Australian Organic Submission to the Third Review of the Gene Technology Scheme

The National Gene Technology Scheme, a collaboration of our Federal, State and Territory governments, is currently under review. While the review is not directly related to the recent Australian Federal Government’s deregulation of the SDN-1 gene editing method (see Australian Organic’s statement on Emerging Gene Technology here), it does include stated objectives such as “streamlining... Read more »

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Organic Soil Health Insights – Dave Forrest of ‘SoilCare’
  • Posted on March 30, 2023
During March, our team visited Lismore to connect with organics growers working to enhance their soil following the devastating flooding events of 2022. One person we paid a visit to was Dave Forrest, a long-term organic farmer and foundation member of the SoilCare organisation. Read on for some detailed insights and recommendations from Dave about organic soil health.
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Organic industry leaders add voice to domestic regulation debate
  • Posted on March 17, 2023
Queensland’s oldest organic processor and the nation’s leading producer of organic free-range chicken have expressed their frustration at the government’s “ill-informed” and “ridiculous” decision to abandon organic domestic regulation. Quentin Kennedy, Managing Director of Kialla Pure Foods, addressed media and industry leaders today in response to Agriculture Minister Murray Watt’s recent comments that regulation would be “too big a burden” for some organic operators.
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Minister Watt ignores evidence, experts and industry with captain’s call on domestic regulation
  • Posted on March 8, 2023
As peak body for Australia’s organic industry, AOL has reacted with alarm and dismay at the move by Minister for Agriculture Murray Watt to place domestic regulation into the too-hard basket, despite his department’s own commissioned advice finding it will leave the industry and consumers worse off. Australia is the only developed nation in the world without a mandatory domestic standard for organic products, meaning there is no single legal definition of the term “organic”.
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Australian Organic Limited celebrates International Women’s Day
  • Posted on March 8, 2023
The many and diverse achievements of women in the organic industry are being highlighted this International Women’s Day by peak industry body Australian Organic Limited (AOL). AOL Chief Executive, Niki Ford, said Australia’s $2 billion a year organic sector is filled with innovative, driven, and successful women.
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AOL Statement: Senate Estimates discussion on domestic regulation for organics
  • Posted on March 7, 2023
The topic of mandatory domestic regulation for organics was raised in a Senate Estimates hearing on 14 February, where questions were put to the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and its Minister Murray Watt. One of many requests from this hearing was for a long overdue final report to be released to members of the Organics Industry Advisory Group (OIAG), following a consultation RIS process which was completed in early 2022. The federal Department of Agriculture shared this report by PricewaterhouseCoopers to the OIAG yesterday on 6 March. AOL is currently reviewing this report, and will provide an update in the coming days.
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Scholarship promotes the next generation of female leaders in the organic wine industry
  • Posted on March 3, 2023
Applications for the highly sought after 2023 Australian Organic Wine Awards Associate Scholarship are now open, presenting a unique opportunity for the next generation of female wine leaders. Supported by peak industry body Australian Organic Limited (AOL), the scholarship is aimed at promoting female talent and leadership in the organic wine industry, as well as serving the Award’s purpose of raising the profile of organic and biodynamic wine.
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Australian Organic Limited launches solo advisory services
  • Posted on February 20, 2023
Peak organic industry body Australian Organic Limited (AOL) has announced the launch of solo advisory services to assist businesses and individuals looking to navigate the path to certified production. The new service will provide end-to-end guidance in becoming certified organic and assist those who are in-conversion or looking to maintain or reinstate certification status, as well as producers, processors and allowed input operators seeking more general advice on sustainable practices.
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Canberra meetings up ante on urgent need for domestic regulation
  • Posted on February 14, 2023
Peak representative body Australian Organic Limited (AOL) has taken its campaign for mandatory domestic regulation of the organic industry to Canberra, as organic producers and businesses grow increasingly frustrated by the protracted pathway to an urgently needed regulatory framework. AOL Chair and highly regarded organic wine producer, Mike Brown, along with AOL Chief Executive Officer, Niki Ford, met with almost 20 parliamentarians and stakeholders from across the country last week, to refocus decision makers’ attention on the issue that continues to unnecessarily impede Australia’s more than $2 billion organic industry.
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Peak industry body Australian Organic welcomes new Chair
  • Posted on December 8, 2022
Australia’s peak industry body for the organic sector, Australian Organic Limited, has announced the appointment of highly regarded winemaker and business owner, Mike Brown as Board Chair. With more than two decades in the wine industry, Mr Brown, with his wife Melissa, own Gemtree Wines, an award-winning certified organic winery in McLaren Vale, South Australia. In 2020, Mr Brown was appointed to the AOL board to provide expert advice on the major organic producing sectors of viticulture and winemaking.
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2022 Australian Organic Industry Awards winners announced
  • Posted on November 28, 2022
A Queensland strawberry farmer, the head of Australia’s largest organic mushroom producer, and a Victorian dairy company were among 10 award winners at the 8th Australian Organic Industry Awards on Friday night. Held at Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley in Lovedale, NSW, peak industry body Australian Organic Limited (AOL) announced the night’s honourees, who collectively span an impressive and diverse range of certified organic products from fresh produce, dairy and meat, to pantry items and pharmaceutical ingredients.
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Pesticide concerns reinforce need to be mindful of chemical consumption
  • Posted on September 30, 2022
Research released last week showing 8% of Australian people in a test population had traces of weed killer glyphosate in their urine has further brought to light the need for consumers to be aware of chemical use in the food supply chain. The research, conducted by the University of Queensland, comes after earlier reports in the media highlighting a number of concerns surrounding the limited understanding of the amount of chemicals on produce.
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Spotlight shines on the benefits of going organic this Australian Organic Awareness Month
  • Posted on September 9, 2022
Australia's vibrant and growing organic industry and the broad-reaching benefits of choosing to buy organic are again being celebrated this September during Australian Organic Awareness Month. Each year, as the season turns from winter to spring, the spotlight shines on the advantages of going organic, from the health-conscious buyer wanting to eliminate unnatural chemicals in their diet to supporting the market-leading work of producers in animal welfare and environmental stewardship.
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