oranga Kai Oranga Tangata.

References
(1) http://www.mercurynews.com/elections/ci_21949842/proposition-37-defeated…
(2) http://www.naturalnews.com/037873_Proposition_37_election_results_GMO_la…
(3) http://localfoods.about.com/od/searchbyregion/a/CAFruitsVeggies.htm
(4) http://www.marketplace.org/topics/sustainability/states-consider-labelin…

Organic NZ in demand in Asia

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The Soil & Health Association of NZ, publishers of Organic NZ, are to launch their publication in South Korea.

South Korea has a population of 50 million and is the fastest growing organic sector in Asia. Demand for organics is being largely driven by young families and health issues.  As a group, South Korean’s constitute the the third largest Asian population in New Zealand.

iSpring Ltd, publishers of the Korean edition, export NZ pure spring water and NZ Biogro certified skincare products to the Korean, Japanese and US markets.

Director Masateru Higashida established iSpring in 2011 in response to demand for clean, safe and pollutant free water following the earthquake in Japan.  Higashida’s move to NZ, two years ago, was prompted by concerns with skin allergies that affected his young children.

The launch of Organic NZ into South Korea gives the organization and NZ organic exporters access to a large, growing marketplace. Promoting New Zealand organic products, education and eco tourism opportunities builds on New Zealand’s clean, green image, which already has a high profile and strong demand in Asia.

“It is a compliment that the intellectual property of our organization, which has been built over 70 years, has been recognised and valued by iSpring Ltd,” says Marion Thomson, co chair of Soil & Health.

Supported by NZ Trade and Enterprise who have provided valuable mentoring, networks and support throughout the process, this is Organic NZ’s first sojourn into international distribution.

“This export initiative is an example of the sophistication of the organic market and demand in Asia. In South Korea organics is fully supported by the South Korean government,” says Brendan Hoare, chairman of Organics Aotearoa New Zealand.

The Organic NZ – Korean edition will comprise articles from the Organic NZ translated into Korean, and local Korean content, plus New Zealand and Korean advertising. The first issue will be distributed in late November 2012 throughout South Korea via bookstores, organic outlets and skincare clinics.

Soil & Health is one of the oldest organic organizations in the world and promote GE free, organic, fresh and healthy food. Oranga Nuku, Oranga Kai Oranga Tangata.

Stanford ‘anti-organic’ study flawed

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“The recently released study by Stanford University questioning the benefits of organic food is flawed and fails to identify some key reasons why people eat organically” says Debbie Swanwick, Spokesperson for Soil & Health – Organic NZ.

The study which suggested the nutritional and health benefit of organics to be minimal has been criticised worldwide.

“It fails to consider that organics, which traditionally have proven to have between 10-30% more nutritional value, than conventional foods also have no additives which have proven health risks.  These include GMO’s, aspartame, fillers, high fructose corn syrup, trans fats and BPA’s.  Seventy five percent of all GE crops are herbicide resistant, most to Roundup.  Roundup has been linked to DNA damage, infertility, cancer and over 29 other diseases and despite the studies suggestion that this residue in conventional crops is within safety limits there is no such thing” says Swanwick.

Pregnant women and fetuses have been harmed by low level exposure to organophosphate pesticides. “Eighty three percent of all GE crops are  grown in the US, a country which has a 41% incidence of cancer” she says.

Charles Benbrook a research professor at Washington State University cites the metrics used in the study as unusual and unfamiliar.

A statistical risk construct called ‘risk difference’ is used by researchers in the study to explain that there is only a 30% lower risk of pesticide residue in organic foods, which is inconsistent with Benbrooks’ own findings, that there is an 81% lower risk of pesticide residue in organic versus conventional foods.

The study also suggested that it was only 33% more likely that antibiotic-resistant bacteria would be present in conventionally raised pork and chicken versus organic alternatives.  Eighty percent of all the worlds antibiotics are given to animals.

Organic food production has been proven to benefit the environment with a reduction in pollutants, preservation of heritage seed crops and protection of biodiversity.  Bee populations in the US and UK have declined by as much as 50% in the past twenty five years due to pesticide use which has impacted their navigation abilities two studies by researchers from the French National institute for Agricultural Research and the Univerisities of Lancaster and Stirling have concluded. Two thirds of New Zealand food production relies on bees to pollinate plants.

The funding of the study and Stanford itself has also bought into question bias.  “Stanford has received over half a billion dollars in funding from big Agri Tech including such companies as Monsanto and it has been suggested that Goldman Sachs, Cargill, Monsanto and other players profiting from GE are behind this study” says Swanwick.

Ingram Olkin – a co-author of the study was an ‘anti science’ propagandist for Big Tabbaco in the seventies.

“Big Agri Tech has an agenda to denounce organics and it isn’t to benefit the environment, the health of individuals or increase sustainable production (as the Union of Concerned Scientists 2009 ‘Failure to Yield’ study – the definitive study to date in GM crops and yield, identified) – that is the agenda of the organics industry” says Swanwick.

Soil & Health – Organic NZ promote GE free, organic, fresh and healthy food.Oranga Nuku, Oranga Kai Oranga Tangata.

Minister’s ‘consumer choice’ decision praised

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Soil & Health – Organic NZ is praising Food Safety Minister Kate Wilkinson for making a strong stand on behalf of consumers.

The Minister explained last week why the fortification of bread with folic acid is to be voluntary and not mandatory. “Consumer choice is more important than science when it comes to deciding on folic acid in bread” she said.

 

“It is inspiring that she has set this precedent and made a strong stand for the consumer” says says Debbie Swanwick, Spokesperson for Soil & Health – Organic NZ. “The same stand has been made for organics” she says.  NZ legislation currently prohibits GE crops to be commercially grown here.”

 

If GE crops where to be grown in New Zealand they would cross-contaminate organic and conventionalalternatives (as they have in Australia) giving big Agri tech companies, such as Monsanto, a monopoly on our food supply and removing consumer choice” says Swanwick.

 

Swanwick’s comments come after a GE Free New Zealand demonstration in Rotorua in the weekend attended by over a hundred people. The demonstration was held in response to the opening of the XII international Agricultural Biotech Conference, being held from 2-6 September, which has reignited debate on GE crops being grown in NZ.

 

The catch cry of GE advocates is that increased yields from GE crops will feed the world, control soaring food prices and produce economic benefit to New Zealand famers.

 

“But all of these promises are hot air” says Swanwick. “The world currently wastes a third of its food.  Food delivery is an economics issue not a production issue and to date no farmer (or consumer) has ever benefited from GE crops.  Research that suggests otherwise or invalidates the benefits of  organics has in the past been commissioned and/or funded by these big Agri tech companies” says Swanwick. “A food monopoly will drive food prices up even more as these food giants will have free reign to set the price of food and tell us what to eat.”

 

Rising costs in GE production including increasing use of herbicides with a failure to yield as identified in the The Union of Concerned Scientists’ 2009 report Failure to Yield―the definitive study to date on GM crops and yield, explains why farmers aren’t benefiting. Between 1996 and 2008, US farmers sprayed an extra 383 million pounds of herbicide to combat pests who had built up a resistance to GE crops.

 

“The recent failure of BT corn crops in the US is a further testament to this” says Swanwick. The rootworm which has developed a resistance to the insecticide, now free to attack, puts more than half of the corn grown in North America, and much of the rest of the world, at risk.

 

“NZ’ers aren’t luddites as suggested by Graeme Peters Chief EXecutive of AgCarm in the media this week. Our government, farmers and the general public are very well researched on the topic and prudent.  They recognize genetic terrorists masquerading as Prince Charming professing that we will all live happily ever after with GE crops.  GE is nothing but a bad fairytale, especially should crops fail and we are left with no other choices and an agricultural dead end”. says Swanwick.

 

Soil & Health – Organic NZ promote GE free, organic, fresh and healthy food.Oranga Nuku, Oranga Kai Oranga Tangata.

Plant & Food Research shifted GE soil illegally?

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Where has Plant & Food Research taken the contaminated soil excavated from its botched genetically engineered brassicas  Lincoln field trial site, and why weren’t stakeholders kept informed of changes to the compliance controls, the Soil & Health Association of NZ is asking.(1,2)

In December 2008 Soil & Health – Organic NZ discovered an illegally flowering  genetically engineered (GE) kale plant (3) and several other flowering brassicas that had set seed pods among weeds at the Lincoln field trial site of Crown Research Institute Plant & Food Research. (4,5,6,7)

The field trial was immediately closed and following an intensive investigation that revealed other GE flowering events, strict controls were imposed for at least 5 years to limit the spread of any GE material from the site.

“Plant & Food have now extended the contamination by removing the heavily herbicide-sprayed and GE contaminated soil from the trial site late last year in an effort to reduce compliance efforts,” said Soil & Health spokesperson Steffan Browning.

“This soil removal appears to be illegal under the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act (HSNO), although Plant & Food had expressed a commitment to Soil & Health – Organic NZ to meeting whatever new controls were imposed, following my discovery of the flowering GE kale in 2008.”

“Plant & Food needs to make public the details of where the soil is, and what exact GE constructs were used in the original trial so that independent testing of crops in the Lincoln area can occur.”

Brassica species include vegetable plants such as cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, kale, mustard, radish, turnip, rocket, rape, kohlrabi, brussels sprouts, mizuna and several weeds. Brassicas are able to cross easily between species and Plant & Food grew several GE and non GE brassica species at the site where a weed brassica, wild turnip, was also reported.

Although  Plant & Food have removed  contaminated soil to more than 250mm depth, Soil & Health – Organic NZ has recent photographs of a brassica and weed seedlings at the Lincoln GE field trial site, suggesting seed bearing top soil was spilt or the weeds have herbicide resistance.(8,9)

“What GE contaminated soil was spilt during transport from the GE field trial site to its new GE contaminated home?” asked Mr Browning.

“The removed soil is likely to have both seed and soil organisms contaminated by the previous GE program. If the Environmental Risk Management Authority (ERMA) and Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry – Biosecurity NZ are complicit in the soil removal, then New Zealand’s GE regulatory system has totally broken down as there has been no public notification or application for a new GE site.”

“Plant & Food’s failed GE onion field trial location also needs to be made public, along with the exact GE constructs used there, so that civil society can ensure independent monitoring of potential contamination in the surrounding area.”

“Soil & Health – Organic NZ is committed to a vision of an organic focused nation where Plant & Food Research and the other Crown Research Institutes resources are committed to a clean green 100% Pure GE Free Aotearoa New Zealand.”
NOTES:

Jeanette Fitzsimons speaking for a GE Free Organic New Zealand

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Following retirement from Parliament and three months travel in Europe, Jeanette Fitzsimons has returned to a role as Patron of the Soil & Health Association of New Zealand. At her first post travel speaking event open to the general public, Jeanette will say why she is more convinced than ever for the need for an organic GE Free Aotearoa New Zealand. The event is at the Grey Lynn Community Centre, 8 pm this coming Friday.

“I will be giving my perspective of why it is most important for humanity living on a small planet with limited resources, that organic GE free production becomes the norm,” said Ms Fitzsimons.

“Soil & Health-Organic NZ’s message is synonymous with what is required to feed communities here and throughout the world nutritiously and sustainably.”

Beginning as the ‘Compost Club’, Soil & Health and its journal Organic NZ magazine has published, provided leadership and campaigned since the 1940s for pesticide and synthetic fertiliser reduction, for healthy sustainable soils and nutrition.  While active in the promotion of edible gardens in schools and communities, Soil & Health has recently caught media attention in exposing GE field trial breaches, pesticide residues in foods, and the release of ozone depleting neurotoxic methyl bromide fumigants near communities.

Soil & Health, the key initiator of world recognised organic certification organisations BioGro and Organic FarmNZ, has also been integral in the Organic Sector Strategy and formation of the sector organisation Organics Aotearoa New Zealand.

“To have Jeanette Fitzsimons, Parliament’s previous foremost proponent of organics, now as Patron of the sector’s oldest national organic organisation, along with Bob Crowder, founder of Lincoln University’s Biological Husbandry Unit, as Vice Patron, is an honour for Soil & Health as it begins celebrating its 70th anniversary,” said Soil & Health – Organic NZ spokesperson Steffan Browning.

“Jeanette’s message on Friday is sure to add fuel to our 3000 members’ fire. Clean green 100% Pure Aotearoa New Zealand needs organic champions now.”

Soil & Health has a vision of an Organic 2020.

Organic Dairy Farmers Don’t Abort Calves

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Unlike the 200,000 cows callously induced to bring cow herds into milking at the same time, certified organic herds are never at risk of such practices according to the Soil & Health Association of New Zealand.

“Consumers of certified organic milk, cheese and yoghurt can feel confident that animal welfare considerations in organic standards do not allow induction,” said Soil & Health – Organic NZ spokesperson Steffan Browning.

“Organic production fits New Zealand’s clean green 100% Pure image in a way that government seems to forget. The Minister of Agriculture knows that New Zealand’s best value markets want products from environmentally sustainable and animal welfare friendly systems, and those markets are prepared to pay.”

TVNZ News highlighted that cows in conventionally farmed herds are permitted to be induced by injection to ensure they birth dead or alive calves months early so that milking can start earlier. Many are born dead and the rest killed.(1)

Although the National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee (NAWAC) acknowledged in its 2010 Animal Welfare (Dairy Cattle) Code of Welfare report that induction ‘has the potential to affect the welfare of both cow and calf adversely’ and states that it does not support induction, the Report is only a recommendation to the Minister of Agriculture who can ban the practice. (2)

“The Minister has the ability to raise animal welfare standards to match those in the organic standards and production rules of BioGro New Zealand, and AsureQuality,” said Mr Browning. (3)

“The Minister has the power to ‘clean and green’ animal welfare and New Zealand primary production very quickly if he can grasp the vision that most consumers and discerning export markets have.”

“Leaving it to industry to phase out inductions voluntarily is a cop out. The Minister needs to use his leadership ability on animal welfare just as he has on the ETS and water quality, because he knows what the best markets actually want and he knows what is right.”

“Organic production of dairy products doesn’t require the massive amounts of synthetic fertilizers that most conventional farms are using, nor do they have as high vet bills, but have healthier animals producing lower emissions and soils with higher climate tolerance and less leaching of nutrients.”

“Fully certified organic dairy farmers also earn a $1.05 premium on each kilogram of milk solids and customers are prepared to pay for it.” (4)

The New Zealand Organic Report – commissioned by OANZ and prepared by the University of Otago showed total sales of organic dairy products grew almost 400% in two years. The report also showed dairy farms have 43% more earthworms than their conventional neighbours, and higher levels of biodiversity in soils and waterways, with 58% less leachate headed towards waterways, and sequestering 28% more soil carbon than conventional farms. (5)

“It is time for change and the sooner the government starts setting targets for organic farm conversions the better for animals, consumers, farmers and exporters.”

Soil & Health has a vision of an Organic 2020 where animal welfare is of the highest standard and environmentally sustainable organic production is the norm.

NOTES

Links accessed Aug. 2010
(1) http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/calls-calf-killing-practice-banned-3680389
(2) http://www.biosecurity.govt.nz/files/regs/animal-welfare/req/codes/dairy-cattle/dairy-cattle-report.pdf
(3) http://www.biogro.co.nz/content/files/Module_5_Livestock.pdf
(4) http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/fonterra-eyes-massive-organic-growth-2014-123351
(5) http://www.oanz.org

Pesticide Residues in Food – Worst Ever

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The Food Safety Authority’s latest pesticide residue results are a nightmare: they are the worst results I have ever seen,” said Dr Meriel Watts of Pesticide Action Network Aotearoa New Zealand.(1)

* Pesticide residues found in 94% of targeted fruit and vege samples

* Prohibited endosulfan in 11 of 23 cucumber samples

* Dangerous fungicide exceeding allowable levels in 9 out of 24 Pak choi samples

* 18 different pesticides found among 24 grape samples

* Organic fruit & vege free of synthetic pesticides

“For a start, fully 94% of the samples of fruit and vegetables contained residues – including all of the oranges, grapes, bok choi, and nectarines. Then there are endosulfan residues in 11 out of 23 cucumber samples: either this is illegal use of a banned insecticide or the cucumbers have been imported from Australia.  And 9 out of 24 bok and pak choi samples contained illegal levels of chlorothalonil.”

Endosulfan is a highly toxic organochlorine insecticide that has been banned in at least 65 countries, the most recent being USA and Brazil.

“New Zealand banned endosulfan in 2008, effective from Jan 2009. NZFSA must fully investigate whether these residues result from New Zealand growers illegally using remaining stocks that should have been disposed of by January 2010, or whether we are importing residues from Australia.”

Australia is one of the few remaining countries still using endosulfan, despite the pesticide facing a likely global ban through the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants next year.

“If we are going to be importing endosulfan-containing food from countries such as Australia then the food should be labelled with country of origin so that buyers can avoid it. But if the residues result from New Zealand growers then the book should be thrown at them”, said Dr Watts.

“The New Zealand Food Safety Authority (NZFSA) is being extremely negligent about New Zealanders’ health when it plays down the safety risks of illegal levels of the fungicide chlorothalonil (e.g. Bravo),” said Soil & Health spokesperson Steffan Browning.(2)

“NZFSA is well aware of important research which shows even low levels of chlorothalonil increase the toxicity of pesticide mixtures which are implicated in blood disorders and cancers. However when NZFSA targets food products likely to have pesticide residues, and finds chlorothalonil in worrying pesticide mixtures, it tells the public their food is safe. Wrong, wrong!”(3)

“Food Safety’s own Maximum Residue Levels (MRL) as a measure of best agricultural practice have a 50 fold variation of chlorothalonil residue acceptance between different brassicas, and although Massey University research has shown a link between workers using pesticides and leukaemia, and United States government health staff found chlorothalonil increased risks up to 5.8 times of a blood disorder that can lead to multiple myeloma, NZFSA feels it can tell New Zealanders their food is safe even when Bok choi and broccoli had multiple residues containing chlorothalonil.”(4,5)

“Vegetables produced organically will not contain chlorothalonil, as fungicides such as Bravo and similar pesticides are prohibited in all New Zealand organic standards, and genuine organic growers produce in a more sustainable manner,” said Mr Browning

“We are unwittingly exposing ourselves to a veritable cocktail of chemicals with every mouthful of food we eat,” commented Alison White, Co-convenor of the Safe Food Campaign.  “One of the foods most likely to contain residues are grapes: a total of 18 pesticides were found in 24 samples in this survey.  These residues included the organophosphate chlorpyrifos, which has been found to interfere with the brain and central nervous system, with the prenatal brain being especially vulnerable to low doses.  A study published this year showed that children with higher levels of the organophosphate insecticides in their urine were more likely to have ADHD.”

“Many grape samples also contained the dithiocarbamate fungicides, which may contain a breakdown product or metabolite called ETU.  This metabolite interferes with our hormonal system and exposing young brains to this may result in effects on their learning ability, behaviour, reproduction and increased susceptibility to cancer.  Our children are at unnecessary risk because we continue to accept these residues on our food,” concluded Ms White.  She counselled those who were pregnant and young children especially to avoid grapes and other imported fruit  and instead buy local and organic so their pesticide intake could be reduced.”

“A fresh approach to food and community safety is needed in New Zealand and with massive growth in organics internationally, it is time that organic production targets, such as in Soil & Health’s Organic 2020 vision, were taken on for the well being of New Zealand’s environmental, economic and human health,” said Mr Browning.

Healthy Soil, Healthy Plants, Healthy People.

——— ———–

NOTES & REFERENCES
(1) Results can be found on  the NZFSA website at http://www.nzfsa.govt.nz/science/research-projects/food-residues-surveillance-programme/      July 2010 results spreadsheet, season 1 [Excel 59 KB  or throughhttp://www.nzfsa.govt.nz/publications/media-releases/2010/2010-07-26-frsp-results.htm
(2) Chlorothalonil is a fungicide in the same family as hexachlorobenzene (HCB) and pentachlorophenol. In New Zealand, Chlorothalonil is applied to a variety of fruit, vegetables and ornamentals for the control of various diseases including among others powdery mildew, blackspot, botrytis, blight, and leaf spot. It is also used in antifouling paints and timber antisapstains.
(3) Lodovici, M. et al 1994,1997 http://www.tiny.cc/goony
or  http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6TCN-3RH123D-6&_user=10&_rdoc=1&_fmt=&_orig=search&_sort=d&_docanchor=&view=c&_searchStrId=935242972&_rerunOrigin=google&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=c8e96fd36709a6617d101f34322937c4
These results indicate that the toxicity of low doses of pesticide mixtures present in food might be further reduced by eliminating diphenylamine and chlorothalonil.
Kortenkamp &  Backhaus. 2009.  State of the Art Report on Mixture Toxicity. Final  Report .Executive Summary. 22 December 2009.
http://www.ec.europa.eu/environment/chemicals/pdf/report_Mixture%20toxicity.pdf    “Scientific research has repeatedly demonstrated that the effects of mixtures are considerably more pronounced than the effect of each of its individual components and that environmental pollution is from chemical mixtures and not from individual substances. This clearly underlines the need for dedicated regulatory considerations of the problem of chemical mixtures.”
(4) http://www.massey.ac.nz/massey/about-us/news/article.cfm?mnarticle=female-farm-workers-at-highest-risk-of-leukaemia-15-06-2009
(5) http://checkorphan.getreelhealth.com/grid/news/all/individuals-who-apply-pesticides-are-found-have-double-risk-blood-disorder?from=checkorphan.org
and  http://www.tiny.cc/rgl83
or http://www.bloodjournal.hematologylibrary.org/cgi/content/abstract/113/25/6386?maxtoshow=&hits=10&RESULTFORMAT=&fulltext=Pesticide+exposure+and+risk+of+monoclonal++&searchid=1&FIRSTINDEX=0&sortspec=relevance&resourcetype=HWCIT

What We Want For Christmas – Strawberry Growers To Go Organic

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Analysis of New Zealand Food Safety Authority (NZFSA) pesticide residue results out yesterday show strawberries laced with multiple residues and dodgy chicken take-aways in Auckland. (1)
Samples of strawberries bought in late July and August in Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin and Napier, were tested along with 60 other food types as part of the NZFSA Total Diet Survey.
The 4 combined strawberry samples from each city all had at least 8 different pesticides, with the Christchurch composite having 13 different chemicals, and Dunedin 11.
“Lets hope this Christmas the strawberries are a lot better or preferably organic,” said Soil & Health –Organic NZ spokesperson Steffan Browning.
“Certified organic growers successfully grow fruit and vegetables without dangerous pesticide residues.”
“It is possible that the out of season strawberries were imported from Australia, but without dimethoate residues as expected in Australian imports, it appears a New Zealand grower needs some organic growing lessons for Christmas. 8 to 13 residues is disrespectful to consumers and shows a casualness that appears to be creeping back into New Zealand growers approach to pesticides.”
“The Auckland Chicken Take-Away composite sample contained 10 different pesticide residues, while the other cities had two residues each. Something is definitely dodgy in some Auckland take aways.”
“Multiple residues expose consumers to increased risks including cancers, reproductive, cardiac, respiratory and nervous system disorders. The Food Safety Authority needs to look much more closely at these results. Non-compliance with the NZFSA accepted maximum residue limits (MRL) was evident in other testing of celery, spinach and ginger, with one celery sample having 4 different pesticides over the limit and another with 3.”(2)
All 27 celery samples had at least one residue, and only 5 did not contain chlorothalonil fungicide (sold as Bravo) and which is implicated in aggravating the health affects of other pesticides. Those 5 contained dithiocarbamate fungicides, as did most fruit and vegetables tested for NZFSA.
Dithiocarbamate and chlorothalonil are both on the Pesticide Action Network International list of Highly Hazardous Pesticides for global phase out.
Dithiocarbomate fungicides (eg mancozeb, maneb, thiram) are severe central nervous system toxicant, carcinogen, and endocrine disruptors; also causing sterility and birth defects, and affecting liver, kidney and respiratory and cardiac, systems. Chlorothalonil, apart from aggravating the health effects of other pesticides is carcinogenic, mutagenic and an environmental toxin.
“The lists go on, with apples, pears, pizza, muffins, bread, courgettes, grapes and hamburgers, and hot chips being the more common multiple residue foods. A New Years resolution for consumers will be to grow your own or go organic, or get your local grower or baker to go organic,” said Mr Browning.
“Soil & Health – Organic NZ will be meeting with NZFSA in the New Year to look at how we might encourage grower improvement towards significant pesticide reduction in clean green 100% Pure Aotearoa New Zealand.”
Soil & Health has a motto of Healthy Soil, Healthy Food, Healthy People and a vision of an Organic 2020.
References:
(1) http://www.nzfsa.govt.nz/science/research-projects/total-diet-survey/q3-2009-nztds-analytical-report-final-15-dec-09.pdf
(2) http://www.nzfsa.govt.nz/science/research-projects/food-residues-surveillance-programme/

Global Research Alliance In New Zealand At Risk Of Unsustainable Outcomes

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The New Zealand lead at the Copenhagen United Nations Climate Change Conference, by contributing $45 million to the Global Research Alliance on agriculture greenhouse gases, has all the hallmarks of a sustainability sham and pseudo science according to the Soil & Health Association of NZ.
“Unless the Government’s Centre for Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Research, which is to be the New Zealand hub of the Global Research Alliance, makes a rapid switch towards organic research and development, the most immediate and sustainable solutions to agricultural greenhouse gas emissions will be wasted,” said Soil & Health – Organic NZ spokesperson Steffan Browning.
At Copenhagen the Round Table on Organic Agriculture and Climate Change (RTOACC) (1) was also established and including the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) it has an immediate focus on soil carbon with principle objectives to;
* Initiate, support and facilitate research on organic agriculture and climate change,
* Advise the international community on organic agriculture and climate change issues,
* Develop a measurement method to enable reliable quantification and certification of carbon sequestration in organic agriculture.

“Currently our government shows no sign of assisting the further development of the New Zealand organic sector, which has the most to offer for genuinely sustainable solutions in primary production, yet $10 million has already been earmarked towards unsustainable chemical attempts at dealing with nitrous oxide emissions from the over fertilized and intensive conventional farms.”
“Compared with trading partners and progressive farming focused countries such as Denmark which actively encourage growth of their organic sectors, New Zealand appears to be more strongly focused on vaccines, genetic engineering and more chemicals.”
At Copenhagen, the Danish minister of food, agriculture and fisheries, Eva Kjer Hansen, said her country had reduced greenhouse gas emission from farming by 23 per cent since 1990, while boosting food production by 16 per cent over the same period.
Earlier this year, the Danish Food Minister also said, “Organic farming is Green Growth – a combination of green production and production with a sound economy. We are now making it possible to double the area used for organic production through a massive effort amounting to almost DKr 350 (95 million NZD) a year. This will result in a greater Danish organic production of apples, carrots, milk and salami, to name a few products. And this will benefit consumers, exports, the environment, nature and animal welfare.” (2)
However in New Zealand the group behind the Government’s AgResearch hosted Agriculture Greenhouse Gas Centre, the Pastoral Greenhouse Gas Research Consortium has said that it wants any investment to stay with them and be for new technologies.
The Consortium in its submission to the Emissions Trading Scheme Review Committee in February said, “Methane and Nitrous Oxide emissions from livestock are the result of a complex interaction of biological activities. They are the product of natural systems that have evolved over millions of years and are therefore very robust and stable. Intervening in these systems through science needs to be done in a careful and deliberate manner to ensure that there are no unfortunate circumstances.” (3)
“Soil & Health – Organic NZ agrees, but we must point out that the current path of the Consortium using risky nitrification inhibitors, methane dumbing vaccines, and animal rumen intervention is not necessary due to the proven and sustainable options provided through organic agriculture,” said Mr Browning.
“New Zealand’s farming environment and clean green 100% Pure reputation will be better served by diverting from the environmentally damaging and animal welfare unfriendly path AgResearch and its hungry partners are taking.”
“With more than $200 US million pledged by the Global Alliance of ~22 countries including $125 US million over 4 years by the United States, and an early 2010 meeting here in New Zealand, it will be tempting for AgResearch and company to try and look technologically clever while completely missing the obvious.”
“For example, proven management tools such as animal feed changes and better soil drainage can reduce nitrous oxide in livestock farms, and reducing stocking rates and breeding from naturally low methane emitting stock can make significant emissions reductions.”
“Organic farming’s higher levels of soil carbon can offset significant emissions while ensuring greater resilience for farmers during adverse climate events.”
British research shows that on average, organic farming produces 28% higher levels of soil carbon compared to non-organic farming in Northern Europe, and 20% higher for all countries studied (in Europe, North America and Australasia). A worldwide switch to organic farming could offset 11% of all global greenhouse gas emissions. Raising soil carbon levels would also make farming worldwide more resilient to extremes of climate like droughts and floods, leading to greater food security. (4)
At the recent Organics Aotearoa New Zealand (OANZ) conference Dr Manfred Bötsch, the Swiss equivalent of the Minister of Agriculture explained how organic farming is now fully integrated into Switzerland’s high quality management of its agriculture, environment, and landscape, and how the public benefits arising from this high quality management is paid from the public purse. The growth of organic farming now representing 11% of Swiss agricultural land has been significant in reducing excess nitrogen levels there by 25% since 1985, surplus phosphorous by 65% since 1990/92 while cutting use of pesticides by 35% since 1990. (5)
Dr Urs Niggli, Director of the world’s largest organic research institute, FiBL, also a member of the Round Table on Organic Agriculture and Climate Change (RTOACC), spoke about how long-term field experiments indicate the ability of organics to increase the soil’s capacity to store carbon, and its ability to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and energy use, even when calculated per food unit. (6)
“Considering the growth in demand for organic and genuinely sustainable, animal friendly and residue free foods that fit with New Zealand’s clean green 100% Pure market image, expensive research investment should steer away from that which uses undesirable technologies such as genetic engineering, chemical soil interventions and vaccines that compromise animals normal metabolism,” said Mr Browning.
Soil & Health – Organic NZ has a vision of an Organic 2020 using technologies that do not compromise sustainability or animal welfare.
References:
(1) http://www.fibl.org/en/service-en/news-archive/news/article/round-table-on-organic-agriculture-and-climate-change-established.html
(2) http://www.fvm.dk/Default.aspx?ID=18488&PID=169747&NewsID=5558
(3) http://www.parliament.nz/NR/rdonlyres/D33A8624-BAA4-448C-AB37-F47353FA8ED5/103621/PastoralGreenhouseGasResearchConsortium_192_.pdf
(4) http://www.soilassociation.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=BVTfaXnaQYc%3d&tabid=574
(5)http://www.oanz.org.nz/events/conference09
(6)http://www.oanz.org.nz/uploads/events/2009_organic_sector_conference/urs_niggli.pdf