Export openings if organic farming gets its act together

Press, 31 October 1986, Page 21

Export openings if organic farming gets its act together

By

TESSA WARD

New Zealand’s organic farming research stands on a par with California’s. That is one conclusion Bob Crowder, a senior lecturer in horticulture at Lincoln College, drew from the recent sixth international scientific conference on organic farming at Santa Cruz. It was organised by the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (1.F.0.A.M.).

Mr Crowder, who is in charge of the Lincoln College experimental organic horticultural unit, says that California, renowned for developing the best in many fields of conventional agriculture, yields a disappointing score for organic farming advances. “California has a few publicly sponsored organic farm research projects but they have been running for only about two years,” he says. “It takes about 6 to 8 years to be sure that the organic methods used are maintaining the soil productivity and quality. “In this respect, the organic research unit at Lincoln College, begun 10 years ago, has a head start. We are further down the track, for example, with developing labour-saving techniques and technology.” In about 10 years time, the environmentally conscious portion of the Californian population will probably want to ensure that the food they eat is not produced by conventional farming methods, Bob Crowder says.

“People will not be willing to risk consuming the range of chemicals that can be found in California’s conventionally produced foods in spite of the assurances from health authorities that they are safe to eat. The soils are steadily being polluted more and more by toxic chemicals and already people are warned against drinking the water in parts of the vast central valley food basket.”

New Zealand has therefore a growing opportunity to sell organically grown food to the large Californian population. “Most of the organic farmers in California are steering clear of producing the more common foods that conventional farmers are producing at competitive prices. Instead, the organic farmers are trying to earn high prices with gimmicky foods like miniature salad vegetables or selling their food in states that pay higher prices.

“I would have thought that

with such a huge Californian market to tap with organic produce there would have been a slick marketing network developed to meet this demand. But the organic farming network is just as muddled and disorganised as we are in New Zealand.”

Some of the organic farms that Bob Crowder visited do not meet the Biogrow standards of organic production adhered to by most New Zealand organic growers, he says. “Most of the organic farms tend to be on marginal land in California. If organic farming was tried in the more productive areas, the farmers would have to wait longer for all the toxic residues to leach out of the soil and they would face the problem of a contaminated water supply.

“When these soil and water pollution problems really start to affect the localities of the people in power I think there will be a major switch to eating food produced by genuine . organic methods and California will not be ready to meet the demand. Health authorities say that certain low levels of various chemicals are acceptable in food we eat.

“But by the time you have ingested the variety of chemical elements found in conventionally produced food you have really consumed quite a level of toxic poisons. There has been little research to date into the reactions of the body to this combination of chemicals and, of course, little research into the environment’s reaction to them.” Several illnesses that cannot be satisfactorily explained by the medical profession could well have their origin in toxic chemicals present in food and the environment, Bob Crowder says.

“Pebple are not always going to trust the assurances from scientists and health authorities that the body’s tolerence levels and the environment are able to cope with all these chemicals.”

New Zealand has the chance to help lead the way in giving people and the environment the benefit of the doubt rather than the chemicals used in conventional farming, he adds. "Europe and the eastern states of the United States are already showing the way but, unlike New Zealand, they face major problems of past chemical residue build-up. We have the chance to help show the world how to farm correctly as part of ensuring that life continues unpolluted on this planet.” Agricultural research needs to change its emphasis from reaching higher levels of productivity to achieving and perfecting farming methods that sustain rather than increasingly pollute the environment.

“There needs to be a different ideological approach to farming to replace the purely economic approach with people trying to obtain a true understanding of how we can live in harmony with the total environment without abusing it. This in itself can only make sound economic sense.” Bob Crowder says that an adherence to. this kind of new ideology would help avoid the development of “watered down” organic farming where food is produced using a mixture of organic and conventional farming methods, including chemical sprays.

One way in which 1.F.0.A.M. can help prevent this happening extensively is to develop an international certification for traded organic produce. “This means that organic farmers would have to adhere to important growing principles if they want to export their produce. 'lt will help avoid any dishonesty creeping into the marketing of organic food to people who want to eat food that is genuinely organic. “The farming methods used would not only enhance and sustain the environment but also help maintain a vigorous rural community.”

Soils more polluted

Farms on marginal land

N.Z. can lead the way

New approach needed

International certification