Experiences then opinions
In New Zealand we have at least 3 certification systems: BioGro (IOFOAM linked)
Demeter (Biodynamic) and Codex. All of them are certification of methods of
production. That is it is not only possible, but highly likely that a
cauliflower, grown under certified conditions will sit in the shop for a
week(mainly because the cost is much higher than conventionally produced
cauliflowers) with its sticker on, looking yellow and limp, doing no-one any
good!
A number of Maori farmers in Northland became keen on organics, and finding that
"organic certification" was only a fairly costly way of getting someone else to
check on methods they had paid the cost and developed themselves. They got
talking to their Indian first nation bro's in North America who said how about
we trade on ethical terms. We will sell your product as organic on the basis of
your word and the implied trust that we have as first nation brothers and
sisters.
A number of our organic kiwifruit growers, who have been right royally shafted
by the monopoly single desking selling system we have in New Zealand (who see
organics as competitive with their IPM Kiwigreen label) are now asking the
question and doing the talking of finding out what the market actually wants in
terms of organic product. Is it certification of a method of productions, is it
an audit trail of food safety etc etc etc.
Let us ask the very fundamental questions:
What does the consumer want and how can we produce it at the cheapest possible
price (ie maximise market return.) Goddamit we live in a real world where,
whether we like it or not, we are trading food. Lets be realistic and harness
our principles to market realities.
The role of goverment? Organic growers are essentially a minority group battling
huge discrimination by players at all levels. They claim that what they are
doing has enviromental benefits and, more particularly implications for the
relationship between agriculture and health. Moreover they claim that the real
costs of environmental and public health will be significantly reduced by the
application of their methods of food production.
Is their not then a need to remind governments of their democratic duty (1) to
support the concerns of minority groups and establish with them a framework for
certification that informs their market of their claims and researchs their
validity. (2) Critically evaluate the claims re agriculture and public health -
and yes when objectivally analysed I believe that their is overwhelming evidence
for the case of the organic minority.
Then it should be behoven upon all of us to work in the public good to ensure
that everyone has access to healthy food at an affordable price. When all is
said and done (and at the moment their is still much more saying than doing)
when regenerative food production becomes conventional, the organic market will
have been fully realised.
Humusly
Alfred Harris
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