Organic farming is the clean green solution

/in , ,

Organic farming is the truly sustainable solution to our dirty record in agriculture, says the Soil and Health Association, in response to the recently released 2007 State of the Environment Report.

“It is imperative that we improve our environmental record in agriculture, so we can live up to our clean and green image, improve our waterways, soils, human and animal health, and also reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” says Soil and Health spokesman, Steffan Browning. “A lot of damage has been done, but we’re offering the solution. The way to make our farming truly sustainable is to go organic, and we need to grab this opportunity immediately with both hands.”

“There are increasing numbers of farmers out there showing that organic production methods are good for the environment, for animal and human health, and for the bank balance. Thanks to the Green Party’s agreement with the government, funding for the Organic Advisory Programme is giving a helping hand to farmers interested in converting to organics.”

Due to natural fertilising regimes, organically farmed soil holds onto nitrogen, virtually eliminating run-off into waterways. Soil structure is improved under organic systems, providing greater drought and flood resistance, and minimising erosion. Under organic systems, soil biology is healthier, and there is greater biodiversity.

Organic farming also offers a way of reducing our greenhouse gas emissions. The soil in organic production systems sequesters more carbon than that in conventional farming. Also, no synthetic oil-based fertilisers are used.

Demand for organic food is growing exponentially as consumers seek out produce that is residue-free, tasty and nutritious.

Soil and Health urges the government to encourage farmers to go organic, by increasing funding to help farmers convert, and setting an initial target of 10% organic production by 2012.

The Association encourages farmers and home growers alike to introduce organic practices, and has a vision of New Zealand being completely organic by 2020.

Wellington’s methyl bromide log fumigation must stop immediately

/in ,

The Soil & Health Association is appalled that large volumes of highly toxic methyl bromide gas from fumigation of export logs is being vented across Wellington’s Westpac stadium, cruise ships, ferries, Marae, schools, Wellington Railway Station, and Parliament Buildings.

Methyl bromide (CH3Br) is an odourless, colourless gas, used as a pre-shipment (QPS) fumigant pesticide that kills all pests and is extremely toxic to humans.

Human exposure to methyl bromide has potentially serious acute impacts on the central nervous system and internal organs that can be fatal, with a range of neurological effects associated with chronic exposure.

“Last week’s export log fumigation, just through the fence from busy Waterloo Quay, and less than 100 metres from Westpac Stadium, was completed just ahead of the Sevens, but the gas is being released across the public and workers in an uncoordinated and reckless way,” said Soil & Health spokesperson Steffan Browning. “Cruise ships with up to 1200 passengers have been berthed just metres from log fumigation.”

“When I observed fumigation last week, there were absolutely no warning notices, and car and rail traffic flow into Wellington is not halted as the fumigant is released for dispersal. Dispersal follows hours of fumigation, by tarpaulins being towed off log stacks or containers.”

“Depending on wind direction, in the relatively calm conditions experienced last Thursday, the gas could easily have remained concentrated for the less than 1km distance to Parliament, the Courts and surrounds, taking in the Wellington Bus Terminal and Railway Station on the way. With no air modelling for the Port and casual control by the fumigators Genera, everybody in the proximity is at risk.”

“Methyl bromide use is limited internationally due to health risks and its serious ozone depleting properties, and last weeks Environment New Zealand 2007 report skirts around the fact that there has been a more than 300% increase in New Zealand’s use of methyl bromide since 2001.”

“Huge increases of ozone depleting methyl bromide to the atmosphere, makes a mockery of clean green New Zealand’s commitment to the Montreal Protocol, the international agreement on reducing Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer. Not having a phase out strategy for methyl bromide makes forestry’s environmental footprint unsustainable.”

“Last week the Environment Court released an Interim Decision specifying very strict controls on fumigation at Port Nelson. Such controls extrapolated to Wellington would mean that fumigation so close to the public would need to be carried out in containment with ‘capture and destruction’ technology, not the reckless she’ll be right approach taken around the country at present,” said Mr Browning.

“Following Soil & Health and Guardians of the Sounds investigating the lack of precaution at Port Shakespeare, Picton, fumigation has stopped there and export logs from that Port are currently headed to Tauranga for fumigation. However the same fumigation company, Genera, is also the operator in Tauranga, and following alarming statistics of motor neurone disease among Nelson Port workers, much stricter controls including fumigant capture technology must be implemented around the country.”

Failure in GE tree reporting may bring tears to Crop & Food’s onion trial

/in , , ,

State-owned GE tree researcher Scion has been negligent in its reporting, as has GE trial auditor MAF Biosecurity New Zealand, and the Environmental Risk Management Authority (ERMA) may have been complicit in this, the Soil & Health Association has discovered.

Scion’s annual report to ERMA has been presented online recently*, but although all previous annual reports record that rabbits have been present and destroyed, the December 2007 report has no mention of rabbits, and for the first time reporting began is now presented as (Public Version).

“Soil & Health is keen to see the genuine unsanitised version, as presented to ERMA ahead of the recent Rotorua GE tree field trial breach. ERMA insist the report is unchanged, but a ‘Public Version’ on the heels of public criticism must be treated with scepticism,” said Soil & Health spokesperson Steffan Browning.

“Every preceding year, Scion has reported rabbit problems and stated that ‘in any event they could not get out as the fence was buried 1.5metres. Soil & Health in its last Organic NZ magazine, ran a report with photos of the rabbit problem and has also questioned other aspects of compliance.”

“Scion had not pruned all trees according to consent conditions and is now mulching prunings on site, then without a washdown facility is removing GE plant material on mowing equipment to other research and forest areas, and the wider environment.”

“MAF Biosecurity New Zealand had suggested that ERMA had granted an amendment to Scion to allow disposal on site, but such an amendment has not occurred and Scion are in clear breach of conditions by mulch mowing prunings, and MAF had failed again by not addressing the issue.”

Scion Acting chief executive Elspeth MacRae recently said that genes involved with the research would not pose a danger to the outside environment, as the genes were sourced from naturally occurring New Zealand organisms.

However Soil & Health National Councillor and ex Crop & Food GE researcher, Dr Elvira Dommisse said, “That does not mean that the same gene which has been genetically engineered into another species in an artificial gene construction will be harmless. This is the sort of misleading comment we get from some GE scientists. It is in part true, but we cannot conclude from this that all is well.”

“In its genetically engineered form, the gene is no longer under the control of its own DNA. It is jammed into a complicated construct made up of bits of DNA from a number of different organisms. This means the gene is always switched on and is engineered to produce large amounts of a protein that pine trees don’t make. The cellular machinery of a pine tree may produce a protein that is different from the original bacterial protein. Such an altered protein could be harmful.”

“This has already happened in genetically engineered peas, when a harmless bean protein became a toxin when engineered into the closely related pea,” said Dr Dommisse.

“Scions December report also states that all of the trees in one tree experiment are healthy and growing normally. Photographs available to Soil & Health show that is not necessarily the case with some trees having significant die-back,” said Mr Browning.

“Soil & Health would like to see a site plan showing controls and GE trees. The other tree experiment reported does not claim normal growth and photographs show abnormal growth.”

“MAF have also overlooked ERMA’s control condition of limiting the Scion trees to be hedged at 2 metres with just a central leader reaching 5 metres. However the trees are hedged nearer 5 metres with a few taller limbs. Pruning controls are to reduce the chance of GE pollen escape and with these tall bushy trees will be difficult to ensure no flowering occurs.”

“Consistent failures of auditing by MAF show reason to also be concerned at the hundreds of GE experiments in New Zealand universities, crown research institutes and laboratory containment.”

“Crop & Food GE onion researcher Colin Eady was crowing about developing a tearless onion, but with poor performance by all agencies involved with genetic engineering, and the public disdain at risky GE foods, Mr Eady will be wise to listen to farmer calls for New Zealand to be GE Free,” said Mr Browning.

“Crop & Food has already broken consent conditions to its GE onion trial and with MAF and ERMA consistently failing in their GE overview. Any tolerance for the GE trials of onions, brassicas, cows and trees is running out.”

“Producers and consumers share the desire for an economy based on the clean green environment that New Zealand’s discerning markets are looking to. Mr Eady will have no tears if Crop & Food’s research focuses on natural breeding techniques and extends its valuable organic research.”

Soil & Health is committed to GE free food and environment and aspires to an Organic 2020.

Note *Scion Annual Report to ERMA, 2007 Annual Report GMF99001 & GMF99005 (PUBLIC VERSION)

GE Tree trial breach shows institutional contradictions

/in , ,

The Soil & Health Association hopes that Biosecurity NZ’s investigation of last weekend’s security fence breach and cutting down of genetically engineered (GE) trees at Rotorua, will lead to far more rigorous controls and compliance checks at the Scion GE tree field trial.

“Biosecurity NZ will investigate today whether action is required under the HSNO Act due to possible removal of GE plant material, and has indicated it will investigate Soil & Health’s concerns with the field trial,” said Soil & Health spokesperson Steffan Browning.

Soil & Health has previously reported compliance breaches by Scion of the consent conditions for the field trial, and yesterday’s news had raised concerns of GE plant material being removed from the secured area.

“The Environmental Risk Management Authority (ERMA) have said that there appeared not to have been material removed by those involved in the cutting down of GE trial trees, however rabbits appear to have been risking that ever since the trial started, with having both caused damage and repeatedly infesting the trial plot and surrounds.”

“Ironically, Scion’s own activities will be the greater risk with material being removed on mower equipment following mulching of GE tree prunings. Scion have been granted an ERMA amendment to their consent, which previously required autoclaving or incineration of cuttings or plant material. The mulching of prunings allows even more GE material to remain in the environment, and with no clean down facility on site, means GE plant material being removed to other adjacent non-GE trial sites and forestry areas.”

“Amendments such as these, further show ERMA’s lack of precaution and bias towards field trials. Agresearch, Crop & Food, and Scion, the operators of the only New Zealand GE field trials, have all used the amendment process with ERMA allowing changes that the public have not had opportunity to adequately scrutinize.”

“Civil disobedience is not surprising, when precaution and transparency are disregarded,” said Mr Browning. “Considering overwhelming opposition to genetic engineering in New Zealand, field trials should be treated as a privilege and run to the highest level of precaution.”

Christmas is over Scion, take the GE trees down

/in , ,

It’s time for Scion to pull down its Rotorua GE Christmas trees, says the Soil & Health Association.

“Scion appears unable to manage its genetic engineering tree experiments to meet the requirements of its ERMA consent, so like any Christmas trees, their time is up,” said Soil & Health spokesperson Steffan Browning.

The genetically engineered tree field trials at the Rotorua base of CRI Scion (formerly Forest Research Institute Ltd) have rabbits and cats free ranging in and out of the trial, and the weekly fence inspection requirements of the ERMA (Environmental Risk Management Authority) consent have clearly not been followed for years according to Scion’s annual ERMA reports and photographic evidence collated for Soil & Health’s Organic NZ magazine.

“The consistent rabbit breaches show that the Ministry for the Environment (MfE), ERMA, MAF (Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry) and Scion, are all falling down in their responsibilities. Scion first in its lax approach to the GE experiment conditions, MAF for not monitoring Scion’s compliance thoroughly, ERMA for not recognising the consistency of the breaches in repeated Scion annual reports, and MfE for falling down in its overview position.”

“Further, the requirement to have all experimental trees topped at 5 metres has not been followed, with one clearly left to exceed that height. Also prunings are being mower mulched on site instead of the required incineration.”

“With all levels of authority not taking genetic engineering risks seriously it will not be surprising if the community takes control of such field trials.”

“Scion and other crown research institutes have valuable contributions to make in traditional breeding and plant development techniques that do not create environmental risk, or risks to New Zealand’s clean green marketing image,” said Mr Browning.

Ditch the Diet Coke, the facts are out

/in , , ,

True Independence Needed For NZFSA Aspartame Review.

The Soil & Health Association of NZ is impressed with the Phoenix Organics ‘Think Before You Drink’ anti-aspartame campaign and their bringing into the public arena the shonky science and politics behind the approval of the artificial sweetener.

“Having 20,000 bottles of Phoenix Organic Cola with labels highlighting concerns with aspartame, is a great counter to Coca-Cola’s ‘Make Every Drop Matter’ pro-aspartame campaign,” said Soil & Health spokesperson Steffan Browning.

“Soil & Health wants Diet Coke out of all schools in 2008 as a step towards withdrawing aspartame out of all New Zealand food and drinks, and the certified organic Phoenix drinks show there are wholesome alternatives.”

“Phoenix and Soil & Health share a concern that the decisions of New Zealand food safety authorities accept outcomes from apparent corrupt international scientific and political processes. Aspartame was introduced to the worlds food supply in 1983 aftercorrupt US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) processes.” corrupt.”

“The New Zealand Food Safety Authority (NZFSA) continues to claim that aspartame is one of the most studied substances in the world, yet conveniently brushes aside the fact that while all industry-funded studies do not show a problem, the overwhelming majority of independent studies do.”

“Of 166 studies felt to have relevance for questions of human safety, 74 had Nutrasweet (an aspartame brand) industry-related funding and 92 were independently funded. One hundred percent of the industry funded research attested to aspartame’s safety, whereas nearly all of the independently funded research identified problems.”

“Soil & Health is also concerned that the current Government review of NZFSA decision-making processes, including decisions around A2 milk and aspartame, will not be as independent as proposed.”

The review is using the services of international expert Dr Stuart Slorach because of his experience in risk management as Chair of the Management Board of the European Food Safety Agency (EFSA) during its critical establishment phase, and as Chair of the international food standards setting agency, the Codex Alimentarius.

“However EFSA has often slavishly followed the mantra of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which is highly influenced by giant food industry interests, and the Codex approach is based more on trade and economics than genuine consumer protection. Dr Slorach is more likely to give a tick of approval to NZFSA’s aspartame decision-making, considering EFSA’s approach so far,” said Mr Browning.

“Ditching Diet Coke, enjoying organic juices and getting genuine independent research will be great Christmas presents for New Zealand consumers.”

Soil & Health advocates natural sweeteners, following its motto: Healthy Soil, Healthy Food and Healthy People.

Notes:

* Aspartame (951, Equal, Nutrasweet) is an artificial sweetener found in over 6000 products including diet drinks, sugar free products, dietary supplements, sports drinks and medications.
* Aspartame has been linked to many health symptoms, including those expressed as ADHD, anxiety, depression, irritability, confusion, memory loss, insomnia, dizziness, migraines, cramps, abdominal pain, numbness or tingling of extremities, rashes, chronic fatigue, and sight and personality changes.

NZFSA A2 spin just tip of iceberg

/in , , ,

The Soil & Health Association of NZ wants to see dramatic changes to New Zealand Food Safety Authority’s (NZFSA) focus, following the further evidence of its communications spin supporting large food industry interests.

NZFSA was found to have manipulated the release of Professor Boyd Swinburn’s report querying A1/A2 milk safety and spun it saying that ‘there was no evidence of a food safety issue.’

“Soil & Health is also concerned about the Environmental Risk Management Authority (ERMA) and Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ), because of their business-based economic priorities when making risk analysis decisions,” said Soil & Health spokesperson Steffan Browning.

“Their risk management systems feel rotten when decision after decision is stacked in the interest of short-term economic imperatives, and community and environmental health is placed behind business.”

“Evidence showing that NZFSA manipulated scientific opinion surrounding the possible health implications of New Zealand’s dominant milk supply comes as no surprise to Soil & Health.”

“It appears Treasury, followed by Ministerial directives to NZFSA, is thwarting a precautionary approach to food safety, and with a change of policy directive NZFSA could instead rapidly focus on the best health interests of the community.”

“Soil & Health has campaigned vigorously on issues of food safety and toxins, including pesticide residues and food additives, to NZFSA, FSANZ and ERMA, and has found that responses are the same as those generated by big business. The level of PR spin is inappropriate from agencies mandated to protect the community and environment.”

“The media spin around sugar replacement Aspartame (phenylalanine, 965, NutraSweet, Equal) is a prime example of NZFSA and FSANZ supporting the Coca Colas and Wrigley’s of the world, rather than addressing the genuine health concerns of New Zealanders. The media material used by NZFSA matches that of the manufacturers of this neurotoxic, carcinogenic food additive.”

“The Coca Cola Company and Ajinomoto, an aspartame manufacturer, are in turn using NZFSA’s industry-led spin as a recommendation in glossy public advertising. Coca Cola’s full page advertisement ‘It’s Time To Air Some Truth About Sweeteners’ in a paper’s liftout last weekend, uses both NZFSA and FSANZ positions to announce ‘Low-kilojoule sweeteners are safe.’

“This is self-perpetuating spin and it is time for NZFSA to break the cycle,” said Mr Browning.

“The current attempt by NZFSA to exempt genetically modified microbes from having maximum residue limits in food is another risky move that has no benefit for anyone except the Monsantos of the world. The mooted increase in some acceptable pesticide levels in food is also about big producer convenience and adds nothing to the health of New Zealanders.”

“ERMA’s reassessment of most chemicals also has an outcome that is very predictable. Unless banned or extremely restricted by our trading partners, reassessment decisions offer no real interruption to the status quo, meaning ongoing heavy use of toxins in our environment and food chain. Recent examples are Hydrogen Cyanimide (Hi-Cane) as used in the kiwifruit industry, where safe management alternatives submitted by Soil & Health were ignored, and the 1080 decision, which gave no real incentives for alternatives.”

“ERMA’s decisions supporting field trials of genetically engineered crops also favour its friends in crown research institutes and business, and lack genuine consideration of community concerns. ERMA’s touted independence of government and business is a sham when its decisions are examined.”

“Soil & Health calls for the urgent implementation of a precautionary approach that puts health and the environment well out in front of economic imperatives,” said Mr Browning.

Soil & Health has a motto of Healthy Soil, Healthy Food, Healthy People, and promotes a diet free from synthetic additives.

Urgent need for Methyl Bromide moratorium

/in , ,

The Soil & Health Association of NZ is calling for an urgent moratorium on methyl bromide gas fumigation in New Zealand, following TV3’s 60 Minutes feature on the health risks of the gas at Picton and Port Nelson. Both ports use methyl bromide for fumigation of export timber, sawn timber at Nelson and logs at Picton’s Shakespeare Bay.

Canterbury University Pro-Vice-Chancellor Professor Ian Shaw, an international motor neurone disease expert who spoke on the 60 Minutes programme, has said that statistically it appeared the Port Nelson motor neurone disease rate was 25 times the international average. Six port workers have died from the disease, which causes progressive muscular atrophy. Professor Shaw also recommended a moratorium on methyl bromide use, while the possible link between the fumigant’s use and motor neurone disease at Port Nelson was investigated.

Soil & Health also wants a compliance audit of fumigation company Genera, an immediate start to an ERMA reassessment of methyl bromide, and for all local authorities to require resource consents for fumigation discharges.

“We are calling for an urgent compliance audit of Genera, following the 60 Minutes programme’s revelations of inadequate fumigator training, and following Soil & Health’s investigation of Genera’s Port Nelson methyl bromide monitoring records,” said Soil & Health spokesperson Steffan Browning.

“Genera has not adequately completed fumigation monitoring sheets and has incorrectly recorded fumigation times, weather conditions and dates, on the records I obtained through Port Nelson. This shows that Genera will not have met basic safety and monitoring requirements set by the Environmental Risk Management Authority (ERMA),” said Browning.

Soil & Health submitted to ERMA in January to have the deadly neurotoxic gas as number 3 to be rapidly reassessed by the Authority. ERMA included methyl bromide in the unordered priority list of 20 for Chief Executive initiated reassessments over 5 years.

“On the basis of Genera’s poor compliance and obvious statistical links of methyl bromide with motor neurone disease, Soil & Health now wants the Chief Executive to immediately begin reassessment of the neurotoxic gas’s future conditions of use.”

Both Marlborough District Council and Nelson City Council, either owners or shareholders in their respective ports, are currently allowing methyl bromide fumigation gas to be discharged into the local environment without resource consent. Port Marlborough has diverted one log shipment while the issue was further considered, and is due to resume at least limited fumigation shortly. This has called into question whether the diversion was to suit local body election timing, an allegation that Marlborough Mayor Alistair Sowman has refuted.

“A moratorium on further large-scale release of methyl bromide gas to the environment would allow risk-free consideration of health implications. It would also encourage fast adaption to alternatives such as installation of capture technology, which uses charcoal to absorb the gas ahead of either recycling or destruction,” said Mr Browning.

“Government departments and health authorities have failed to address the risks posed to the communities affected and Soil & Health will continue to advocate for urgent change. An Organic 2020 as advocated by Soil & Health will protect community and environmental health while supporting the clean green New Zealand market image.”

Sustainable wine growing is not clean or green enough

/in , , ,

The Soil & Health Association is concerned that key wine industry figures are fudging the reality of herbicide use and environmental protection in Marlborough. Soil & Health recommends faster moves to organic production.

Last week Soil & Health had suggested Marlborough’s Wairau Valley was being made a ‘Herbicide Valley’ because they had identified close to 70% of Marlborough vineyard land was currently herbicide sprayed to assist in frost protection.

“In reaction to Soil & Health’s claim, both New Zealand Winegrower’s Chair Stuart Smith, and Chief Executive Officer Philip Gregan, seriously downplayed the facts,” said Soil & Health spokesperson Steffan Browning. “The community deserves better.”

“It is about time New Zealand Winegrowers did some survey work, starting in the Brancott area, where the sprayed vineyard ground area appears to be up to 85% herbicide sprayed, although most areas are more typical of Soil & Health’s 70% claim.”

“Mr Gregan claimed last week that herbicide spraying throughout vineyards – for frost protection where bare earth radiated heat better – ‘was now extremely uncommon’. This is clearly not the case in Marlborough where many examples of blanket herbicide spraying are evident. Some of the 100% herbicide sprayed vineyards are displaying the Sustainable Wine Growing (SWG) notice although some Sustainable Wine Growing vineyards do not display the notice. Some vineyards were tilled but had been blanket herbicide sprayed ahead of that cultivation.”

Winegrowers NZ is the parent body of Sustainable Wine Growing, which was developed to provide a voluntary “best practice” model of environmental practices in the wine industry.

NZ Winegrowers chairman Stuart Smith said last week, “Whether it is 10% or 70%, the point of sustainable winegrowing is to make it sustainable so the land is left the same or better for the future. We are achieving that.”

“Soil & Health acknowledges that SWG is evolving, but permanent year round undervine spray strips and increased herbicide use in spring does not bode well now or for the future,” said Mr Browning. “Degraded soil biology and herbicide contamination and leaching do not equal the same or better, and urgent improvement is needed.”

“Sustainable Wine Growing has successfully encouraged significant change in some management practices, but fails to actually meet true environmental sustainability measures or compliance. Hopefully the next independent audit of Sustainable Wine Growers will show that more accurate spray records have been kept than those of the last published audit. It showed about a 50% discrepancy between grape growers SWG score sheets and their herbicide spray diaries. The grape industry leaders measure of current herbicide use seems to follow this discrepency.”

“Soil & Health is supportive of genuine sustainability measures and is hopeful that successful organic methods of production, which do not use herbicides, will be quickly taken up by the wine industry. Neither short or long term effects of herbicides and other sprays should be passed on to the community and environment.”

“Canopy spraying can also be managed in a way that prevents spraydrift. Enclosed spray units using shrouds or skirts that capture and collect unused spray, rather than allowing it to become airborne, should be used in areas subject to spray drift.”

“When combined with non herbicide based weed and frost control management, such technology can have Marlborough and the other grape growing regions of New Zealand meeting community health needs and the international expectations of a clean green land.”

“When comparing aesthetics, soil health, and worker and community safety, the differences between herbicide valley properties and those that use organic methods are obvious,” said Mr Browning.

Marlborough vineyard herbicide use now touching 70% soil coverage

/in , , ,

The Soil & Health Association is calling for Sustainable Wine Growing to lift its game, as close to 70% of Marlborough’s grape growing area is currently herbicide sprayed,” said spokesperson Steffan Browning.

“No wonder the industry changed its marketing strategy away from ‘The Riches Of a Clean Green Land.’”

“With excellent organic management alternatives now in use, it would have been better to aspire to giving credibility to ‘the riches of a clean green land,’ rather than putting the health of the community and the reputation of New Zealand at risk.”

A recent $100,000 rebranding with the “Pure Discovery” tagline was launched to replace a 15-year-old generic brand line ‘The Riches Of a Clean Green Land.’

“Pure Discovery may soon be about the aquifers and health of communities near the vineyards of New Zealand as the herbicide active ingredients, metabolites and surfactants leach and drift,” said Browning.

“While some vineyards are using organic management techniques and others a permanent 30% land area under-vine spray strip, the current practice of complete herbicide burning every second path as well as the under-vine strips, or frequently 100% of the surface area, to assist in frost protection, is making Marlborough’s Wairau Valley, a Herbicide Valley with an estimated 70% of vineyards sprayed with herbicide.”

While many operators say that it is ‘just Roundup or glyphosphate’, Monsanto agreed 10 years ago to discontinue the use of terms such as “biodegradable” and “environmentally friendly” in all advertising of glyphosate-containing products in New York state and to pay $50,000 toward the state’s costs of pursuing the case.

“According to the state, Monsanto advertisements had also implied that the risks of products such as Roundup are the same as those of the active ingredient, glyphosate, and did not take into account the possible risks associated with the product’s other ingredients.”

“Some surfactants and glyphosphate break down products, and also Amitrole another widely used herbicide, are known carcinogens or endocrine disruptors,” said Browning.

“Denmark has restrictions on glyphosphate to prevent groundwater contamination and local authorities there are being proactive to encourage more sustainable management.”

“The economic convenience of harmful herbicides and pesticides is creating areas such as Hawkes Bay and Marlborough as potential health risks, and anecdotal evidence points to increasing levels of cancers in both areas,” said Browning. “Endocrine disruptors are also involved with the sprays and in Marlborough the main population areas of Blenheim, Renwick and Seddon are surrounded or downwind of the spray zone.”

“The spraydrift problem extends nationwide with a slow uptake of available technology that can restrict spray drift and can recapture and recycle unused airborne sprays. This however does not address the blanket herbicide spraying of land.”

“Organic options, like green crop cultivation, mulching, compost application and the use of effective micro-organisms, not only reduce frost damage, but also improve soil health and take carbon dioxide out of the air to be stored as soil carbon.”

“Herbicide use is proven to reduce vine health through protein disruption, and because beneficial soil and plant organisms are killed, there is an increased susceptibility to pest and disease,” said Nicole Masters of biological soil consultants, EcoAgriLogic. “Herbicides also reduce grape storage life, and natural flavours can also be expected to be rounder without their use.”

“Clean alternatives to massive herbicide and pesticide use must be implemented in keeping with Brand New Zealand’s clean green 100% Pure image, and Soil & Health’s vision of an Organic 2020,” said Browning.