transitions to biological farming
Organic, spray-free, organically grown, certified organic, biodynamic, free range, pastured, regenerative, agro-ecological, carbon friendly….
……the farming community draws upon a myriad of terms to communicate the values embedded in their food production systems. But what do they all mean, how do Tasmanian producers find the right fit, and how can productivity and landscape function be supported during the transition from conventional to biological farming? Organic certification is a well established, formal mechanism of assurance but it is one of many verification methods now available for Tasmanian producers.
Organic certification is a long standing system for validating that certain environmental and human health impacts are managed or avoided during food production. If produce is certified organic, you can be reasonably confident it is grown without the use of synthetic fertilisers, chemical sprays and is GMO free. However, in Australia we do not enforce adherence to Australian standards for imported organic produce certified under international schemes. Across the global market, each organic certification standard is different and incorporates various input restrictions and allowances. Therefore, what organic means in one country, may not necessarily be the same as organic in another.
While rigorous farm practice management plans and audits are commonplace in organic certification requirements, new standards and frameworks are becoming available that are preferring verifications that are outcome oriented rather than process driven. For instance, the Ecological Outcome Verification framework developed by the Savory Institute provides assurance of ecological function improvement for producers pursuing Land to Market – regenerative agriculture – certification. The framework monitors outcomes in biodiversity, water, soil health, and ecosystem function (i.e. water cycle, mineral cycle, energy flow, and community dynamics). Land to Market Certification requires measured positive trends in land regeneration and ecosystem health indicators over time as assessed through field and laboratory monitoring. There are many choices to be made when considering how you would like to communicate your growing principles, which certification pathways are the right fit, and whether certification is the right pathway for your enterprise.
Frequently in our direct to market, customer facing producer community, certification is considered an unnecessary step. Small farmers frequently participate in discussions about their production methods with their customers, and their principles are regularly drawn upon to communicate their points of product differentiation. These producers are trusted by their customers through their direct, face-to-face relationships and reputations. In these cases where trust is established without the need for external, third party verification, it is not without its own form of self-regulation. If claims are misaligned with expectations or outright dishonest, the community has a tendency to set them to rights. Furthermore, all environmental and health claims must be verifiable under consumer law.
There is no one-size-fits-all pathway, but information helps. Whether you’re exploring certification, verification, direct marketing, or simply refining your production system, understanding your values and your market is an important place to start.
Sprout Tasmania has been engaged by the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania to develop resources to guide farmers pursuing biological production methods and market access. We look forward to sharing these resources with our farming community in the future.
Funded through the Tasmanian Government, Department of Natural Resources and Environment.
Contact for more information: Dominique Bowen Butchart – dom@sprout.org.au
