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New Zealand doesn’t need a loosening of GE regulation to combat climate change, it needs significant investment in organic, regenerative agriculture, says the Soil & Health Association.
The Soil & Health Association is welcoming last week’s “Knowing what’s out there” report by the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment. The report criticises New Zealand’s lack of monitoring and regulation of environmental harm from chemicals.
The Soil & Health Association is joining other environmental groups calling for immediate action to tackle farming emissions. Consultation on the government’s draft Emissions Reduction Plan closes today and environmental groups are united in calling for stronger action. “It’s unacceptable that agriculture, our largest emitting sector, is the least developed and most poorly explained aspect…
The New Zealand Environmental Protection Agency’s call for information on the use of glyphosate in Aotearoa is a missed opportunity to properly risk assess the substance says Jodie Bruning, spokesperson for the Soil & Health Association. Today the EPA extended the process for a second time. Submissions were due to close today but now close…
The European Union’s highest court has rejected Bayer’s bid to overturn a European law which heavily restricted the use of bee-harming pesticides. In 2013 the European Union banned neonicotinoid, or ‘neonic’ use on bee-attractive crops. In 2018 the ban was extended to use on all outdoor crops, including annual arable crops, cereals and horticultural crops. The General Court decision, released Thursday, is…
A blasé approach to glyphosate regulation in New Zealand threatens our international reputation and poses a risk to New Zealand consumers, Soil & Health Association spokesperson Jodie Bruning said today. “Japanese authorities have now rejected five shipments of glyphosate-contaminated honey from New Zealand’. “New Zealand needs to take glyphosate contamination seriously. The International Agency for Cancer…
Concerns for the future of New Zealand’s domestic organic industry have dampened enthusiasm for the Organic Products Bill which returned from Select Committee with some significant and useful changes, says the Soil & Health Association. “We represent the thousands of people buying, growing and selling organic products,” says Soil & Health’s general manager Pete Huggins….
Today’s Climate Commission advice shows we need a transition from synthetic fertilisers and other harmful practices towards organic and regenerative agriculture, said Soil & Health Association spokesperson Jenny Lux today. “Organic regenerative farming is a huge opportunity for New Zealand, both economically and environmentally. Early movers have shown that we can make that shift rapidly….
“It’s encouraging to see the Green Party reinforce their commitment to organic agriculture from their position in government,” says Jenny Lux, spokesperson for the Soil & Health Association, New Zealand’s largest organic membership organisation. “We’d like to see all political parties exploring the opportunities regenerative organic agriculture offers in terms of environmental protection, healthy food,…
The Soil & Health Association has welcomed Bayer’s announcement of US$10 billion in payouts to tens of thousands of claimants in the US who allege exposure to Roundup herbicide caused their cancer. “But here in New Zealand, we have an untenable situation where glyphosate-based herbicides are sprayed broadly in urban environments, and on human food…
6 March 2020 The Soil & Health Association expresses deep condolences to the family and friends of Jeanette Fitzsimons. Among Jeanette’s many roles, she was a patron of Soil & Health for several years. “Jeanette gave wise counsel and was a champion for the organic cause,” said Marion Wood, chair of Soil & Health. “She…
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 30 October 2019 The Soil and Health Association and Physicians and Scientists for Global Responsibility claim that environmental chemicals and heavy metals have been left outside the scope of the freshwater policy process. The claim is made in a hard-hitting paper in response to the Ministry for the Environment Action for healthy waterways…
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 26 September 2019 The Soil & Health Association is calling on the government to make good Jacinda Ardern’s statement to the United Nations that New Zealand is ‘determined to show that we can be the most sustainable food producers in the world’. ‘Tomorrow school children will lead the School Strike for Climate…
09 August 2019 The Soil & Health Association congratulates the Tasmanian government for extending its ban on genetically engineered organisms for another 10 years, until 2029. “Tasmanian producers see clear benefits of being GE-free, enjoying a good reputation and access to markets,” said Jodie Bruning, Councillor for Soil & Health. “We urge the New Zealand government to…
“The only way to ensure that the chickens you are eating are genuinely free range is to choose organic,” says Marion Wood, co-chair of the Soil & Health Association. “And what better time to start than during Organic Week which is right now.” She points out that there is no enforceable industry standard for free-range…
Soil & Health want Fonterra to collect all certified and in transition to organic Fonterra milk and to pay a premium for it, irrespective of locality. “We want to see the Government better commit to organic dairy production and therefore more sustainable farming practices,” says Soil & Health National Council member and former Green Party…
“This is an amazing Christmas present for the organic community and we’re delighted”, says Bailey Peryman, Co-Chairperson for the Soil & Health Association, welcoming the Government’s announcement to progress with a national standard for organic production next year. “People want clean, safe food, and are increasingly turning to organic foods and products but it’s difficult to be sure that they really are…
The blindfold will finally be lifted when it comes to buying food, but the Soil & Health Association says consumers need even greater transparency. Soil & Health welcomes the passing into law of the Consumers’ Right to Know (Country of Origin of Food) Bill. The Bill, which requires food to carry country of origin labelling,…
Media release: Soil & Health Association of NZ 30 October 2018 Usually associated with land-based farming, the Soil & Health Association is now wading into the coastal marine area in its latest bid towards an Organic Aotearoa New Zealand. A precautionary approach is needed to any genetically engineered (genetically modified) organisms that may be trialed…
Wednesday 17 October 2018 PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE The Soil & Health Association is calling for an enquiry into the independence of New Zealand’s Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), following the EPA’s announcement of priority chemical reassessments for possible bans or new controls. “While Soil & Health welcomes the reassessment list, there is a glaring…
Media release for immediate release 5.6.18 Children are being exposed to a cocktail of pesticides every time they eat non-organic raisins and sultanas. The latest Total Diet Study, released by the Ministry for Primary Industries, showed residues of 26 pesticides in just one sample, and all eight samples tested contained pesticides.(1) Every five…