A remit passed at the 2022 Soil & Health AGM calling for advocacy on climate change action through organic regenerative farming.
The following letter was sent to Ministers and MPs on 18th April 2023.
To:
Hon Damian O’Connor MP, Minister for Primary Industries;
Hon James Shaw MP, Minister of Climate Change
Chris Luxon MP, Leader of the Opposition
Todd McClay MP, Opposition spokesperson for agriculture
Simon Watts MP, Opposition spokesperson for climate change
Debbie Ngarewa-Packer MP, Co-leader Te Pāti Māori
Mark Cameron MP, ACT Party agriculture spokesperson
Simon Court MP, ACT Party climate change spokesperson
Teanau Tuiono MP, Green Party agriculture spokesperson
Dear Ministers, and Members of Parliament,
Re. Seizing the Opportunities of Organic Regenerative Farming
We write to you in the aftermath of cyclone Gabrielle, as the country continues to grapple with the challenges of a changing climate and the need to reduce our emissions in line with international agreements. The Organic Products and Production Act has also now received Royal Assent. The passing of this legislation is a major opportunity for our country.
Organic regenerative farmers around New Zealand are leading the way. They are doing this by lowering their environmental footprint through organic regenerative farm practice, whilst also commanding a premium price in domestic and international markets through organic certification. We believe that greater political support for the transition to organic food and farming, while embracing regenerative practices, can deliver the best of both worlds. This means lower gross emissions and environmental impact, whilst upholding the best possible price for farm produce.
As political parties prepare for this year’s general election, we implore you to champion support for the organic regenerative transition. Trading partners such as the European Union and United States are already moving in this direction. They have clear targets and incentives from the government.
The Global Shift to Environmental Leadership Through Organics
The return on organic produce is higher than for conventional. This premium is based on consumer concern for environmentally sustainable food, and trust in organic certification which is a globally recognised and regulated system.
The EU provides funding for organic transition, with a goal to have 25% of the EU’s agricultural land area under organic management by 2030. The United States recently announced $300m for organic transition.
Organic regenerative farms across New Zealand are a largely untapped resource when it comes to climate change and the environment. It is time to create a more open and meaningful exchange of knowledge between the organic and conventional sectors for the benefit of the environment and society. This work requires leadership and resourcing from all sides, including politicians and the government.
Lowering Our Carbon Intensity
The prohibition of synthetic nitrogen fertilizer on organic farms alone makes their carbon footprint significantly different from conventional counterparts.
Between 1991 and 2019, the amount of nitrogen applied to New Zealand soil increased by 629%. When soil microbes consume nitrogen, they also consume a proportional amount of carbon, potentially emitting more GHGs. Synthetic nitrogen fertilizers also cause more nitrous oxide (a greenhouse gas 300 times more potent than CO2) to be emitted from soil.
Although nitrous oxide emissions occur on nearly all farms to some degree, organic farms in Europe were found to emit 40% less than comparable conventional farms. Techniques commonly used by organic farmers, including manure composting, have been shown in Europe to reduce emissions of nitrous oxide by 50% and methane by 70%.
Policy to Support Environmental Leadership on Farms
To advance this vital opportunity we are calling on politicians and the government to:
- Fund targeted research on organic farm management and climate emissions,
- Give incentives and support for regenerative farmers to obtain organic certification, such as bridging finance or grants to cover certification (typically over three years),
- Ensure ongoing structural funding for organic sector organisations to deliver extension and support for organic growers and businesses and conventional farmers wishing to convert to organics.
We would be happy to supply more information on any of the points raised in this letter,
Yours sincerely
Marion Wood
Chairperson, the Soil & Health Association of New Zealand
A PDF version of the letter can be accessed here.
Special General Meeting – Saturday 3 June 2023, 10am to 12pm
/in Association Meetings and EventsThis meeting has been called by the Soil & Health National Council and is open to all members.
The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the priorities of the Association in the face of steep cost increases relating to Organic NZ magazine publishing, and an ongoing associated budget deficit.
National Council wants to inform and discuss with members the various challenges and options in front of Soil & Health. National Council is also formally proposing an increase to membership fees, to $90 per year. A change to membership fees requires a formal decision of the membership
The meeting is at 10am on Saturday 3 June. You can register below:
[mw open=”!event-register/2023/6/3/special-general-meeting”]
Agenda
Background information and papers
What is the situation?
Soil & Health is a charitable incorporated society that provides education and advocacy on soil fertility and organics, and publishes Organic NZ magazine. We have a small staff team and a number of contractors, supported by a voluntary National Council representing members.
The Soil & Health Association has had a structural deficit in it’s finances for several years. This is because magazine cost increases such as paper and postage have not been covered by an increase in revenue. Recently the deficit has been masked by the receipt of two large bequests, and by grant funding received during Covid-19. However the deficit has now reached a point where action must be taken.
What has National Council done so far?
National Council have considered options to reduce the deficit over multiple meeting in recent months. These are outlined in the timeline below.
Papers associated with this process are attached:
December 2022 – “Soil & Health current investments and functions“
December 2022 – “Soil & Health Dec 2022 Budget Presentation.”
March 2022 – “Interim approved budget” – note this includes tabs showing budget with 4 issues of the magazine, and budget with 6 issues but a raised fee.
Why have we called an SGM?
National Council have determined that a discussion with the wider membership is the wisest next step. Any change to our functions or structure have major consequences. For example, reducing the magazine frequency is the simplest way to reduce costs but it risks creating a negative trend in our readership and membership.
National Council considers that keeping the magazine at six issues per year is ideal, but is currently not affordable. As an interim measure the Council has therefore approved a status quo budget for the 2023-4 year, which will be reviewed as soon as possible after this SGM.
Increasing the membership fee is considered to be inevitable due to rising costs. The last time the membership fee was increased was in 2019, when the price went from $45 to $55. It is now time to look again at the fees and ask what is the correct level. Part and parcel of the proposal to increase the fee is a recognition of Soil & Health as more than just a magazine. This means we should be setting our membership fee at a sustainable level for the Association to do its work, rather than benchmarking against other magazine subscription prices.
What are the priorities for Soil & Health?
Producing Organic NZ is currently the major activity of Soil & Health as it takes most of the financial resources and person-hours.
We would like to develop other functions such as: increased events and member community-building, advocacy and campaigns, and engagement with local and central government. However resourcing for these functions either has to come from voluntary effort or by diverting existing financial investment or person-hours.
Discussing these options with the wider membership is part of the purpose for this Special General Meeting.
Letter to Ministers and MPs: Seizing the opportunities of organic regenerative farming
/in Campaigns, Soil4Climate, SubmissionsA remit passed at the 2022 Soil & Health AGM calling for advocacy on climate change action through organic regenerative farming.
The following letter was sent to Ministers and MPs on 18th April 2023.
To:
Hon Damian O’Connor MP, Minister for Primary Industries;
Hon James Shaw MP, Minister of Climate Change
Chris Luxon MP, Leader of the Opposition
Todd McClay MP, Opposition spokesperson for agriculture
Simon Watts MP, Opposition spokesperson for climate change
Debbie Ngarewa-Packer MP, Co-leader Te Pāti Māori
Mark Cameron MP, ACT Party agriculture spokesperson
Simon Court MP, ACT Party climate change spokesperson
Teanau Tuiono MP, Green Party agriculture spokesperson
Dear Ministers, and Members of Parliament,
Re. Seizing the Opportunities of Organic Regenerative Farming
We write to you in the aftermath of cyclone Gabrielle, as the country continues to grapple with the challenges of a changing climate and the need to reduce our emissions in line with international agreements. The Organic Products and Production Act has also now received Royal Assent. The passing of this legislation is a major opportunity for our country.
Organic regenerative farmers around New Zealand are leading the way. They are doing this by lowering their environmental footprint through organic regenerative farm practice, whilst also commanding a premium price in domestic and international markets through organic certification. We believe that greater political support for the transition to organic food and farming, while embracing regenerative practices, can deliver the best of both worlds. This means lower gross emissions and environmental impact, whilst upholding the best possible price for farm produce.
As political parties prepare for this year’s general election, we implore you to champion support for the organic regenerative transition. Trading partners such as the European Union and United States are already moving in this direction. They have clear targets and incentives from the government.
The Global Shift to Environmental Leadership Through Organics
The return on organic produce is higher than for conventional. This premium is based on consumer concern for environmentally sustainable food, and trust in organic certification which is a globally recognised and regulated system.
The EU provides funding for organic transition, with a goal to have 25% of the EU’s agricultural land area under organic management by 2030. The United States recently announced $300m for organic transition.
Organic regenerative farms across New Zealand are a largely untapped resource when it comes to climate change and the environment. It is time to create a more open and meaningful exchange of knowledge between the organic and conventional sectors for the benefit of the environment and society. This work requires leadership and resourcing from all sides, including politicians and the government.
Lowering Our Carbon Intensity
The prohibition of synthetic nitrogen fertilizer on organic farms alone makes their carbon footprint significantly different from conventional counterparts.
Between 1991 and 2019, the amount of nitrogen applied to New Zealand soil increased by 629%. When soil microbes consume nitrogen, they also consume a proportional amount of carbon, potentially emitting more GHGs. Synthetic nitrogen fertilizers also cause more nitrous oxide (a greenhouse gas 300 times more potent than CO2) to be emitted from soil.
Although nitrous oxide emissions occur on nearly all farms to some degree, organic farms in Europe were found to emit 40% less than comparable conventional farms. Techniques commonly used by organic farmers, including manure composting, have been shown in Europe to reduce emissions of nitrous oxide by 50% and methane by 70%.
Policy to Support Environmental Leadership on Farms
To advance this vital opportunity we are calling on politicians and the government to:
We would be happy to supply more information on any of the points raised in this letter,
Yours sincerely
Marion Wood
Chairperson, the Soil & Health Association of New Zealand
A PDF version of the letter can be accessed here.
Heavy rain, soil and waterways – what’s the effect and what we can do about it?
/in Association Meetings and Events, Campaigns, Freshwater, VideoAbout the video
We all know that heavy rains cause soil loss and runoff. And we understand these are harmful to fresh water and the wider environment.
But many farmers, gardeners and land owners are unsure about where to start fixing these problems.
Join Philippa Jamieson, former editor of Organic NZ magazine, in conversation with soil scientist Charles Hyland and freshwater ecologist Dr Mike Joy as they discuss some of the mechanics of these problems and the relative virtues of various solutions.
This webinar aims to empower the organic community to intentionally manage their soils in order to achieve their sustainability and environmental goals.
About the panelists
Charles Hyland is a soil scientist and biogeochemist who moved to NZ in 2013 after working at Cornell University in the USA as a scientist for over ten years. His career has focused on identifying complex environmental problems associated with agricultural systems and implementing effective innovative solutions. Organic agriculture has always been central to his work and worldview.
Mike Joy began lecturing at Massey University in ecology and environmental science in 2003. After seeing first-hand the decline in freshwater health in New Zealand, he became an outspoken advocate for environmental protection. He has been working for two decades at the interface of science and policy in New Zealand with a goal of strengthening connections between science, policy and real outcomes to address the multiple environmental issues facing New Zealand.
Submission of the Soil & Health Association on the Therapeutic Products Bill
/in SubmissionsThe Therapeutic Products Bill is intended to replace the Medicines Act 1981 and Dietary Supplements Regulations 1985 and brings natural health products (NHP) into the regulation system for health products within Aotearoa/New Zealand.
Read our full submission here.
Summary of our submission
This submission from Soil & Health focuses on the regulation of natural health products.
Soil & Health agrees with the Purpose of the Therapeutic Products in relation to natural health products:
‘to protect, promote, and improve the health of all New Zealanders by providing for the—…
acceptable safety and quality of natural health products across their life-cycle.
but we consider that the Bill is written primarily from a western reductionist viewpoint, considering natural health products rather than natural health systems:
We recommend that the Naturopaths & Medical Herbalists of NZ (Inc).(NMHNZ)(https://naturopath.org.nz), New Zealand Association of Medical Herbalists (NZAMH) (https://nzamh.org.nz/) and the New Zealand Council of Homeopaths (https://homeopathy.co.nz/) be recognised as responsible authorities under the HPCAA and that those registered by these authorities be included in the Bill as NHP practitioners.
We recommend synthetic ingredients and additives be limited to 5% of the product and controlled.
Soil & Health recommends that the risk assessment of dilute NHPs such as homeopathic remedies apply not to the origin of the remedies (whether plant, mineral or animal), but instead to the final products, which contain no DNA and therefore no disease risk.
We recommend that a list of prohibited ingredients be developed for the domestic market.
We recommend that the Bill not proceed until there is a Tiriti-based process in place for rongoā.
Soil & Health recommends that plant ingredients be harvested in a way that protects their sustainability and avoids depletion of any endangered species.
Goodbye Glyphosate! Rethinking Weeds
/in Association Meetings and Events, Campaigns, Glyphosate, VideoLearn how to eliminate glyphosate and other harmful herbicides.
This recording is available to members, below. Please log-in using the email associated with your membership. If you have trouble logging-in please contact our team by email: info@organicnz.org.nz
About the video
This webinar is part of the Soil & Health Association’s campaign to strengthen regulation of glyphosate: https://soilandhealth.org.nz/glyphosate/
Join Philippa Jamieson, former editor of Organic NZ magazine, in conversation with Dr Charles Merfield and Mike Palmers who will discuss the way we think about and experience the plants we call “weeds”, and offer some organic, non-chemical and agro-ecological ways of managing them.
Followed by questions and discussion about practical weed solutions for your home garden, small block or farm.
The panelists
Dr Charles Merfield is head of the BHU Future Farming Centre and Merfield Agronomy Ltd. He has a particular interest in physical and ecological weed management.
Mike Palmers is an organic landscape gardener, he is currently a member of Soil & Health’s national council, and has served on the board of BioGro.
Video series
Suggested donation $10 – funds go towards Soil & Health’s glyphosate campaign. Make your donation by credit card: https://soilandhealth.org.nz/donate/#!form/Donate
Or transfer funds to our account: BNZ Account number: 02 0108 0058415 001
Ben Cheah’s half acre garden of peace & plenty
/in Association Meetings and Events, VideoThis is a four-part video series of Ben Cheah’s Auckland garden.
Event grants for Soil & Health members
/in Association Meetings and EventsThe Soil & Health Association will provide a grant of up to $100 for the running of any public event led and organised by an association member.
Grant conditions
Apply now
These grants are available to any Soil & Health member
Please complete the grant application form and email it to manager@organicnz.org.nz
Note: the total amount of grant funding available is limited to a total of $1200 over one financial year, the Association will take this limit into account when considering applications.
2022 AGM of the Soil & Health Association
/in Association Meetings and EventsEvent details
The 2022 AGM was held in Wellington on September 24th as part of a two-day event with Organics Aotearoa New Zealand (23-24 September)
The AGM began at 9.15am at the Prefab Hall, 14 Jessie Street, Te Aro, Wellington
Virtual attendance (via Zoom) was combined with in-person attendance
Draft minutes
The draft minutes of the 2022 AGM re available here: Draft minutes of the 2022 AGM
Agenda
Papers
*Note: the audit report and audited accounts are still pending.
Nominations for National Council
The following nominations were received for four vacant positions on national council.
These candidates were all elected at the AGM
Constitution update
We discussed a process to update our constitution, with a view to developing and then finalising any changes at next year’s AGM (2023). This work is prompted by new regulations set out by government this year
Remits
The following remits were agreed upon at the meeting:
Remit 1 (Alison White/Claire Bleakley) – Urge set up of Technology Ethics Council
That the Soil & Health National Council write to appropriate MPs in all the major political parties to urge them to (re-)establish a Technology Ethics Council that would deal with emerging technologies such as gene editing, gene therapies and their various uses, synthetic biology, nanotechnology, geoengineering and artificial intelligence.
Rationale: These new technologies are set to quite possibly negatively impact all aspects of life and the environment, and in particular present new challenges to the principles and values of the organic community. Since the disestablishment of the Bioethics Council, Toi Te Taiao, in 2009, there has been no body of independent experts overseeing the moral or ethical impacts of such technologies in New Zealand. Commercial pressures risk the voices of the organic community, tangata whenua and diverse communities being silenced or misled. We note with concern the immediate global push by powerful interests to deregulate gene editing (such a bill is currently before the UK parliament), with consequences including unlabelled food and a potential threat to organic growing. NZ and overseas organic standards do not permit any GE contamination threshold.
Remit 2 (Alison White/Claire Bleakley) – Climate change & organic agriculture
That the Soil & Health National Council write to appropriate MPs in all the major political parties to emphasise to them how vital a role that carbon cycling in a healthy soil and organic agriculture in particular can play in mitigating New Zealand’s role in climate change.
Rationale: As one of the oldest and leading proponents of organic growing in New Zealand, Soil & Health has a responsibility to raise awareness of the importance of soil health in relation to reducing carbon in the atmosphere. There is a risk that industry sectors will push high tech and profit-making solutions at the expense of a healthy and diverse ecosystem. For too long organic agriculture has been sidelined by the Government, except for exports.
Philippa Jamieson HLM nomination
The Soil & Health national council was delighted to nominate Philippa Jamieson for an honorary life membership. Philippa has played a key role in the work of soil and health over many years, including a pivotal contribution as magazine editor. The HLM nomination was confirmed at the AGM.
Field Trip to Piha to visit the Waygood Foundation’s Gardens and Beck Wheeler Garden.
/in Association Meetings and Events, VideoThese are two three-part video series, one for the Waygood Foundation garden and one for the Beck Wheeler garden
A group from Soil & Health Auckland visited two Permaculture Gardens in Piha on Saturday the 12th Feb 2020. We visited the Waygood Foundation Gardens where Claire Inwood guided us on a tour of the property. On a sandy based soil they have created a series of gardens, original, new, terraced and a Kids garden. These mixed gardens of vegetables, herbs, flowers and fruit trees are nestled in a glade of Pohutukawa trees.
Ben Cheah Speakers Meeting
/in Association Meetings and Events, VideoBen Cheah speaks about Small Urban Gardens.
This is a three-part video series