Australian Organic Connect | Issue 12 | Summer 2022

Biodynamic Wines

Organics

Recap of Australian Organic Awareness Month

AOL Industry Awards 2022: Celebrating Excellence in the Organic Industry

Meet our New Chairman and Directors

Organic Beef Update

Welcoming the Summer Solstice: Biodynamic Cycles in Winemaking

Christmas 2022: Special Offers from Certified Organic Businesses

Organic Operators in Focus

Member Profile: Nil Desperandum

Member Profile: Boomaroo Nurseries

Member Profile: AgBiTech Australia

Member Profile: Ashbern Farms

Member Profile: Organica Australia

Our Webinar Series on Climate Change & Organic Agriculture

Organic Gardening in Summer: Vegetable growing when the heat is on!

Welcome to our new AOL Members

Why You Should Become an AOL Member

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FRONT COVER: Jeremy Betros and Kiruthika Prasanna from Dr. Oetker Queen Australia, winners of ‘Business of the Year’ at the 2022 Augstralian Organic Industry Awards.

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A Note from the CEO

Welcome to the Summer 2022 Issue

Welcome to the Summer Issue of Australian Organic Connect! It has been an eventful twelve months for organics, with many operators challenged by climatic events and supply chain issues. Despite this, it has been inspiring to see so much resilience from producers and processors alike in working to serve our consumers. Such challenges are far from over, but I have no doubt that we can overcome them and emerge stronger on the other side.

Your industry peak body has worked extremely hard in 2022, hosting a number of events and initiatives while furthering our long-term pursuit of meaningful domestic regulation for the organic industry. Major milestones for 2022 include our inaugural Australian Organic Conference held in July, our annual Awareness Month initiative in September, as well as our Industry Awards ceremony which was held since our Spring e-magazine release.

The Industry Awards were held on Friday 25 November, and I’d like to thank everyone who made the trip to Lovedale in the NSW Hunter Valley to help us celebrate excellence in the organic industry. It was a fantastic night, with 10 award winners selected and a large volume of outstanding applications received. Congratulations to everyone who won an award. You can read pages 6 through 9 to find out more about the winners and check out a host of images from the event.

Elsewhere in this issue, Australian Organic Limited Director Iain Scholes will give a summary on the state of the organic beef industry, while Brisbane horticulturist Claire Bickle will offer some handy tips for summer vegetable growing. We will also look into biodynamics and the summer solstice, before profiling five certified organic operators who are making their mark in South East Queensland.

I’m grateful to all AOL Members across the country who have welcomed us onto their properties for site visits during the year. These visits are really valuable as we look to better understand the unique experiences of operators across the span of organics. We have been lucky enough to visit some members in Tasmania and Western Australia recently and appreciated the detailed insights on how their businesses operate.

Sincere thanks to everyone who has supported AOL during 2022. We have big expectations for the months ahead, and I look forward to sharing more with you soon.

Contributors

Australian Organic Limited (AOL) is the peak industry body engaging with government and industry to promote the commercial and social interests of those who are certified and protect the integrity of the certified industry against fraud and misleading organics.

AOL has been at the foundation of organics since 1987 and is identified by the most recognised mark in Australia, the Australian Certified Organic Bud trademark. This trademark signals the highest of integrity and is recognised by more than 63 per cent of Australian consumers.

Niki Ford Chief Executive Officer, Australian Organic Limited

Thanks for helping us raise awareness for certified organics!

This September, we embarked on our annual campaign to celebrate certified organics and highlight the importance of logos such as the ‘Bud’ for consumer trust. While our September activities have been mostly digital in 2020 and 2021 given the global climate, we were able to get out and about this year to engage with organic businesses and consumers, as well as those new to certified organics.

One of our primary achievements in September was a segment on Australia’s Number 1 lifestyle program, Better Homes & Gardens! Our episode showcased some great key details about Awareness Month, before much-loved presenter ‘Fast Ed’ Halmagyi cooked two delicious recipes featuring certified organic ingredients. Our episode was filmed against a beautiful backdrop at Angove Family Winemakers, in the renowned McLaren Vale wine region of South Australia.

Our team also travelled to Melbourne to engage in networking events, while a series of short videos on highinterest organic topics was launched on our YouTube page, receiving great feedback.

Here are just a few highlights from the year’s campaign:

• ‘Better Homes & Gardens’ television cooking segment highlighting Awareness Month and certified organic products.

• Five educational videos addressing common consumer questions about organics were released, presented by award-winning chef and organic food advocate Dominique Rizzo.

• 2 major supermarkets involved

• A significant boost in social media engagement, with more than 8,000 Instagram accounts reached and 2,299 views on TikTok for #AOAM2022, and 300 posts using #AOAM2022 across social media platforms.

Our annual Awareness Month campaign covered new ground this year!

LEARN MORE

Industry Awards

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.

AOL Chief Executive Officer, Niki Ford, said the Awards were an opportunity to recognise excellence and diversity within organics, and applauded the winners for their contribution to the nation’s $2 billion industry.

“The standard of these awards continues to reach new heights, and this year’s winners demonstrate innovation and leadership within the organic sector and how it continues to progress and evolve,” Ms Ford said.

“It has also been encouraging to witness, particularly in the individual categories, many winners choosing a career in organics, or to implement it in their business, as they have seen both the environmental and economic benefits of organic production.

“It is clear from the winners’ applications they are making a significant impact not just on their businesses, but also the broader industry, while also contributing to the national economy and the wellbeing of Australians and international customers.”

The winner of the coveted Farmer of the Year title was Sunshine Coast-based strawberry farmer Brendon Hoyle who applies innovative farming methods to produce what he believes are the sweetest berries

2022 WINNERS ANNOUNCED!

on the market. Mr Hoyle’s operation, Ashbern Farms, grows organic strawberries in winter in the Glass House Mountains, and non-organic strawberries in Stanthorpe over summer.

CEO and General Manager of Victoria’s Bulla Farms, Georgia Beattie, was recognised as Organic Woman of the Year. As well as her role as CEO of Australia’s largest organic mushroom company, Ms Beattie sits on a number of boards including Australia’s largest certifying body, ACO Certification Ltd. It is from these leadership roles that she has been influential in making structural changes within industry to champion women.

Two new categories were featured in the Awards this year, the Innovation Award, won by Tasmanian biotech company Marinova Pty Ltd, and Brand of the Year, which went to Queensland organic flour and wholefoods company Kialla Pure Foods.

Ms Ford said the winners were emblematic of the dynamic and driven people who are helping to move the industry forward.

“Year after year these Awards showcase the broad range of Australia’s best certified organic producers, manufacturers and retailers,” she said.

“As an industry it is more important than ever that we all play a role in upholding the integrity of this great industry, and to continue to supply customers with nutritious food and consumables.

“Seeing the winners of these Awards gives me great confidence that the future of organics is in excellent hands.”

More than 100 organic operators, industry figures and local dignitaries were in attendance

LEFT TO RIGHT: New AOL Chairman Mike Brown, AOL CEO Niki Ford, Member for Hunter Dan Repacholi MP, Member for Paterson Meryl Swanson MP, and outgoing AOL Chairman Martin Meek

Special Honours

THE winners of two of the most prestigious honours in the Australian organic industry have been unveiled at the 2022 Australian Organic Industry Awards.

Australian Organic Limited Chairman, Martin Meek, said it was a privilege to select the inductee into the AOL Hall of Fame and the recipient of the Chairman’s Award.

“This year’s honourees, Alister Ferguson and Kane Busch, were chosen because one is aspirational and the other is inspirational, and both speak to the risk and the love of organics,” Mr Meek said.

CHAIRMAN’S AWARD & AOL HALL OF FAME

“AOL were fantastic in assisting us to gather support, and the Minister decided that the risks were too great if the mine went ahead.”

AOL Hall of Fame inductee: Alister Ferguson, Toowoomba

Young Victorian grower Kane Busch, whose family grows broccoli, beetroot, cabbage, carrots, and parsnip at Lindenow on the Mitchell River floodplain, said he’s honoured to be the recipient of the Chairman’s Award.

“As producers we don’t chase awards but it’s nice to be recognised for the job that we do in feeding people,” Mr Busch said.

Kane paid tribute to his grandfather Lex, who was the driving force behind the farm’s push to become certified organic in 2000, and said he wanted to inspire others as Lex had done.

“My hope is that the excitement of growing organics and increased returns will encourage younger people to get involved in the industry,” he said.

“Agriculture and horticulture are exciting spaces to be in. You’re not just sitting in a tractor working paddocks all day. With the specialised nature of growing and packing there are high tech, fast-paced roles available, and we need to get young people and new faces into the industry.”

2022 has been a tough growing year for Busch Organics, a family operation also involving Kane’s brothers Matt and Damien, as well as his father Chris. Despite this, a highlight was the local community effort that defeated a mineral sands mine being built on the plateau above their farm.

“For the last seven years we’ve been campaigning against the mine proposal for a site above the Mitchell River Valley, which would pose a great risk to our organic status,” he said.

As a student at Orange Agricultural College in the 1990s, Alister Ferguson wrote his PhD thesis about organic beef, and went on to help build one of the world’s biggest and most successful organic businesses, Arcadian Organic & Natural Meat Co.

He sold his share in the company at the end of 2021 and has since developed his business interests in the southeast Queensland town of Toowoomba, which include The Paddock Butchery, The Plate Restaurant, Bone Idol Brewery and The Shed Coffee Drive Thru.

“It’s a great honour to be recognised by AOL and a nice way to finish my current period in the industry. I remember at the first Organic Expo in Sydney there was a lot of gum leaves and hessian, but it was an exciting period and a lot of fledgling businesses from those days have done really well,” Mr Ferguson said.

“Fundamentally, all the messages when I started in business are as relevant today; that you need continuity of supply 12 months of the year, you pay premiums to encourage supply, but at the same time maintain the quality.

“As the market matures, what you tend to see is that if parents have bought organic food for their children, then they become your next consumers. It’s happened in Europe, the US and Australia, that those children will keep buying a portion of the shopping basket as organic.”

“It’s got a great future. Everything that’s got the organic industry to where it is today won’t go away.”

Chairman’s Award winner: Kane Busch, Busch Organics, East Gippsland

Australian Organic Industry Awards 2022 Winners

Brand of the Year

Kialla Pure Foods

Kialla Pure Foods is a pioneer in organic processing,

from the

Downs region of Queensland since 1988. In 2022, the Kialla team has launched more than 22 items in the big 2 major retailers, achieving over 5000 new distribution points and resulting in an 80% increase over 2021 retail sales.

Business of the Year

Dr Oetker Queen Australia

Innovation Award

Marinova Pty Ltd

Marinova is regarded as the global leader in fucoidan science. The company studies, develops and manufactures fucoidan compounds, which are found in select species of brown seaweed. The output is used for a range of nutritional, pharmaceutical and skin care applications.

New Product of the Year

Organic Cheddar Block 400g - The Organic Milk Co.

With their Organic Cheddar Block, The Organic Milk Co have bought an everyday staple to consumers on a national scale, with the new product available in more than 650 stores across Australia. This kind of availability is unprecedented for Australian sourced and produced organic dairy products.

Retailer of the Year Coles Supermarkets

The major retailer has expanded its organic section in all stores, as well as refreshing their branding on more than 72 products. All organic fresh produce items now display their certification mark, while an ‘In Conversion’ tier has been added to support new growers and increase volume for consumers.

Farmer of the Year

Brendon Hoyle - Ashbern Farms

Brendon is one of the directors at Ashbern Farms, who grow organic winter strawberries near the Glass House Mountains on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast. He has worked with entomologists, deploys beneficial insects and even uses an innovative bug vacuum to control fruit flies and Rutherglen bugs.

operating

Darling

Dr Oetker Queen Australia is a world-leader in premium organic vanilla products, a staple in many Australian kitchens for 125 years. The business uses organic vanilla beans as their main starting raw material for multiple products, including organic extracts, pastes and bean pods.

Australian Organic Industry Awards 2022 Winners

Organic Woman of the Year

Georgia Beattie - Bulla Park

Andrew

Young Organic Leader

- Green Camel Organic Produce

Georgia Beattie is CEO of Australia’s largest organic mushroom farm, Bulla Park. A 2021 Nuffield Scholar, Georgia has held board positions in agricultural companies and worked to change constitutions and codes of conduct to reflect a goal of 50:50 gender distribution.

McIlwain

Andrew McIlwain is GM and Agronomy Manager for Sydney-based Green Camel Organic Produce, which grows tomatoes, baby cucumbers, raspberries, and barramundi from 2.5 hectares of commercial glasshouses. Andrew is a keen spokesperson for organics within Protected Cropping.

Pictured at the Industry Awards event in the Hunter Valley on 25 November 2022.

Meet our new Chairman and Directors

Changes to the makeup of the Australian Organic Limited Board were announced on 25 November, with Chairman Martin Meek and Director Sonya Dowling electing not to be re-appointed to their roles, having served on the AOL Board since 2013 and 2019 respectively.

A committee was convened to elect two new Directors, with Mr David Keens and Mr Hsiao-Ti (Didi) Lo both elected to the Board at our November AGM.

Bernadette Favis, Iain Scholes and Leo Watling will continue in their Director roles, alongside the two new appointments. See the profiles below to learn more about the organic backgrounds of David and Didi.

Existing Director Mike Brown has taken on the role of AOL Chairman following Martin Meek’s retirement. Mike has served on the board as Director since 2020, while Martin has been in the Chairman role since 2019. AOL would like to thank both Martin and Sonya for their valued contribution to our organisation and the broader organics industry.

Welcome to our new Directors

DAVID KEENS

David Keens of Manna Farms is a fourth-generation farmer and secondgeneration bio-dynamic farmer.

In partnership with his brother, David farms Australia’s largest biodynamic and organic almond orchards and conventional citrus. With a background in advertising/ marketing in Melbourne, David moved home to take over the family business of Manna Farms.

Since this move, David has overseen Manna Farms rapid rise in size from 100 farmed hectares to now over 800 hectares. David has extensive experience in not only bio-dynamic farming but also packing and marketing of fresh produce, with Manna Farms supplying the likes of Woolworths direct as well as wholesale markets both domestically and internationally.

DIDI LO

For the last 20 years Didi Lo has been at the forefront of healthier food and beverages. As founder, CEO and major shareholder of Soulfresh, he has overseen the growth across Australia before expanding internationally into NZ and then Europe.

As passionate and long time advocate of organics, Didi has built 9 brands across a wide range of food and beverage categories and today boast some of the most recognised organic and/or better-for-you brands including Nutty Bruce, Lo Bros Kombucha, Pico Chocolate and Wildly Good.

Didi’s expertise lies in innovation, category design, brand development, sustainability and impact, pathto-market development – local and international, and a wide array of food and beverage manufacturing.

LEFT TO RIGHT: David Keens, Didi Lo, Leo Watling, Mike Brown, AOL CEO Niki Ford and Iain Scholes. NOT PICTURED: Bernadette Favis (maternity leave)

Organic Beef update

BY IAIN SCHOLES DIRECTOR, AUSTRALIAN ORGANIC LIMITED

Iain has grown his family’s organic beef cattle business Braemar Investments Group over the last 20 years, supplying Arcadian Organic & Natural Meat Co. Iain has served on the AOL Board as Director since 2019.

AOL: What has been the big news in organic beef over the past twelve months?

IS: Most organic beef producers are in stronger positions than they have been in recent years, which is pleasing. Confidence in the industry is high, with some families looking to increase their holdings and expand their businesses. Land prices have risen again; properties that are suitable for organic beef production are attracting a lot of interest and competition from conventional buyers too. More generally, we’ve seen increased metrics for carcass weights and turnoff, which has been welcomed by the market (for both conventional and organic beef). Producers are building their herd numbers and retaining females. The export market has been strong too, due to the relatively low Australian dollar and supply shortages in many foreign markets. So all in all, it’s been a great year for Australian producers.

AOL: Other producers/industries have recently been impacted by factors like increasing transport and shipping costs, as well as labour shortages. Do these have much bearing on organic beef?

IS: From my perspective, labour shortages in the processing industry had an impact on overall processing numbers, with the effects carried over due to wet weather interruptions, leading to slowdown in the supply chain. There have been satisfactory outcomes observed in the processing industry overall during 2022, without the large-scale disruption that some other organic sectors have endured. Higher production costs due to inflation and interest rate rises have taken a bit of the shine off, but we’re still in a positive place with organic beef.

AOL: What can you tell us about supply and demand in organic beef over the last 12 months?

IS: This year there has been an increase in organic store cattle being marketed in my opinion, as new producers get involved in the market. Competition on light cattle has been robust, which is great for the health of the industry and great for the consumer. The conventional beef market is maintaining its strength too, so there are good premiums on offer for quality finished cattle no matter the market sector.

AOL: Biosecurity is a pressing concern, with Footand-Mouth Disease (FMD) and Lumpy Skin Disease

(LSD) present in neighbouring countries. What measures have you seen beef producers taking to reduce incursion risks on their own properties?

IS: I think producers are well informed about the risks of these diseases, perhaps moreso than ever before. Feral animal control is a big focus point for organic beef producers, as is vigilance toward visitor history, washdowns and other important factors. For some operators, there is a sentiment that most risk is beyond our control as producers, and that tighter border controls are needed to prevent encroachment. There’s no doubt that awareness measures are important, and I’d like to see more information on ‘next step’ practices in case an incursion does occur.

AOL: What opportunities can you see ahead for organic beef that will benefit consumers looking to support the industry?

IS: As a start, higher quality beef is being produced at present due to more consistent seasons being experienced in this La Nina period. Those looking to become organic beef consumers should know that producers in our industry fully embrace sustainable and regenerative principles. Animal welfare has always been a big part of the organic story, and producers now are more aware of these issues and better informed than ever before. I also think it’s important that we tell the whole story of organic beef production, so all consumers are in the know. When domestic regulation and equivalence of standards in organics is achieved, we’ll soon see better outcomes for all parties. As producers, we offer consumers an important point of difference that they can trust, backed by robust certification. We’re passionate about quality and truth, and we’re in a great position to serve the next generation of organic beef consumers.

Welcoming the Summer Solstice

Biodynamic Cycles in Winemaking

The Summer Solstice approaches on Thursday 22 December. Commonly known as the longest day of the year, it marks the day when the Sun travels its longest path through the sky. For us in the Southern Hemisphere, this is when the Sun reaches its most southernmost position.

While not often celebrated in many modern cultures, the summer solstice has been of profound significance for annual food growing cycles for thousands of years. Climate and growing conditions are obviously still of paramount importance in modern organic agriculture, and especially so for those farming according to biodynamic principles.

For those who don’t know, biodynamic farming shares many of its principles with organic agriculture, although it takes matters further. You can think of biodynamics as a holistic practice, where the entire farm or garden is considered as a living, breathing, organism. It is effectively an alternative form of organics, where a prescribed list of homeopathic ‘preparations’ can be used to vitalise soil and plants, while universal or lunar considerations are taken into account for optimal growing. These preparations, including horn manure and silica, are regulated under the National Standard for Organic and Bio-Dynamic Produce.

One industry sector where biodynamic principles are thriving is vigneron. Connoisseurs are interested in the terroir of the wines they consume; the growing principles, environmental factors and sense of place. For winemakers, biodynamics represents an opportunity to produce something truly unique.

Biodynamic Viticulture: Recognising the Rhythm of the Cosmos

Travel to any of Australia’s famous wine regions and you will likely come across a certified biodynamic winemaker, dedicated to treating their vineyard as a living system by utilising biodynamic principles.

You’ll find Cullen Wines in the small township of Wilyabrup in Western Australia, in the heart of the renowned Margaret River wine region. Cullen Wines has been in operation for more than 50 years, with their Cullen Vineyard attaining A Grade Biodynamic certification in 2004.

Optimal soil health and fertility is at the core of organic viticulture, with the practice promoting biological activity and nutrient-rich humus. At Cullen Vineyards, this soil structure is achieved through homeopathic preparations, as well as composts, fish and other emulsions, and the use of cover cropping to enhance nitrogen. In addition, lunar cycles and rhythms are considered as part of their holistic biodynamic process.

“As tides rise and fall in a pulsing rhythm, so does the sap of plants and all other liquids including those within the earth’s mantle. Viticultural practices are conducted according to these moon rhythms.

The position of the moon in relation to the planets is also critical. The time of great anticipation is the 48 hours leading up to when the moon (whose forces bring in calcium processes) and Saturn (whose forces bring in silica processes) are in opposition – the optimal time to plant.”

The Cullen Wines philosophy on biodynamics. (Cullen Wines images composed by Frances Andrijich)

On the other side of the Nullarbor in the New South Wales Hunter Valley is Krinklewood Biodynamic Vineyard, a certified biodynamic operation where every facet of their enterprise is managed with these same sustainable principles in mind. Krinklewood Vineyard and Farm started their conversion process in 2002, with all growing activities timed in line with the lunar calendar.

“The light of the sun, moon and stars reaches the plants in regular rhythms and by understanding the gesture and effect of each rhythm, we can time our ground preparation, pruning and harvesting to the advantage of the vines … and ultimately the biodynamic wine we produce.”

Krinklewood owner Oscar Martin considers it an honour to be custodian of the enterprise and build upon the principles introduced by founder Rod Windrim more than 20 years ago.

“What Rod and his family have created is remarkable. We share a great love for nature and a passion for sustainability and delicious organic/biodynamic wine. Our mission is to make people think about the earth and the impact we’re having.”

You can read more about the principles of organic and biodynamic viticulture on the Australian Organic website.

Marine Fe rt ilizers

ww w. cass a agr i tec. com (scan the QR Code to be directed to our website)

‘Helping You Grow’ Naturally

CASSA AgriTec’s ethos of harnessing nature’s own processes to create sustainable and effective organic solutions has landed it ahead in the organic farming industry.

‘We are driven by our belief in sustainable, natural solutions that offer high quality, cost effective, chemical free products to our customers that enable them to be responsible stewards of our natural resources for future generations. We draw our innovation from nature’s creations.’

CASSA’s natural, Australian made focus has them incorporating locally wild harvested seaweed and abalone fish in their organic fertiliser ranges. Their ‘waste to no waste’ policy has them diverting marine waste from landfill and re-purposing it into high grade outputs that improve soils, plants and yields. The integration of CASSA’s organic biological marine enzymes and bacteria into their product ranges has them leading the way in innovative organic products through their formulations in fertilisers for improving soil health and fertility and plant defence formulas.

CASSA AgriTec has progressed its biological solutions by creating a series of chemical free plant defence formulas. Their AIC, PIC and BioN Plant Defence products offer a natural biological allowable organic input alternative to conventional chemical pesticides, insecticides and fungicides. This product range is a game changer for the organic farming industry that will have CASSA AgriTec ‘helping organic farmers grow… naturally’.

CASSA AgriTec (A Division of CASSA BioTec Pty Ltd) Certified Organic Fertilizers (ACO Cert. No. 13356)

www.cassaagritec.com

Williamstown North, VIC

Wild Harvested, Local Australian Organic Inputs to ‘Help you Grow’

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OFFER: 12 offers throughout December will include nutritional support, pantry items and more.

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Contribute to the 2023 Market Report

Australian Organic Limited is working to produce a 2023 Organic Market Report that will provide an actionable economic benchmark for our growing industry. This ‘state of the nation’ report will establish baseline goals for the broader organic industry, with data updated annually over a five-year period.

The comprehensive report, due for release in Q2 2023, will be a significant asset for organic operators engaging in export and other negotiations. From AOL’s point of view, we’ll be able to use the document as a useful reference point for policy discussions, as we work to represent the best interests of organic operators across Australia.

In order to make this vision a reality, we require as many organic operators as possible to contribute to the project by submitting their primary sales data. If you manage a certified organic business, please follow the link below to complete the short Gross Organic Sales Survey.

Gross Organic Sales Survey open until 20 December 2022

COMPLETE THE SURVEY

HOW YOU WILL BENEFIT

This report will highlight an economic goal for organic industry growth which will aid us in tackling the big issues facing operators, such as trade barriers to international markets caused by lack of domestic regulation.

At an industry level, this report may support and incentivise the creation of new programs that help organic operators to address supply chain and other issues. In the short term, operators will be able to use the metrics gathered as support for discussions on export feasibility, business finance and other considerations.

HOW YOUR DATA WILL BE PROTECTED

Australian Organic has engaged ACIL Allen, a leading economics and policy consulting firm, to construct this report based upon quantitative data procured by AOL.

ACIL Allen is a highly experienced consultancy with robust data security processes, and all data gathered for the purposes of this project will never be shared. Data submitted by organic operators will be anonymised, and participants will not be identifiable in any way.

Key takeaways from Australian Organic Market Report 2021

Kevin Berry entered the organic scene as a grower, becoming certified by BFA in 1991. His produce was top quality but, being new to the game, he found he had trouble marketing it. Other growers were having the same problem and, at that time also, a large portion of organic produce was coming from interstate.

Kevin realised that, if organics were to prosper in South Australia,the local growers had to be supported and a better quality of produce had to be offered. He set up as a merchant rather than a commission agent, which means buying the

produce outright and guaranteeing the grower an agreed price. He started by representing a few local growers and has never looked back.

Pyramid was the first wholesaler to be certified in SA and now represents hundreds of the most brilliant and talented, hard working and good hearted growers in Australia. We also supply a wide range of bulk dry goods and grocery items to Adelaide, the SA countryside and interstate.

If

looking for organic produce in the SA area,

Kev Berry, Ladye Montgomery, and Turbo!

Organic Operators in Focus

BY KANE FRAMPTON

Many certified organic operators are innovators in their field, solving long-term problems and offering new products and services for industry and consumers alike.

With summer now upon us and 2023 planning underway for many enterprises, now might be the ideal time to learn more about operators in your sector and the work they’re undertaking to best serve clients.

Our Membership team is looking forward to hitting the road in 2023 to visit more organic operators across the country, in an effort to witness firsthand the unique challenges and opportunities experienced by each industry sector.

For this issue, we have visited and profiled five South East Queensland certified organic operators, ranging from allowed input innovators to organic growers and a first-of-its-kind liquor producer.

ABOVE: The flavour of Nil Desperandum’s premium rum is influenced by the ageing process, with sherry-soaked oak barrels utilised. The use of local Woombye water means there is a little piece of the Sunshine Coast in every bottle.

RIGHT: ‘FIRST’ by Nil Desperandum is described on their website as “ ...a full sensory experience, boasting rich molasses undertones while merging moody streams of mocha, chocolate and vanilla.”

Nil Desperandum Processor

Certified organic rum produced in the Sunshine Coast cane fields

Liquor lovers searching for a locally produced and certified organic rum can visit Queensland’s Nil Desperandum on the Sunshine Coast, a short walk from the iconic Big Pineapple.

Their dark rum was launched in February 2022 and promoted as the first Australian certified organic molasses rum.

While many rums on the market are sweetened, coloured and flavoured, the team at Nil Desperandum (Latin for ‘Nothing to Despair’) opt for a more natural approach. Their initial launch ‘FIRST’ contains only certified organic molasses from nearby Bundaberg, Woombye water, and yeast, aged in sherry-soaked oak barrels.

Co-founder and ‘Chief Enjoyologist’ Michael Conrad has a long history with organic ingredients as a former owner of a fine dining establishment. The decision to release a certified organic rum was not for economic reasons, but rather due to Nil Desperandum’s values as a brand.

“If there is an opportunity and availability to provide a certified organic rum to the public, we felt that it was something we should do. For me, the Sunshine Coast is synonymous with cane growing, which I’d see as I used to drive up the Sunshine Motorway.”

“As for flavours, the beautiful aromatic rums of the Caribbean are what inspired us on this project. With the use of organic molasses, wild yeast ferments and a few other little helps from our natural environment, hopefully we can achieve that in that near future.”

The Nil Desperandum team takes a keen interest in sustainability, striving for minimal intervention upon their semi-rural environment. The company’s main waste is the byproduct from fermentation of their organic molasses, which is high in mineral content and has some protein from yeast cells. This byproduct is sent to farmers in the region as supplementary cattle feed. Other light waste is treated onsite and used to irrigate the property.

Rum has to age in a barrel for two years, with the first Nil Desperandum rum launching on 22 February 2022 at 2.22pm in a nod to this number. The certified organic molasses arrives in Woombye from Bundaberg and is stored under high pressure, before a natural ‘wild’ fermentation process takes place. All production, bottling and marketing for Nil Desperandum is conducted onsite, with the company working toward a larger commercial release in 2023.

To find out more about the values and product range of Nil Desperandum, make sure you check out their website and follow them on Instagram. The Nil Desperandum team are also behind the popular Sunshine & Sons spirit brand.

Boomaroo Nurseries Processor

Year-round certified organic vegetable seedlings

Demand for quality vegetable seedlings is on the rise in Australia, as more and more people look to take responsibility for their health and reduce their grocery bills.

Thankfully, growers looking to serve organic consumers are well catered for by Boomaroo Nurseries, a worldclass wholesale provider of vegetable seedlings who added certified organic options to their product range in 2020. Boomaroo Nurseries operate from facilities in Lara, Victoria, with a state-of-the-art site also opened in Southbrook, Queensland, three years ago.

Organic certification was a significant journey for the Boomaroo enterprise, with everything from growing and infrastructure through to input sourcing and quality assurance needing to comply with the National Standard.

When it comes to product varieties, all of the same (conventionally grown) core crop categories are also offered as certified organic. This includes iceberg lettuce, coloured lettuce, cos lettuce, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, silverbeet, leeks, celery, tomatoes and onions, with the Boomaroo team actively looking to expand their offering and open to enquiries about additional crops. Boomaroo’s Organic Management Plan is strictly followed to prevent any cross-contamination, with the business investing significantly in resources to build reliability and transparency for their product range.

Advanced technology is integral to the growing process at Boomaroo – with certified organic seedlings being no exception – enabling the business to produce premium quality seedlings on a large scale to meet grower demand. Boomaroo differs from other seedling producers through their investment in automated production systems.

The entirely ‘no-touch’ process begins at the automated sowing line from which seeded trays are transported on rolling benches to climate-controlled germination chambers which not only accelerate the seeds’ germination but also ensure a high level of uniformity and consistency.

Germinated trays are then transported autonomously, again on rolling benches, to the covered growing area and then the outdoor growing area for acclimatisation and hardening prior to dispatch. Precision irrigation and fertigation systems apply all the required inputs with maximum efficiency, minimising energy, water and input consumption. Finally, the developed seedlings are then moved to dispatch for delivery to Boomaroo’s growers, fully coordinated to meet their planting program requirements.

Boomaroo is committed to the long-term relationships it fosters with growers. Knowledgeable and experienced team members provide support in variety selection and organic treatment programs as well as collaborating with growers to find solutions for challenges faced on-farm. You can find out more about the organisation values and community work of Boomaroo Nurseries here. Those looking to reach out to the Boomaroo Organics team directly can email organics@boomaroo.com for more information.

AgBiTech Australia Processor

Organic allowed inputs for selective pest control

AgBiTech has been serving the Australian farming community for over 20 years as a supplier of innovative and environmentally safe products for pest control. The company utilises biological control methods, such as baculoviruses, to target specific pests without impacting other species, damaging soil health, mitigating crops or imposing otherwise limiting withholding periods on harvested produce.

The product range includes certified organic allowed inputs, with formulations used to protect a variety of crops including broadacre crops such as maize and sorghum, as well as a wide range of horticultural and specialty crops. At present, AgBiTech products are used most commonly on conventional farms, fitting perfectly into farms with a strong focus on integrated pest management. Despite this, there are plenty of organic farms making use of their products. AgBiTech have estimated that if their products didn’t exist, approximately 2,500 tons (Active Ingredient) of conventional toxic insecticide may have been used on Australian crops instead.

Fawligen, ViVUS Max and ViVUS Armigen are all organic certified and suitable for control of Helicoverpa and Fall Armyworm.

Some AgBiTech products require the company to produce insect viruses in vivo (inside the insect) for the best results. This encompasses mass breeding of caterpillars, before they are infected and their

cadavers used as part of a liquid formulation carrying the baculovirus. The target pests have no resistance to these naturally occurring viruses, making the formulation highly effective.

The company serves more than just Australia, with a laboratory, production plant and global headquarters in Texas, to support growing demand in the United States and Brazil.

Back home, AgBiTech’s Glenvale location in Queensland is used for research & development, with a large quantity of products made onsite ready to be shipped to farms Australia wide. The highly concentrated products are temperature sensitive and must be kept at or below 4 degrees for maximum effectiveness.

For those interested in the AgBiTech range, the company offers a library of resources for all their products. These documents include organic allowed input certification, as well as technical details around emergency use permits, information on withholding periods, material data sheets and much more.

To contact AgBiTech Australia, feel free to visit their website and get in touch with their Toowoomba office via phone or email.

Ashbern Farms Producer

Organic strawberries from Queensland’s Sunshine Coast

Growing hardy, high-quality organic strawberries can be a challenge, but Queensland’s Ashbern Farms have been working hard to meet this market need since first growing organic varieties in 2008.

The business operates from farms in Stanthorpe and the Glass House Mountains, with organic strawberries grown at the latter location across 4.2 hectares of land.

All in all, Ashbern Farms grow approximately 20 per cent organic and 80 per cent conventional strawberries, making them one of the largest suppliers to organic consumers in Queensland, as well as New South Wales and Victoria. A range of local wholesalers including United Organics and Eco-Farms stock Ashbern organic varieties, as well as consumer stores such as Kunara Organic Marketplace in Forest Glen.

Organic strawberries tend to have smaller fruit and leaves than conventional varieties, and can be susceptible to diseases. To combat this, the Ashbern Farms team have worked with entomologists, deploy beneficial insects, and even utilise an innovative bug vacuum to control fruit fly and Rutherglen bugs. Several of these techniques have since been adopted for their conventional strawberry crops too.

When it comes to nutrient density, the Ashbern Farms team have observed excellent nutritional balance in their organic production. Soil health is of high importance with several natural composts utilised and beneficial soil microbes added to enhance plant health. Ashbern’s organic strawberry season begins at the end of May and continues through to October/ November. The fruit is planted in early March and

picking commences in May, with the strawberries at their best during the cooler months when glossy red in appearance, firm and packed with flavour. Strawberries are harvested, packed and dispatched on the same day, with tight controls in place to prevent fruit damage throughout the packing process.

Ashbern Farms are committed to engaging with industry and pushing for registration of inputs across organics. On the whole, the team have noted that organic consumers of their strawberries are very engaged and conscious about growing practices. While organic berries are only grown in the winter months on the Sunshine Coast, Ashbern also operate a conventional strawberry farm in Stanthorpe that operates through summer.

You can visit the Ashbern website to find out more about their organic offering, and make sure you keep an eye out at for their in-season berries at your local organic stockists.

Organica Australia Processor

Natural and certified allowed inputs

The story of Organica Australia began in 1977, when Robert Jack and his family were tending to their flower nursery in Chambers Flat, Queensland. The family had slowly replaced the use of chemicals with their own natural formulations and had seen great results using readily available and ecologically sustainable blends.

From these humble beginnings, Organica soon became a reputable organic business that now serves a wide range of farmers and agricultural enterprises. Robert’s daughter Belinda Grainger is now in charge of the livestock aspect of the family business, where they sell a range of coats and balms to mitigate the impact that insects and other factors can have on livestock health.

Organica Cattle and Pony Coat, as well as Organica De-Horning and Pony Balms, are ACO certified and USDA (NOP) compliant. The coat products act as a deodorant to mask the smells that attract insects to cattle and horses, as well as reducing the stress and irritation caused to the animal as a result of flies and biting insects. The balm products use Australian essential oils and botanical extracts to aid in animal recovery.

All products are manufactured in Brisbane and suitable for use on organic and non-organic certified farms. There is no withholding period (WHP) applicable to any of Organica Australia’s livestock products.

For Belinda, the focus of the business is on serving customers who are looking to avoid chemicals and find sustainable solutions to livestock problems.

“As the industry demand to replace chemicals grew, becoming accredited as an organic provider was a no-brainer for us. A lot of hard work is involved in becoming certified and maintaining that certification, but it has all been well worth it,” said Belinda.

“Organic certification gives the consumer peace of mind around the use of harmful chemicals. It removes that doubt around the possibility of hidden harmful additives that aren’t listed in the ingredients.”

Organica Australia products are in stock across a variety of agriculture stores in Queensland and New South Wales. Wholesale shoppers can also visit the company website to place an order, where products are available in a wide variety of sizes. Proprietors can even register their interest in becoming Organica Australia stockists at this link

CROPS

The Naturalure® baiting system provides long lasting control of all fruit fly species and has been specifically designed to stay moist and attractive for longer.

Its low toxicity, organic formulation makes it safe to use and the low use rates make it easy to apply.

Our 2022 Webinar Series: Climate Change and Organic Agriculture

As the peak industry body for organics in Australia, AOL developed a series of four webinars in 2022 focusing on climate change in organic agriculture. These webinars sought to help organic operators to stay ahead of the sustainability curve, prepare for the future and minimise the potential negative effects of climate change on their business.

Climate change represents numerous future difficulties for the agricultural sector with extreme weather events already costing Australian farms on average $30,000 annually and rising (ABARES). Organic agriculture presents a growing opportunity to mitigate climate change by reducing direct and indirect sources of greenhouse gas emissions through carbon sequestration. Increasing carbon in soil is just one of many ways farmers can tackle climate change.

See below for a summary of all four sessions. A recording of the 22 February session is available at this link, while the other three recordings can by viewed by AOL Members in our Online Portal here

Climate Change and Organic Agriculture 22 February 2022

Topics covered in the session included:

• An Introduction to the AOL Climate Changes series and progression

• Long term Australian and International climatic predictions

• Forecasting predictions and climate tools to help farmers

Climate Change and Organic Viticulture 22 March 2022

Topics covered in the session included:

• Current wine industry emissions breakdown, and how climate change may affect Australian organic wine

• Carbon sequestration and other business change potential in organic wine production

• Opportunities to benefit from the carbon market in organic wine

Climate Change and Organic Livestock 21 June 2022

Topics covered in the session included:

• An overview and breakdown of current livestock greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and how you as an organic business can reduce this

• An update from Meat & Livestock Australia regarding how our industry’s long-term emissions goals are tracking Changes made by Hewitt Cattle to improve drought resilience and reduce GHG emissions.

Climate Change and Organic Cropping 12 September 2022

Topics covered in the session included:

• Research around intercropping and other plantbased solutions for potential sequestration

• Discussions with CSIRO around the scope of the Australian Grains Baseline and Mitigation Assessment report.

• Discussions with GrainGrowers about the Grains Sustainability Framework that has been devised to strengthen sustainability in the grain industry across the decade until 2030.

Organic Gardening in Summer

Vegetable growing when the heat is on!

Just in time for summer, horticulturist Claire Bickle explains how to keep that summer harvest rolling in with a range of well-known veggie favourites that just love the heat and humidity.

BY CLAIRE BICKLE

Claire Bickle is a Brisbane-based Horticulturist with 30 years’ experience. She is passionate about all things horticulture, gardening and sustainability. She is a regular ABC radio presenter, workshop facilitator, educator, writer, speaker and garden tour leader.

Veggie Patch Success 101

Step One

A full sun location and soil preparation are the key to any edible garden success, no matter the season. Start by adding good quantities of organic matter in the form of well-rotted animal manures such as cow, chicken, horse, alpaca or sheep. Compost (home-made or bought) and mushroom compost can be useful. Worm casting are great too; these can be bought in bags or come straight from your own worm farm.

Before and during planting, it’s also important to add fertiliser such as pelletised manure with blood and bone and seaweed extract. Water in well.

Step Two

When it comes to mulching, I find it easiest to do this before planting. Why? Because placing mulch in and around a sea of small delicate seedlings can be quite time consuming. I prefer to just easily create a space in the mulch at planting time. If you’re sowing seeds, sow them first into the bare soil and then just sprinkle a light covering of fine mulch – not too thickly as this will hinder seed germination.

Step Three

After planting, it is always advised to water your seedlings and seeds in with a liquid seaweed and or fish emulsion. This will increase germination rates and reduce transplant shock of newly planted seedlings. Both seaweed and fish emulsion will also help increase beneficial fungi and microbial activity within your soil.

What else?

Fertilising

Liquid fertilising and seaweed applications can be done every 2-4 weeks throughout the growing season. Side dressings of organic fertilisers are required throughout the season to ensure best growth and optimal harvests. If there has been high rainfall, more fertilising will be needed as this will leach nutrients out of the soil profile more quickly than if it is a dry summer.

When to water?

Do not water in the heat of the day – this actually puts more stress on your plants.

Either water early in the morning or late in the afternoon. In saying that, I find it better to water early in the morning. This way, the plants have all day for moisture on the foliage to dry out before the cool of the night. If cucurbits have damp foliage overnight, this encourages fungal diseases like powdery mildew to get a foothold. A variety of blights and fungal issues on vegetables in the Solanaceae family can happen for the same reason.

Why Mulch?

Mulching reduces moisture evaporation from your soil profile, suppresses weeds and slows rainfall, which prevents erosion and helps to maintain an even soil temperature. In simple terms, it acts like a blanket.

The best mulches to use on an edibles garden are sugarcane, lucerne and pea straw. As these mulches break down, they add nutrients and organic matter to the soil profile. Re-mulch as needed

What to plant now?

Sweet Corn: There are many varieties of sweet corn and maize to grow. Remember they need to be planted in a block of around 12 plants minimum for wind pollination to occur and cobs to form. Regular water is key for your cobs to fill out evenly with kernels.

The Cucurbits

Zucchini: Black, yellow, striped, Lebanese and round are just a few of the varieties of zucchini available to the home gardener.

Keep an eye out for blossom end rot. This is where the end of the zucchini rots before fully forming. This can be due to issues with calcium uptake because of inconsistent watering, poor pollination, or even a calcium deficiency. In the latter case, you should add garden lime to treat the issue.

Remember, zucchini flowers are also edible. And for those zucchini that you miss and have turned into mammoths, consider stuffing them instead of trying to eat them as is!

Squash: Yellow, green and white forms of button squash are my favourite. I find squash picked when they are quite small to be more flavoursome. They become quite woody when left to get too large.

Cucumbers: Varieties include bush gherkin pickle, crystal apple, Lebanese, long green, African horned, white, Armenian … the list goes on. Cucumbers can be either grown trailing along the ground or trained up a small trellis.

Melons and Pumpkins: There are many rockmelon, pumpkin and watermelon varieties to choose from. These cucurbits are generally large sprawling vines that grow along the ground, so adequate space is needed for them to grow successfully. I have seen some folks grow them on trellises, but they will need to be sturdy to take the weight of the mature fruit.

All are best planted as seed directly into the garden.

The Solanaceae Family Chilli, Capsicums and Tomatoes: All can be grown in the subtropics throughout the summer. You need to be on the lookout for the Queensland fruit fly attack. These pests love the thin skins of a huge array of our vegetable and fruiting crops. Summer is when they are most prevalent. Protect fruit by placing fruit fly exclusion bags over them as they set, straight after flower drop. You can also hang up fruit traps and apply baits like eco-natralure to nearby shrubs or fencing.

Eggplants: Drought-hardy and easy to grow, the aubergine is an under-utilised vegetable I reckon. Coming in white, purple, pink, yellow, striped, green and red, there’s an eggplant for everyone. Keep an eye out for mites, and if they show up use an organic spray such as eco-oil to keep them in check.

What else can you grow from the ‘Mixed Vegetable Bag’?

Snake beans: Most beans are best grown in autumn and early spring in the subtropics, but the snake bean thrives in the summer heat. You can get dwarf and climbing forms. Plus, red or green bean pods.

Shallots/Spring Onions: These are really year rounders in the subtropics. Apply dolomite or garden lime before planting to ensure the soil pH is slightly sweet.

Rosellas: It’s not too late to get some rosellas in. These are an annual hibiscus shrub growing to 1-1.5m

The flowers are a lovely lemon colour but it’s the fruit that comes afterwards that are the real gems. It’s these leathery red calyx fruit that are turned into jelly and jam when harvesting occurs from late summer and into autumn.

Okra: For those that like okra soup! Now’s the time to pop these guys in. You can get green and burgundy forms and they generally grow 60-100cm tall. Hailing from Ethiopia they are very easy to grow, and it is the pods that are used in many savoury culinary dishes.

Welcome

to our new members!

We are excited to announce that 64 companies became new AOL members between September and November of this year! We look forward to working together to safeguard the future of organics in Australia.

To learn more about the benefits of AOL Membership, please refer to pages 36 and 37. See below for a summary of our new members!

Business name Type Location Website

AgBiTech Pty Ltd Crop Management & Pest Control QLD https://www.agbitech.com/

Aika Wellness Skincare products VIC https://aikawellness.com/

Airofresh Intl Pty Ltd Atmosphere Control Units Purifier SA https://www.airofreshintl.com/

Ashbern Farms Pty Ltd Strawberry producer QLD https://www.ashbernfarms.com.au/

Barambah Organics Dairy products QLD https://www.barambahorganics.com.au/

Bardee Insect breeding and fertilisers VIC https://www.bardee.com/

Bendele Farm Organic Poultry Poultry producer & abbatoir QLD

BH Fine Foods Food product wholesaler VIC http://bhfinefoods.com.au/

Biobean Coffee Coffee roasting & products WA https://biobeancoffee.com.au/

Biosota Organics Pty Ltd Honey products QLD https://biosota.com.au/

Botany Honey Company Bee products NSW

Britt’s Danish Delight tLtd Bakery products QLD https://brittsorganic.com.au/

Byron Bush Food Horticulture & Davidson plums NSW https://www.byronbushfood.com.au/

Cantrill Organics Cherry cropping NSW https://www.cantrillorganics.com.au/

Cassa Biotec Pty Ltd Crop fertilisers, soil amendments VIC https://www.cassaagritec.com/

CM, JC & DM Schutt Beef producer QLD

Cobram Estate Olives Olive oil products VIC https://redisland.com/

Coffee Capsule Company Coffee packing products NSW www.madcoffeecapsules.com.au

Coles Group Retailer NSW https://www.colesgroup.com.au/home/

Eden Health Foods Supplement products NSW https://www.edenhealthfoods.com.au/

Empirical Health Chinese medicine products NSW https://empiricalhealthshop.com.au/

General Organic Pty Ltd Alcoholic beverage products NSW https://ursavodka.com.au/

Green Grove Organics Confectionery products NSW www.juneelicoriceandchocolate.com/

Grosset Wines Wine processing SA https://www.grosset.com.au/

H.J. Heinz Echuca Baby products manufacturing VIC https://www.heinz.com.au/

H.J Langdon & Co Food & beverage ingredients VIC https://www.hjlangdon.com/

Imaginelle Pty Ltd Cosmetic contract manufacturing NSW https://www.imaginelle.com.au/

Jexbay Pty Ltd Fruit & vegetable growers NSW https://jexbay.com.au/

Business name Type Location Website

JJ & JA McClure Grain & sheep producer NSW

Little Bunya Organics Ginger & turmeric producer QLD

Loom Wine Group Wine processing SA https://loomwine.com/

Maretai Organics Ingredients wholesaler QLD https://store.maretai.com.au/

Minor Figures Pty Ltd Plant-based milk products VIC https://au.minorfigures.com/

Moss Brothers Wine processing WA https://mossbrotherswines.com.au/

Mulgowie Farming Vegetable cropping QLD https://www.mulgowie.com.au/

Natural Raw C Coconut products NSW https://rawc.com.au/

Noego Coffee Co Coffee roasting & products QLD https://noego.com.au/

Whole Kids Baby food products VIC https://www.wholekids.com.au/

NSM Foods Ingredients & food wholesaler VIC https://nsm.com.au/

Nufarm Australia Ltd Crop management & pest control VIC https://nufarm.com/au/

NutraDry Ltd Powdered ingredient processing QLD https://nutradry.com.au/

Organic Commodities Food ingredients wholesaler NSW http://www.organic-commodities.com.au/

Organic Trader Superfood products NSW https://powersuperfoods.com.au/

Pawsome Organics Pet products WA https://www.pawsomeorganics.com.au/

Natures Basket Spices & oil ingredient products VIC https://www.naturesbasket.co.in/index.aspx

Word of Mouth Wines Wine cropping & processing NSW https://wordofmouthwines.com.au/

Planet Organic Co. Tea products QLD https://planetorganic.com.au/

Plunkett Orchards Storage & packing fruits VIC http://plunkettorchards.com.au/

Ferndale Cert Organics Beef & swine producer VIC

SPC Ardmona Operations Food products VIC https://spc.com.au/ Sustainable Ventures Crop fertilisers & soil amendments WA https://sustainablefarming.com.au/ Tea Too Pty Ltd Tea products VIC https://www.t2tea.com/en/au

The Australian Carob Co. Carob cropping & processing SA https://www.australiancarobs.com/

The Bee Well Organic Co. Honey products NSW www.thebeewellorganiccompany.com.au

The Giving Farm Horticulture & poultry/eggs NSW https://thegivingfarm.com.au

The Healthy Chef Supplement products NSW https://thehealthychef.com/

Raw Honey Beekeeping & honey products VIC

Nature’s Harvest Beverage products WA https://mynaturesharvest.com.au/

Tropeaka Supplement products NSW https://tropeaka.com.au/

Mocopan Coffee Coffee products VIC https://mocopan.com.au/

Urban Forager Stock concentrate products WA https://urbanforager.com.au/

Vanessa Megan Skincare products NSW https://www.vanessamegan.com/

William Smith & Sons Apple cropping & processing TAS https://www.williesmiths.com.au/ Zilzie Wines Wine cropping & processing VIC https://www.zilziewines.com/

Why Join Australian Organic Limited?

Together we are stronger

AOL has united a growing community of certified organic operators. Together, we work to promote and protect the maturing organic sector. We have been representing our members for 35 years and we invite you to join us to have your say in shaping the future of the organic industry. When you join Australian Organic Limited, we provide you with:

• A direct voice to government to address our industry’s greatest challenges and opportunities

• Industry research and resources to help position your business for success

• Marketing support through industry awareness & promotional campaigns

What are the benefits of becoming a member?

As a member of this dynamic industry you will receive exclusive access to the below benefits, and so much more.

Australian Organic Market Report

Complimentary copy of the most recent Australian Organic Market Report to develop your business strategy.

Australian Organic Awareness Month

Exclusive discounts to be a part of Australia’s largest campaign celebrating certified organic products every September.

Industry Awards & Wine Awards

Free submission to the highly respected annual Industry Awards and Wine Awards, and discount tickets to attend the event.

Exclusive member portal

Access to a range of resources, publications and webinar recordings.

Marketing & Sponsorship Opportunities

Access to discounted marketing and sponsorship opportunities to reach over 6,000 Bud Organic Club members and 120,000 social media followers.

Monthly Member & CEO Update

Access the most recent industry news and updates relevant to the organic industry, including a regular email from our CEO.

Conference, Forums & Networking Events

Access to discounted tickets for events to educate and connect the industry, foster growth and innovation.

Advisory Committees

Opportunity to represent and advocate for your sector on advisory committees, as well as contributing to submissions.

The Australian Certified Organic Bud certification logo is the most recognised organic trust mark amongst Australian shoppers and has been so for over a decade.

The most effective way to address critical business and support the industry is by

critical issues facing your organic by joining Australian Organic Limited

Australian Organic Limited continues to invest Industry Development Levys (IDLs) and membership fees through progressing the organic industry by the following key activities:

• Government Advocacy: AOL continually advocates on behalf of the certified organic industry by working with government on key industry issues such as organic domestic regulation, market access, biosecurity and relevant industry matters.

• Promote Consumer Awareness: AOL continues to educate consumers on the benefits of organic and the importance of checking for certification marks through the Bud Organic Club website, newsletter and social media platforms. AOL has also established Australian Organic Awareness Month, the nation’s largest campaign to promote the benefits of organic produce.

• Engage with Federal & State Government: AOL continues to develop relationships with Ministers, Departments and key industry partners such as the National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) and the Australian Food & Grocery Council (AFGC).

• Research & Development: AOL, through the strategic direction of our board and advisory committees, engage key research and industry bodies to work towards establishing further organic oriented Australian agricultural research.

• Provide Market Analysis: AOL invests in consumer and commercial research by supplying data and information to support trade negotiations.

• Lobby ACCC on “fake organic” products: AOL works with the ACCC on misleading claims and has successfully negotiated the inclusion of the National Standard for Organic & Biodynamic Produce on the ACCC website and has been appointed a position on the ACCC Agricultural Consultative Committee.

• Assist Organic Importers: AOL has driven significant outcomes for organic importers regarding mandatory biosecurity changes relating to seeds and khapra beetle through fostering strong relationships with federal and state Biosecurity teams.

• Support Export Opportunities: AOL contributes on export by providing the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade input into Free Trade Agreements, collaborating with international industry counterparts and maintaining an export website Trade Organic and masterclass program that provides resources on organic exports and international markets.

• Educate New Generations: AOL manages the Australian Organic Schools Program to encourage learning about organic principles and practices in Australian schools.

Become a member today and join the strongest voice to support your organic business. Contact Marie Deletoille | E: marie.deletoille@austorganic.com | T: 07 3350 5716

40% of shoppers indicated they woud avoid purchasing an organic product if it did not display a certification mark1

63% of shoppers recognise the Australian Certified Organic Bud certification logo (up from 51% in 2019)2

1, 2 Australian Organic Consumer Trust Survey 2022

How do we use our member funds?