Ecological Farming 2 13

ecology
No 2 // June 2013
SOS Save Our Seeds
Growth in the American organic sector
AND
Sustainable Cocoa production and market
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JUNE 2013 // No 2
Table of Con tents

MARKET 36 The global market for organic food and non- food production Calculating the value of organic chains. GMO 39 GMO Safety Issues based on Science standards 46 The Organic Standard education 48 A birthplace for social innovation The Social Innovation Centre at Heliopolis University for Sustainable Development.
safety issues
MARKET
photo impression 28 Doug Tompkins Laguna Blanca COuNtRY pROFILE 30 The UKs Signs of revival.
in The american organic sector

Strong growth and new challenges in the USA. COuNtRY pROFILE 14 Springbockvley
10 Growth
organic market And more....

Editorial 7 Calendar 51
Namibia
farming MARKET
Farm,
Opinion
The efficiency of low input livestock
a Communication Strategy for the Organic Sector
33 Developing
20 Cocoa Where does your chocolate come from? agro biodiversity 24 SOS save our seeds The Global Seed Alliance.
Certification body Inspection and certification of products, systems and services Drafting of standards Training
FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
A WORLDWIDE NETWORK OF EXPERTS

Name and seal recognized by authorities and consumers Expert in organic farming and inputs, food quality and safety, fair trade, organic cosmetics, organic textiles, carbon balance, social responsibility
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introduction
Denise Godinho Peter Brul
Best practices, beautiful farms

How can organic farming help to feed a growing world population and remain a sustainable form of agriculture? This was one of the interesting discussions that emerged from the IFOAM working group on best practices in organic agriculture. The publication on best practices will soon be available and you will be able to read more about it in the coming editions. There are very different solutions for solving the big challenges facing agriculture. Monsanto, for example, has a quite different approach for tackling problems and developing agriculture. Their strategy is aggressive since it threatens other more sustainable ways of developing agriculture. More than two million people around the world have just shown that they are angry and worried by marching against Monsanto. Elsewhere in this issue Andr Leu, the President of IFOAM, summarises the scientific findings about the potential health effects of consuming GMOs. This issue covers other activist topics. Jozef Fincke, an organic farmer in Ireland, invites us to develop a more successful communication strategy for organic agriculture. I agree with him that we can and should do much more in this field. In our opinion one of the best strategies for this is to show the results of best practices in organic farming world wide. Another activist article, a call to save our seeds, comes from Bernward Geier. While citizens may protest and demand food labelling, so they can choose the food they want (or dont want) and a food production system they want. But the organic sector can work together with others on Peter Brul People working in the organic movement are often inspired by good and beautiful farms. But another source of inspiration is the continuous development of the organic sector and the market for organic produce. In these difficult economic times in the main markets for organic products, the USA and Europe, the markets continue to grow. New ways are continually found to make links between producers and consumers. In this issue you will find reports about the world market, (worth 70 billion US dollars last year), and market developments in the USA, the UK and for cocoa. All hopeful stories! good agricultural practices with a wide range of (local) resilient varieties. Exchanging and developing seeds is one way to do this. Best practice not only involves good yields, quality food and a diverse and clean environment. It is also about beauty. That is the message of Doug Tomkins, who was interviewed in the previous edition. Now we show you some more pictures of this beautiful farm. We hope they inspire you!
ECOLOGY & FARMING | 2-2013
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// 2 million protesters marched against the biotech mulitinational Monsanto.

The March Against Monsanto was organised on May 25 in 436 cities, in 52 countries. Around 200,000 people were expected to rally against Monsanto, but more than two million took part in the day of action campaign.
News
As readers of Ecology & Farming might know, Monsanto is accused of aggressively pushing the introduction of genetically modified crops, manipulating research and political decisions about consumer rights and denying the rights of farmers to reproduce seeds. They are accused of routinely denying any health and environmental risks. March Against Monsanto , a small group in the USA, took the initiative to raise awareness about the lack of action from the US and other national governments. The initiative developed into a global campaign and demonstration with over two million people protesting. March Against Monsanto Director Nick Bernabe: What were trying to do is raise awareness about GMOs and the health effects that theyre causing and bring about some solutions as to what people can do to take back control over their food supply, In March 2013 the U.S. Congress passed a biotechnology rider which was dubbed the Monsanto Protection Act . The legislation effec-
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5/28/13
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tively allows Monsanto and other corporations that use GMOs to plant and sell genetically altered products even if legal action is being taken against them. Effectively this means that the U.S. Congress has given Monsanto (and others) a carte blanche to largely ignore the countrys judiciary. According to Food & Water Watch, the relationship between Monsanto and the U.S. government extends even beyond Congress and the Supreme Court. They claim that WikiLeaks has uncovered communications from the U.S State Department that actively lobbies foreign governments to adopt pro-agricultural biotechnologylegislation, seeks to improve the image of biotechnology and challenges commonsense biotechnology safeguards and rules. This lobbying also extended to foodlabellinglaws in Europe and other countries. Monsanto is quite tough, but so it seems are its opponents. A German newspaper (Sddeutsche Zeitung) recently reported that a spokesman of Monsanto has declared that they will stop lobbying in Europe, due to lack of support for GMOs among farmers, citizens and politicians.
More information can be found on March Against Monsantos website: www.march-against-monsanto.com Link: http://tile.openstreetmap.org/2/1/1.pngAs
Growth in the American organic sector

Barbara Fitch Haumann
Strong growth and new challenges in the USA
In October 2012, the U.S. Department of Agricultures (USDAs) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) published the results of its first survey focused exclusively on certified organic production throughout the nation.
10 2-2013 | ECOLOGY & FARMING
OF ORGANIC PRODUCTS
$35 BILLION
ORGANIC FOOD AND FARMING GENERATES
REAC HED
OVER
GENERATED BY CERTIFIED
BILLION IN FARM-GATE SALES IN 2011
IN U.S. PRODUCTION AT FARM-GATE VALUES
OF U.S. FAMILIES ARE
81%
ORGANIC
BUYING
16%
MORE THAN A HALF MILLION AMERICAN JOBS
ORGANIC APPLE MORE THAN
FARMS, RANCHES, EXPORTS 17,750 ORGANIC AND BUSINESSES IN TRIPLED IN 2012 CERTIFIED THE UNITED STATES FIBER PRODUCTS, SUCH AS CLOTHING, LINENS, AND MATTRESSES, ACCOUNT FOR THE
LARGEST SHARE OF THE
$2.5 BILLION ORGANIC NON-FOOD MARKET
42% TRUST IN THE USDA ORGANIC SEAL

OF PARENTS REPORT THEIR
HAS INCREASED
10% ORGANIC
30%
OVER
OF ALL FRUIT AND VEGETABLES
SOLD TO U.S. CONSUMERS ARE
T WO U.S. ORGANIC EQUIVALENCY ARRANGEMENTS

IN 2012, THE ORGANIC INDUSTRY GREW BY
WITH CANADA AND THE EU EXPAND GLOBAL MARKETS
TEN PERCENT
Organic is an important part of the diverse U.S. agricultural landscape. The Organic Trade Association represents over 6,500 farmers, ranchers, handlers, processors, distributors, and retailers across the organic supply chain. Learn more at OTA.COM
help refine federal crop insurance offerings for organic producers. The findings showed that U.S. certified organic growers sold more than $3.5 billion worth of organically grown agricultural commodities in 2011. This total of farm-gate sales means that the organic sector would rank as the fifth largest commodity class in the United States, and is larger than peanuts and cotton combined. Thus, as pointed out by the Organic Trade Association (OTA), this means that there is a very good case for the organic sector having a seat at the table when agricultural policy is decided by policy makers in Washington, D.C. According to the survey, certified organic farmers and ranchers sold more than $2.2 billion in organically grown agricultural commodities and more than $1 billion in livestock products in 2011. The 9,140 U.S. certified organic farms generated $1.1 billion in farm-gate sales of vegetables and $494.8 million in sales of fruits, including $122.2 million for certified organic apples and $160.6 million for certified organic grapes. Organic berries
OVER
OF PARENTS BUY ORGANIC TO AVOID TOXIC PESTICIDES AND FERTILIZERS
ASS conducted the survey for USDAs Risk Management Agency to
accounted for $125.3 million in farm sales. The states with the most certified organic farms were California (1,898), Wisconsin (870), New York (597), Washington (493) and Iowa (467). Wisconsin led the nation in organic field crop acreage, with 110,000 acres harvested in 2011, followed by New York, with more than 97,000 acres and California, with more than 91,000 acres.
Stronger enforcement in the NOP
The average sales per organic farm worked out to be $414,726, compared with the $134,807 average for all farms taking part in the 2007 U.S. Census of Agriculture. Sales of certified organic livestock products included $765 million for
RANKS
ORGANIC
IN 2012 U.S. CONSUMER SALES
$3.5 ORGANIC GROWERS
$$
FOURTH FOOD/FEED CROP
Country profile
OF THE ORGANIC MARKET IS DAIRY
organic milk, $276 million for eggs, and $115 million for chicken. The survey also asked certified farms where their products were marketed. Eighty-one per cent of sales were through the wholesale market, 13 per cent of sales were made directly to retailers and the remaining 6 per cent concerned direct sales to consumers. With added staff in the past few years, USDAs National Organic Program (NOP) announced in September 2012 that it had suspended the organic certifications of 200 operations and revoked six so far that year. It also issued seven penalties, worth a total of $80,000, for wilful violations of national organic regulations. NOP has explained that a suspended operation may not sell or represent its products as USDA Organic until it is reinstated in writing by NOP. A revoked operation or a person responsible for a revoked operation may not obtain certification for a period of five years. Driven by consumer demand, the U.S. organic industry grew by 9.5 per cent overall in 2011 (or $2.5 billion) to reach $31.5 billion in sales. Of this, the organic
ECOLOGY & FARMING | 2-2013 11
The White House report notes rapid growth in the U.S. organic industry, echoing a report released by OTA in April, which showed that the organic food food and beverage sector was valued at $29.22 billion, while the organic non-food sector reached $2.2 billion, according to findings from the Organic Trade Associations (OTAs) 2012 Organic Industry Survey. Overall growth outpaced that among comparable conventionally produced food and non-food items, which experienced 4.7 per cent growth in the same year. Organic food sales experienced 9.4 per cent growth in 2011. The easing of the recession, consumer price inflation due to increases in input prices and consumers increasing desire for convenience products were all contributory factors. The fruit and vegetable category contributed close to 50 per cent of those new dollars, although the fastest-growing sector was the meat, fish & poultry category, which posted 13 per cent growth, but still remains the smallest of the eight organic food categories. Organic food sales now represent 4.2 per cent of all U.S. food sales, up from 4 per cent in 2010. Meanwhile, organic nonfood sales experienced a strong 11 per cent growth, compared to 5 per cent for comparable non-organic items. Prospects for 2012 and 2013, as indicated through the 2012 survey results, indicate that organic food and non-food sales will continue to sustain growth levels of nine per cent or more. In June 2012, the Obama Administration released a report on rural communities and businesses highlighting the tremendous value of the organic sector in the nations diverse agricultural economy. The report, prepared by the Council of Economic Advisers, the White House Rural Council and USDA, pointed to numerous examples of how organic agriculture and trade are expanding opportunities for agricultural production.
The report also compared the economic value that would be generated by conventional and organic farms in the two states if both experienced the same hypothetical level of increased sales. Under this scenario, organic dairy farms in Vermont could be expected to contribute 33 per cent more to the states economy than conventional farms, and employ 83 per cent more workers. Similarly, in Minne-
Market growth continues at almost 10% p .a.
sota, organic dairies would increase the states economy by 11 per cent more and employment by 14 per cent more than conventional dairy farms. Consumer demand for organic dairy products has jumped dramatically over the past decade, with emerging research
industry generated more than 500,000 American jobs in 2010. Organic dairy and fresh produce, which are the two largest organic product categories, were specifically highlighted for their central roles in creating opportunities for farmers and ranchers, and helping rural businesses become more competitive. In addition, a report by the Union of Concerned Scientists, released in midNovember 2012 once more confirmed that the organic dairy sector provides more economic opportunities and generates more jobs in rural communities than conventional dairies. The first-of-its-kind study, Cream of the Crop: The Economic Benefits of Organic Dairy Farms, calculated the economic value of organic milk production based on 2008-2011 financial data from Vermont and Minnesota, two major milk-producing states. Over the past 30 years, dairy farmers have had a choice: either get big or get out. Dairy farmers either had to expand dramatically and become large industrial operations or they went out of business, said Jeffrey OHara, agricultural economist for the Food and Environment Program at UCS and author of the report. However, organic dairy production offers farmers another option one that is better for the environment, produces a healthier product, and leads to greater levels of economic activity.
showing that well-managed organic dairy farms are less harmful to the environment than conventional dairies, and that the milk produced may be better for human health. Organically raised cows graze on pasture during the growing season, eat organically grown feed, and are not treated with synthetic hormones or antibiotics. Meanwhile, the Organic Farming Research Foundation released a sciencebased, peer-reviewed report extolling the multiple societal benefits of organic farming in North America. The report, entitled Organic Farming for Health and Prosperity, also outlines policy recommendations to support the expansion of organic farming in the United States. One of the biggest challenges for the organic industry during the year was the unresolved outlook for a new farm bill. Although the U.S. Senate approved its version of a new farm bill last summer, the House of Representatives never voted on it. As a result, provisions in the 2008 Farm Bill expired in September 30, 2012. In the waning hours of 2012, U.S. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky and Vice President Joe Biden negotiated a nine-month extension of the 2012 Farm Bill which was attached to the complex fiscal cliff legislation, known as the American Taxpayer Relief Act. This legislation passed the Senate early
An audacious goal
USDAs strategic plan aims to have 2,719 additional U.S. farms and businesses certified to its organic regulations by 2015, reaching a goal of on January 1st, with the House of Representatives approving it less than 20 hours later. While this passage brought general taxpayer relief, the organic sector was not so fortunate. The Farm Bill Extension Measure (going through to the end of September 2013) slashed essential organic programmes including organic data collection, organic research and extension, and partial reimbursement to farmers for certification costs. It also eliminated any investments in the future of rural communities, family farming and organic farming. Smaller, targeted programmes that invest in proven strategies to create rural jobs, revitalise rural communities and initiatives to foster a new generation of family farmers and ranchers were completely absent from the final farm bill extension. The eleventh hour deal also prevented farmers and ranchers from being able to improve soil and water conservation through enrolling in the Conservation Stewardship Program in 2013. Thus, in 2013, work must begin anew on a full five-year farm bill. Such legislation will need to work its way back through committee stages and onto the floors of both House and Senate prior to being enacted into law. Meanwhile, for U.S. farmers, whether organic or not, 2012 will be remembered as the year of severe drought. A telling indication of the droughts impact on organic farmers was reflected in the temporary derogations issued by USDAs National Organic Program to address the problems that organic producers had in meeting requirements for at least 30 per cent of dry matter intake for ruminants (cattle, sheep and goats) to come from organic pastures. The severe drought led USDA to designate approximately 2.200 U.S. counties The U.S. organic industry continues to discuss a possible sector-wide organic research and promotion programme (ORPP). The OTA has been facilitating the process, hosting numerous in-person and online meetings with the goal of reaching an industry-wide decision on whether this is a viable option. The goal of such a programme would be to offer a collective industry solution to distinguish organic products in the marketplace, increase demand, and educate consumers about the wide range of benefits of purchasing organic products. There are currently numerous commodity ORPPs in the USA, most notably those promoting milk, beef and eggs. These are industry funded but are administered by the government. Several technical legislative fixes are required in order for the organic industry to even have the option of pursuing an ORPP. The organic sector is not recogas primary natural disaster areas and approximately 390 other counties as contiguous disaster areas. USDA granted temporary derogations for organic ruminant livestock producers in counties declared as primary or contiguous natural disaster areas and with non-irrigated pastures. These derogations allowed organic farmers in these designated disaster counties to supply just 15 per cent of their dry matter intake (on average) from certified organic pasture for the remainder of 2012. 20,000 U.S. organic operations. Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Kathleen Merrigan said in a video address given at the autumn 2012 meeting of the US National Organic Standards Board that this is an audacious goal, but if everyone does their part to help organic farmers and ranchers and processors, we believe we will cross that finish line.).
Country profile
nised as a distinct commodity class, as it covers a wide range of commodities. This means that the organic sector would not qualify for a promotional programme such as the existing ones. The legislation would require amending the current ORPPs so that organic products are recognised as a commodity class. The OTA has begun to pursue solutions to these issues, but it is up to the entire organic sector whether to pursue such a programme. It is evident that there is a need for additional research into organic agriculture and more consumer education about the benefits of organic food and farming. During 2012, several research reports added to consumer confusion as the media and the framework offered by researchers claimed that organic products were no more nutritious than conventional counterparts, even though the studies cited actually revealed numerous benefits associated with organic agriculture and products. For example, a review article published in September in the Annals of Internal Medicine by Stanford University researchers confirmed that consuming organic foods reduces consumers exposure to pesticide residues and to bacteria resistant to antibiotics. In addition, a clinical reportpublished online in October by the American Academy of Pediatrics highlighted the many attributes of organic foods and provided guidance to parents confused by conflicting marketing messages about making healthy food choices for their children. The OTA hailed the report as a major milestone for the organic sector and confirmation of the significance of the benefits of organic food. OTA noted that the science cited in this report points firmly towards the positive aspects of organic farming, and provides many reasons for purchasing organic foods.
Barbara Fitch Haumann is Senior Editor/Writer with the Organic Trade Association e mail bhaumann@ota.com
13
The efficiency of low input livestock farming
Springbockvley Farm, Namibia

running of the farm in 2004. In January 2013 Ekkehard sadly passed away after an accident. Since then Judith has been running the farm on her own, with four permanent employees, each of whom is responsible for managing one of the four flerds, a combined flock of sheep and herd of cattle. This article describes the operation until 2012. In the past few months Judith has introduced several changes to herd compositions and water supply, but all these changes are based upon the planning, monitoring and management processes described below. Animals and Infrastructure imitating nature A year after taking over the farm Ekkehard started to implement the principles of Holistic Management, focussing on
Ekkehard Klbs, Judith Isele & Wiebke Volkmann
kkehard Klbs took over the farming business from his parents in 1989, with his wife Judith Isele joining the
14
2-2013 | ECOLOGY & FARMING
Country profile
The grazing and watering habits commnent of the sheep and cows are complementary, allowing a higher livestock density
Springbockvley Farm is located 180 km southeast of the Namibian capital Windhoek. Situated on the western edge of the Kalahari dune landscape, but in almost completely flat countryside, it covers 9,500 hectares of predominantly red sand and partially limestone soils, mainly covered with open grassland, with some shrubs and trees. The long-term average annual rainfall at Springbockvley is 260 mm, although this has varied between 70 mm and 680 mm in the last seven years.
15
the financial and grazing aspects. He combined herds and flocks into flerds and started to move them around, following a time plan based around the quantity and quality of fodder available in each area or camp as well as considering the time that plants need to recover after having been grazed. In planning this rotation he took into account the nutritional needs of the animals at different times of the year so as to optimise their condition and production. Now there are three big cells of 16 to 17 camps each, (containing up to 2000 sheep and 300 cattle). In the fourth cell, 11 camps close to the farmyard are grazed by a smaller flerd of around 500 sheep and 100 cattle. The farm has 17 water points (reservoirs and troughs) each of which serves 4 5 camps. There are 7 boreholes (5 25 m deep), all of which are wind-powered (no engines are used on the farm). The water gravitates along approximately 25 km of pipeline from the central reservoirs at the boreholes to the other water points. The 40 mm plastic pipes are buried into the Kalahari sand and are almost maintenance free. Alongside the cattle and sheep, approximately 350 springbuck, 100 oryx and varying numbers of kudu and warthog also graze on Springbockvley. They are used for home consumption of venison and occasionally their numbers are controlled by professional hunters. The numbers of oryx and springbuck have increased substantially in the last 10 to 12 years. They now roam freely, and readily pass through the camp gates that are open whenever the camps are not occupied by the livestock. Oryx sometimes even allow themselves to be moved between camps, which is done to rest the camps after grazing by the livestock. In addition there are also duiker, steenbok, aardwolf, bat-eared fox and other small animals, as well as predators such as the African wild cat, cape foxes, the caracal and black-backed jackals. The latter are seen as a threat by sheep farmers. Their movements are closely monitored and whenever they come within close range of the sheep, they are trapped and killed. Despite such measures the farm accepts losing approximately 5% of its sheep to this predator each year. Although it would be preferable to co-exist with jackals, the current practice keeps losses down to an acceptable level. Livestock and Vegetation combining needs At the present time the limiting growth factor is the ability of the animals to perform on the resources available on the farm.
This is partly because of the very low species diversity of the grasses: only two relatively narrow leaved species (the perennial stipagrostis uniplumis and the annual schmidtia kalahariensis) make up 90% of the grasses. Despite much emphasis on grazing
The main strategy is to select cattle and sheep that thrive under the prevailing circumstances.
management over many years, there has still been no evident increase in grass diversity. The diversity and nutritional value of the grazing on Springbockvley are closely inter-related with the condition and production capability of its animals. The animals and grazing have developed together, so grazing can only be improved together with and through the animals that live on it and vice versa. Hence, the main strategy to improve the farms profitability is to select cattle and sheep that thrive
under the prevailing circumstances (rather than giving in to the ever-present temptation to buy better genes). The average grazing period in the growing season is between four and six days per camp, provided there is fast growth. With the current strategy of rotating through each cell approximately every 180 days, two rounds must be done between each rainy season in the non-growing season. So the animals get fresh grazing every 10 to 12 days for almost six months. During the second round, there is probably some newly-grown forage in the camps as well as left-overs from the first one: There will be pods and leaves that have dropped, and new shoots on perennial grasses or new leaves on the bush after winter. The moves are designed to optimise the performance of the rumens digestive flora and to avoid the animals having to adjust to new conditions every time they move to a new camp. Despite this there is still ample pressure on the animals in the flerds to force them to utilise less valuable plant material. Assessment and Planning producing peace of mind At the beginning of the dry season after the growth has stopped, the amount and quality of available forage is assessed by taking two to three samples in each camp using what is known as the STAC method. This gives a fair indication of the amount of grazing available and the condition of the soil. The results from the samples are calculated into the total forage available in each camp, each cell and ultimately on the entire farm. These calculations can be cross-checked using the square estimation, which visualises the area necessary to provide one cow with sufficient feed for one day. Judith feels confident enough to build the entire animal production plan for the rest of the year on this early assessment. This method is quite time consuming as it takes the best part of two to three
Country profile
days walking in the veld to collect the samples. However knowing what to expect early on in the year and seeing the outcomes of all the decisions and processes of earlier actions makes it worthwhile. With the amount of forage assessed, a non-growing season (including a drought reserve of 300 days) is planned for, based on the experience that the first growth only occurs at the end of January. The idea is to build a grazing plan that aims for the livestock to be at the right place for the right reasons at the right time. By using this plan, Springbockvley has almost continually increased its carrying capacity, even in years when rainfall was less than a third of the average (1995, 1996 and 2007) and some drastic temporary de-stocking had to take place. In 2010 Springbockvley stocked almost 40 kg of live animal mass per hectare in the Kalahari Sandveld, much more than most farms in the region are able to achieve. In addition to a detailed, careful and yet ambitious grazing plan, another tool employed is to manage the animals impact. Combining the livestock into four large flerds and keeping them in specified camps for periods means that the animals live at a relatively high density, and are closer to each other while grazing and walking to the water point. This stimulates them to eat less selectively and also to be less selective about where they place their hooves. This means they trample down more brittle plant matter, which helps build soil cover and
humus. This trampling effect critically depends on the amount of hooves per hectare, not on the type and weight of the animals. On the soft soils of Springbockvley, the sheep do tremendous work, although animal density alone is still not enough to really break down the harder perennial grasses. Higher numbers and tighter densities of cattle change the behaviour of the animals, instilling a herd effect, where they trample the land indiscriminately and with greater force, increasing the healthy disturbance of the soil. Each camp is, on average, 160 hectares large so the density could be calculated as averaging 15 animals per hectare: in reality higher densities occur as the animals are not evenly spread over the whole camp but usually tend to bunch together. Breeding smaller-framed animals In 1989 Ekkehard took over the livestock from his parents: 250 Simmentaler cattle and 3000 Karakul sheep. By 2010 he had changed breeds and raised the numbers to about 700 Nguni cattle and 5000 Damara sheep. He was not enthusiastic about the Karakul breed and prices for them were constantly declining. He soon introduced Damara rams to the Karakul flock, building on the existing adaptation of the flock, and occasionally bought small Damara flocks to speed up the replacement process. Over twenty-five years he converted his flock to Damara. This breed fits well with the prevailing system, being well-adapted to the climatic circumstances and vegetation
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Country profile
available in the area. They also have good mothering abilities and, like the Karakul, they have strong herd instincts and hence function well in large flerds. In 1994 Ekkehard introduced Nguni bulls to the mixed Simmentaler-Afrikaner herd and over the last 15 years the animals have developed into a compact medium-frame crossbreed (see picture). This allows for more animals to graze the available land while maintaining the animals reproduction and with this an increase of the farms productivity and profitability. Even with larger flerds and higher animal densities, cattle and sheep do not bother each other when in the same camps. In fact they complement each other very well, not only in their daily routines but also in their diet and grazing habits. While the sheep come to the water point in early mornings and late afternoons and quickly return into the veld, the cattle characteristically hang around the water point to drink, rest, and ruminate from late morning until early afternoon. A very important part of the sustenance of the sheep (being 60% browsers) are leaves and other parts of bushes, as well as herbs and small leaves and spikes of grasses, while the cattle (as grazers) mainly eat more fibrous grass plants and only a small part of the diet that sheep prefer. This means that a camp that would be considered as being fully stocked by sheep, still has space and fodder for cattle and vice versa. By farming with these two indigenous breeds Ngunis and Damaras Springbockvley achieves remarkable production rates. Since 2000, annual meat production has averaged 11 kg/ ha (with a maximum of 14.8 kg/ha in 2003) in a country where 10kg/ha is considered good or very good. Selection breeding well-adapted animals The changes shown in figure 1 were not just brought about by changing to smaller indigenous breeds. It was also combined with a strict selection of animals from within the herd, keeping the ones that appear the healthiest and best-suited to thriving under the prevailing conditions. The first priority in the cattle selection process is high and early fertility meaning every cow has to give birth within its first two and a half years and every year thereafter. The rams are kept in the flock throughout the year. With the sheep the aim is to maintain very low input levels. The goal is to produce meat from the available natural resources with the least possible external inputs. Minimal supplements are provided and the sheep get no licks at all (the design of the cattle lick troughs make them inaccessible to the sheep). The sheep meet their mineral requirements by browsing bush components Animal handling reducing frequency and stress Springbockvley keeps working the animals in kraals or in the chute to a minimum. All the cattle have to go through the chute
once a year for compulsory vaccinations. Apart from that they only go through the handling facilities for weighing, branding and ear tagging before being transported (and for branding, castrating and dehorning as calves). There is almost no handling of the sheep except the regular sorting and tagging three to four times a year. They are not routinely treated, except in individual cases, when ticks are causing obvious pain or injury. The grazing management makes this possible, as the short stays in each camp (not longer than 5 to 14 days, depending on temperature and moisture) and a return cycle that is never less than 60 days, which breaks the breeding cycles of internal and external parasites, and ensures that the animals are able to handle the remaining pressure. Management of the whole keeping it simple and efficient A big part of daily life at Springbockvley is keeping the feedback loop running, not only planning for healthy finances and grazing etc., but also monitoring and controlling to show where goals are not being met. Consequently, much of the routine farming work consists of checking tasks. Much time is spent checking border fences for intrusion by predators and all herds are visited and checked for wellbeing, sufficient water and lick supply at least every second day. Apart from the high time input in these management tasks, the setup on the whole farm is deliberately kept as simple, clear, and efficient as possible. A low level of technical and financial inputs is involved. The aim is for the farm to be as self sustaining as possible: it relies completely on renewable energies. All the boreholes are equipped with low-maintenance windmills. The electrical power is supplied from an efficient solar system. The garden supplies a variety of vegetables and fruits that are consumed fresh or preserved for the rest of the year. They bake their own bread, hunt springbuck and oryx for fresh and smoke meat or salami. Judith processes milk from their cows into yoghurt and different cheeses. Ekkehard and Judith have followed the dictum that maintaining income while controlling costs produces profit in their personal lives and farming business. Before buying a product they consciously ask themselves if it is really necessary, worthwhile and what its benefits? This approach combined with all the management factors discussed above means that Springbockvleys farming business is highly profitable. The farm has been able to continually increase its income while keeping expenses almost stable. Since the year 2000 the farms expenses have accounted for one third or less of turnover.
Judith Isele, Livestock Farmer, Springbockvley Farm, Namibia, HYPERLINK mailto:iselkuel@iway.na iselkuel@iway.na Wiebke Volkmann, Holistic Management Certified Educator Earthwise Enterprise and Training Coordinator Community Based Rangeland and Livestock Management, Namibia HYPERLINK mailto:wiebke@mweb.com. na wiebke@mweb.com.na ECOLOGY & FARMING | 2-2013 19
By Peter Brul & Bo van Elzakker
Cocoa
Where does your chocolate come from?
Cocoa is the basis for one of the worlds most popular treats: chocolate. Cocoa is predominantly a smallholders crop. It is estimated that some five million farming families around the world grow cocoa on 7.5 million hectares. It provides a means of livelihood for up to 40 million people. It is mainly grown within 10 degrees of the equator and production is heavily concentrated in the West African countries of the Ivory Coast, Cameroon, Ghana and Nigeria. The fruit is harvested twice a year in the form of a main crop and a mid-crop, which provides lower yields.
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market
ICCO
The International Cocoa Organisation (ICCO), which is based in the UK, con-
stantly monitors the world cocoa market. Every month, it reviews recent market developments, together with longer-term trends and forecasts. Any findings resulting from studies and analyses are subsequently translated into recommendations and action Cocoa, like coffee, is best cultivated under the shade of native canopy trees in a landscape that mimics the natural forest. Such agroforestry systems conserve the habitats of plant and animal species; protect the natural pollinators of cocoa and the natural predators of its pests, and create beneficial microclimates and biological corridors that maintain biodiversity and the stability of ecosystems. Shade trees in an agro-forestry system should include species of economic value, producing timber or fruits. However, in many countries, farmers have been growing cocoa in a kind of shifting cultivation, cutting down forests to open up new fields once the old field becomes tired. Modern cocoa farming does not use shade trees, Sustainable cocoa production has often been rather neglected: ICCO, the cocoa boards, cooperatives and small farmers have not invested enough in nurseries, replanting, maintaining soil fertility, and certainly not in the ecosystem in which cocoa thrives. It appears that the world has reached Peak Cocoa. Production is stagnant. Consumption is increasing and there are hardly any rainforests left to cut down. Current cocoa production needs to be more productive and to become sustainable. In the last five years there has been a change in attitude. Large chocolate companies such as Mars, Nestl and Kraft are trying to work with governments, cocoa boards and farmas this improves yields in the short-term. However, this method is only suitable for hybrid plants that require the application of agrochemicals. Growing cocoa in full sun leads to more weeds that require pesticides. It also increases erosion and run-off; compaction and water contamination. In these modern systems the fields are generally abandoned after 30 years because of soil degradation. In contrast to this, an organic agro-forestry system can be productive over a very long period of time, provided that farmers are trained in improving soil fertility ers cooperatives to improve production. Unfortunately this often leads to introducing short cycle hybrid crops without shade trees and using more artificial fertilisers and pesticides, which means a further loss of biodiversity and a negative impact on the environment. At the end of the day it is questionable whether it is the farmers who profit from the improved yield, or other stakeholders further up the chain. The challenge is to start larger programmes using more sustainable production systems such as organic and agroecological ones.
n 2010 global cocoa production was around 4.3 million tonnes (ICCO).
plans. These include initiatives to work in co-operation with governments in cocoa producing countries to improve the provision of cocoa market information to smallholder cocoa farmers (www.icco.org).
Besides organic, there is also Fair Trade, Rainforest Alliance and Utz Certified cocoa. Altogether certified sustainable cocoa production was around 275,000 tonnes in 2010 and the certified market share almost doubled from 3% to nearly 6% between 2009 and 2010. Certified organic production continued to grow to more than 45,000 tonnes (circa 1% of the total) in 2011. In the year 2000 11,680 tonnes of certified organic cocoa was produced in 13 countries, but strangely not in the main cocoa producing area of West Africa. It was around this time that the first organic cocoa projects got off the ground in Africa. By 2011 world production had increased to around 45,000 tonnes. This growth rate is far beyond average growth within the global organic sector, which runs at more than 10% per year. However, the volumes of certified cocoa grown do not equal the volumes sold. Organic chocolate has increased in popularity during the last ten years and is now manufactured by several producers and available in health food shops and super-
(composting, recycling, green manure and other measures), renewing the trees and increasing the diversity of valuable crops.
It appears that the world has reached Peak Cocoa.
markets in the USA and Europe. In 2011, organic chocolate posted almost 20% growth in the USA. Overall, the global market for organic chocolate products was probably worth a little less than US$ 1 billion in 2012. A large part of that is not only certified organic but also Fair Trade labelled. The organic chocolate market also shows a trend towards purer chocolate, with a higher cocoa content (up to 70%). By contrast, milk chocolate may contain just 25% cocoa with the rest consisting of sugar and milk powder.
Table 1:
Volumes certified
(tonnes) 2010 Fair trade Rain forest Utz Organic 106,400 56,000 70,000 42,500 2011 150,000 98,000 214,000 45,000
Farmers finding markets
A study in 2011 identified 27 different organic cocoa projects in nine African countries. In 2013, another four were added to this list. Some of these pro-
jects have been in existence for ten years or more, such as the French company Koaka which operates in Sao Tome and Madagascar, and Callebaut working in Tanzania, the Ivory Coast and Sierra Leone. Beans from these projects are not sold on the international market but are sold in processed form. Other projects have been developed and perhaps exported once or twice but could not maintain themselves. Such projects may fail for a variety of reasons: donor funding can run out, it may be difficult to find a suitable buyer or to communicate in the international market place, or there is insufficient access to trade finance. Some projects have had organic beans available at harvest but did not find an organic buyer, so sold
Child labour and cocoa In 2000, the U.S. State Department reported that as many as 15,000 children between the ages of nine and twelve had been sold into forced labour on cotton, coffee and cocoa plantations in the Ivory Coast. The increased exposure of the practice and consumer disgust at this has prompted action. The presence of child labour forced the conservative cocoa sector to open up to consumer concerns. A little later, environmental sustainability was added as another major issue. Several different sustainability programmes for cocoa have since been established, which include social criteria. There are FLO (Fair Trade) certified cocoa producer associations in 12 countries. Their production levels are low but increasing. In January 2013, the International Cocoa Organisation (ICCO) reported: Most Fair Trade producer organisations in Latin America are also certified as organic. They joined Fair Trade first, worked on their businesses and once they reached a certain level of organisational development, they converted to organic production. In this case, they used the Fair Trade premium funds to invest in the infrastructure and fees needed for organic certification. The Fair Trade minimum price is $1600/tonne + $150 premium. When the New York price is higher than $1600, the Fair Trade price is the New York price + $150. Other benefits for certified producer organisations are better capacity building and market access.
the produce as conventional, only to be approached by an organic buyer some months later. Synchronising supply and demand is often difficult. Although there are problems, however, the potential is definitely there.
From: A survey of certified organic cocoa in Africa and an analysis of the problems and opportunities in the export market, by Niyi Olabiran, 2011, Van Hall Larenstein-Wageningen / AgroEco-LBI.
Cocoa production under the Rainforest Alliance (RA) is increasing in Latin America and West Africa. Interestingly, some organic buyers insist on the combination of organic with RA as this is a better guarantee of social and environmental sustainability. RA standards are much stricter in prescribing fair employment conditions and nature conservation measures (including buffer zones and shade trees) than organic standards. UTZ certified is a sustainability labelling organisation based in the Netherlands that mainly works for and with the large market players. It started off with coffee and now works in cocoa for key industry members such as Mars, Nestl and Heinz. Its goal is to create a certification and traceability programme for socially and environmentally responsible cocoa production that meets the needs of both producers and markets. A cost-benefit analysis by KPMG in 2012 showed that incomes from certified producers are much higher than in noncertified production. These certification programmes are an improvement but do they guarantee long-term sustainability? Does organic certification provide that guarantee?
The market for organic cocoa beans is dominated by a few companies. The four leading companies in Europe are Pronatec and Barry Callebaut (both Swiss), Mapryser (Spanish) and Tradin Organic, (a Dutch based daughter of Sunopta). Tradin plans to open a new cocoa grinding facility in the Netherlands in mid-2013. This facility will specialise in processing certified cocoa beans into derivatives, such as cocoa powder, butter and liquor. The investment in a new factory is a clear sign that there is a bright future for these products. ICAM in Italy is the largest organic chocolate maker, producing chocolate for major European brands. These traders deliver cocoa liquor, butter and powder, and other ingredients to different organic chocolate makers such as Blanxart, Callebaut, Dagoba, Green & Blacks, Newmans, Rapunzel, Tcho, Theo, Valrhona and Vivani. Often organic retailers have their own brands of organic chocolate. In many countries organic chocolate can also be ordered through the internet. Go and get it!
Organic Raw Materials The Safer Choice

Consumers expect a lot from Organic products: health, safety, well-being and environmental friendliness. Food producers therefore need appropriate organic raw materials and Tradin Organic Agriculture BV provides these: certied, controlled, analysed organic raw materials. A wide range of products is being imported from over 36countries all over the world, coming from well established packers and processors: Dried Fruits and Nuts / Seeds, Pulses and Grains / Cocoa products / Juices, Purees and Concentrates / Sweeteners / Fats and Oils / Frozen Fruit and more. From the cultivation, to the harvesting and further processing or rening Tradin is present. We can organize, control and manage all part of our supply chain, allowing us to meet the expectations of our customers. Therefore, we can provide a full traceability report to each of our customers for each products. Over the years Tradin has initiated a number of own projects. These projects are the backbone of Tradins trade activities: Sesame and Green Coffee from Ethiopia. Frozen Fruit from Serbia and Bulgaria. Original Basmati Rice from Pakistan. Vietnams Cashews, Pineapples and Passion fruit. The Seeds and Pulses from China. Iranian Raisins. Coconut Oil from Indonesia. Cocoa and Banana Chips from the Philippines. Orange Juice and Pink Grapefruit Juice from Mexico. These projects do not only supply safer raw materials, but also they are exemplary and have a positive spill-off effect in their regions. Beyond the organic agricultural techniques, sustainability, CO2 footprint, and Fair Trade concerns are at our top priority, all these characteristics have been embraced into our daily operations to provide the best possible social organic products with the smallest environmental impact. Tradin BV Your source for organic raw materials
Cocoa project Philippines Project Vietnam Sesame project Ethiopia Orange project Mexico
More projects in China, Iran, Bulgaria, Indonesia, Pakistan...
Fruit project Serbia
bringing well-being to life
www.tradinorganic.com
info@tradinorganic.com
SOS
The Global Seed Alliance
Bernward Geier
agro biodiversity
Crops and seeds are not only a source of life. They are also a fundamental precondition for our being. In the last 20 years, there has been a tremendous concentration of the control of seeds by a handful of multinational corporations. This has been accompanied by a rapid erosion of both seed diversity and seed independence.
his is a dangerous threat to our food security. Most people are still unaware
ers from reproducing seed and threatens future food security. This could erode fundamental freedoms. The companies that have so successfully brought seeds under their control are mainly those who originally benefited from the war industry. After the Second World
and farmers who are increasingly losing the diversity of their seeds and becoming enslaved by these multinational corporations and moneylenders. India has been one of the hardest hit countries. Since the introduction of GM cotton into India, there have been an estimated 250,000 suicides by cotton-producing farmers who fell hopelessly into debt as a result of buying patented genetically engineered seeds from Monsanto. The Freedom to Save and Sow Seeds Worldwide, there are hundreds of organisations and institutions, and millions of seed multipliers and defenders who are committed to defending seed freedom. These people think within a global context but act locally. Until now, however, there has been no global alliance to develop synergy between these activists. To fill this gap the Global Seed Alliance was formed last year under the leadership of the Indian activist and eco-feminist Vandana Shiva, winner of the Right Livelihood Award (the alternative Nobel Prize). With
of this development towards a seed dictatorship and do not realise what disastrous consequences it could have. Fortunately the threat has mobilised resistance. Here the resistance not only involves political action and lobbying but also, and perhaps most importantly, actions by seed growers and multipliers and in peoples fields and gardens. SEED IN NEED For thousands of years, farmers have practised seed production and we owe them a debt of gratitude for the enormous crop diversity they have generated. Farmers reproduction of their own seed material is crucial to preserving biodiversity, enables them to maintain their independence and guarantees the voluntary (and often free) exchange of seeds. But now seed freedom is under extreme threat from new technologies, such as genetic manipulation and in particular, from patents that transform seed from a public good to a commodity that is controlled by multinational corporations. The development of hybrids, sterile seeds and genetic engineering in particular prevents farmWar they evolved into the agricultural chemical industry, and are now becoming bio-pirates, hijacking the worlds seed supply. The main victims are peasants
Since the introduction of GM cotton into India, there have been an estimated 250,000 suicides by cotton-producing farmers who fell hopelessly into debt
the help of Navdanya and many friends around the world she has published a global citizens report entitled Seed Freedom. This is a unique work of over
320 pages, which highlights the alarming threat to seed freedom. It provides a necessary wake-up call by drawing together a wealth of existing information, including a large report on the subject of genetic engineering The genetic engineering emperor wears no clothes. The study was supported by more than 100 organisations, institutions and networks who were involved in creating it. There are inspiring reports compiled by seed savers and growers from each continent. These reports look at past initiatives, but focus on what is happening now, showing how diverse resistance is and how people from all around the world are engaged in fighting to liberate the planets seed stock.
tions of the multinational seed corporations. Companies such as Monsanto have multi-million dollar budgets: it is therefore better to coordinate resistance
Organic agriculture is a central pillar in the struggle for seed freedom. IFOAM contributed to the seed report and many of the initiatives discussed are from the organic movement. Humberto Rios from Cuba, a finalist in the 2012 One World Award, drew up a fascinating report of
In October 2012 160 actions and activities to liberate seed were held all over the world.
best practice. Organic agriculture has a very specific interest and need for free seeds and has also developed a lot of solutions. The organic movement should play an active role in this new alliance, fully support its political struggle and share the solutions we have developed. GET PERSONALLY ACTIVE The Seed Alliance needs the commitment of many individuals. Seed is the first link
in a way that empowers the millions of The report is illustrated with beautiful photos and paintings that show how diverse the existing alternatives already are, and how it is possible to create a future full of diversity, controlled by human communities instead of a future dominated by monocultures and monopolies. This book is a feast for the eyes with beautiful drawings and paintings, as well as wonderful poems. The complete report can be downloaded from Navdanyas website: www.navdanya.org. THE NEW SEED ALLIANCE Activists of the seed movement have been well connected, but mainly at national level. Although the Lets liberate diversity movement has existed in Europe since 2005 until now there has been no global network to unite seed growers and multipliers and political activists and defenders of seed freedom. Such international cooperation, which has the potential to generate synergies, is urgently needed to resist the machina26 2-2013 | ECOLOGY & FARMING
in the food chain. Consumers are the last, crucial link. What we dont buy will not be seeded and grown. In addition to our consumer behaviour there is also the need to change the political framework and to abolish exploitative seed laws. The first step that any individual can take here is to sign the Global Seed Alliances Declaration on Seed Freedom. The target is to get one million signatures for the Declaration. If all members and supporters of IFOAM members and associates were to sign this and encourage organic consumers to do so, this would have a huge impact.
You can sign the declaration on www.navdanya. org. Bernward Geier b.geier@colabora-together.de
people who are already active. Priority must be given to informing people, but above all the political leaders, about the state of emergency concerning seeds. The ultimate objective is the ambitious target of abolishing unlawful instruments that patent seeds and laws that criminalise the reproduction of seed. The publication of the Seed Report was timed to coincide with the launch of the Global Seed Alliance and its first globally coordinated action. In the two weeks between Mahatma Gandhis birthday (2nd October) and World Food Day (the 16th October) 2012, 160 actions and activities to liberate seed were held all over the world. They ranged from the exchange of seed at free markets to actions of civil disobedience that followed in the spirit of Gandhi. With the rapid increase in the Seed Alliances organisational capacity and ongoing networking, there are plans for a much larger signal of resistance in the same two weeks this year.
agro biodiversity
Priority must be given to informing people, but above all the political leaders, about the state of emergency concerning seeds.
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Photo impression
Doug Tompkins Laguna Blanca in Argentina: A good farm is a beautiful farm
29
photo description
Rob Sexton
Signs of revival
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Country profile
The UKs organic market has been in sharp decline since the start of the global financial crisis. In 2008, the UK market was valued at 2.1 billion and had been growing at over 10% per year for the past decade. Since 2008, the market has fallen every single year bucking the trend in organic markets almost everywhere else in the world. While UK organic sales have fallen by 22% since 2008, global sales have risen by 25.1%.
Why is the UK market so unusual? What lessons can be learnt? And what does the future hold? The Soil Associations Organic Market Report 2013 provides a robust assessment of this disturbing trend, and there is much to discuss. It shows that current sales patterns are improving and the decline in the UK market is rapidly slowing. Sales in 2012 experienced a slight dip of 1.5%, that in a year that the UK re-entered recession. The UK organic market now stands at 1.64 billion still the third largest organic market in Europe, behind Germany and France. Globally the market is dominated by the USA, which accounts for 44% of global sales. The 2013 Organic Market Report highlights some significant new trends and predicts that the UK organic market should soon bounce back. Young shoppers are leading the way. In 2012 ethically aware consumers under 35 significantly increased their average spend on organic products. The youngest category of shoppers (under 28 years of age) spent more on organic food in 2012 than in previous years. This is a new trend that we have noticed in the last two years and its scale is growing: specific examples include the 15% growth in sales to students at Planet Organic stores.
online shopping and specialist stores
The UK market is dominated by multiple retailers
over the inconvenience and frustration of finding more limited ranges and stock at many supermarkets. Online and box scheme sales grew by 4.4% and independent store sales grew by nearly 1%. Dedicated organic grocery stores saw a growth of up to 10%. The catering sector is also opening up. Belatedly, compared with the rest of Europe, and uniquely without any gov-
ernment support at all, the organic catering market is beginning to develop in the UK. Organic catering and restaurant sales rose by 1.6% in 2012, despite a general tendency to eat out less often in tough economic times. The Soil Associations Food for Life Catering Mark is filling the gap left by the UK governments procurement policies. Over 140 million meals are now part of this award scheme, which certifies caterers who use healthy, fresh, seasonal and, at silver and gold levels, organic food. This labelling scheme covers schools, hospitals, universities, nurseries, care homes and workplaces. It is putting healthy, sustainable eating at the top of the catering agenda, despite inaction from the UK government (although an honourable exception should be made for the Scottish Parliament). These patterns show a positive future for the UK organic mar-
Online and independent. The UKs organic shoppers are increasingly choosing the convenience and variety offered by
ket. Yet the UK organic market faces very different challenges than most other similarly placed countries.
The UK market is dominated by multiple retailers

The UK grocery market is unique in the extent to which it is dominated by a small number of large retailers the big four account for over 80% of all grocery sales. They claim that they only stock products that people want to buy,
In the last 10 years, the UK has fallen from
Our government is out of step
2nd in the league table of government support for organic food and farming, to 2nd from bottom. This is a pretty damning statistic. Elsewhere in Europe the situation is markedly different; for example, the Danish organic action plan target is 60% organic food in all public canteens.
but when the first recession hit in 2008, they made sweeping reductions in organic ranges, and increased their range of economy products. Not surprisingly with less available choice, organic sales declined, leading to a self-fulfilling prophecy. Waitrose has been a notable exception and has continued to invest in organic products. Organic sales now account for 5% of their total sales and continue to grow year on year. The lack of investment in organic ranges is most marked when looking at own label organic sales at the major retailers. Sales of organic own label products fell by 11.2% in 2012, although organic brands grew by 2.2%. This is the biggest difference we have seen and it is fair to say that the decline in retailer own label organic products is single-handedly responsible for keeping the UK organic market in a state of decline.
Supply shortages threaten growth

Several supermarkets turned their predictions of falling demand for organic food into a self-fulfilling prophecy by dramatically cutting back on organic ranges and shelf space, reducing the availability for shoppers who wanted to carry on buying organic. This has triggered disproportionate cuts in the production of some commodities, such as eggs, causing supply challenges. It is important for retailers to work more closely than ever with their organic suppliers to ensure higher farmgate prices, forward planning and decent forward contracts, all of which are needed to restore producer confidence and safeguard future supplies. Despite relative neglect from policy makers and some super-
Our government is out of step
markets, there is much cause for optimism, due to the success of specialist retailers, the enthusiasm of young shoppers and the long-overdue questions being asked about our reliance on cheap, low-quality, untraceable food (especially in the wake of the horsemeat scandal). It is difficult to anticipate precisely when the UK organic market will return to growth, but we are increasingly confident that it will do so in the near future.
Rob Sexton is Chief Executive of the Soil Association Certification Ltd. E-mail rsexton@Soilassociation.org The Soil Associations Organic Market Report 2013 report can be found at http://www.soilassociation.org/marketreport
Sales of organic products in the EU have increased by more than 25% since the start of the global economic downturn in 2008. Our government has much to learn from its European counterparts, who have been backing the organic sector strongly through a combination of environmentally-based producer support, firm targets for public sector procurement of organic food and investment in the promotion of organic products.
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JOSEF FINKE
Markets opinion
Developing a Communication Strategy for the Organic Sector

Vested interests from the agrichemical and global food industries have identified organic food and farming as the major obstacle to achieving their goals of more control over the food sector.
n the past the organic sector has had only limited success in getting its message across to the
consumer. Firstly, the issue of food quality and environmental impact only concerns a section of our society (estimated at around 25%). Secondly, the message itself is rather complicated as it touches so many aspects it can be difficult for the consumer to follow the debate and make up his or her mind. Food produced without synthetic fertilisers and pesticides are the main criteria that consumers recall when asked about organic food. It also needs to be remembered that the organic message is not static; it evolves, is shaped by events, and influenced by food scandals, opinion leaders or new scientific research results. --->
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On the basis of this scenario industries, representing vested interests, have developed the following strategy, which has been confirmed by the Cornucopia Institute in the US and follows the same patterns as the campaign to discredit those who warn about climate change, orchestrated by vested interests in the US. The latter strategy has been so successful that no statement is published in the US media without being followed by a contrasting statement from the climate change deniers.
do not see the Machiavellian strategy behind it. The result is that consumers, now confused by these statements take a step back and their belief in organic food and farming has been replaced by uncertainty. Where does this leave the organic community? Entering the academic debate trying to counteract this cannot be the solution. The past shows that every argument will be followed by a counter argument. Whereas serious scientists work thoroughly, with peer-reviews to back up their statements, these bought scientists, working for vested interests, throw out statements that are biased and not backed by proper science. They know, once their position is out in the public realm, that their job has been done: the message has been delivered and made consumers insecure. It will take more time again for the serious scientists to prove that their claims were wrong. This will then be replaced by another scientific statement and the whole game starts again. Eventually the consumer switches off and stops listening to the debate. A better communication strategy with the consumer is to leave the academic debate to academics and to focus consumer communication around a common sense position. Unfortunately the organic debate has become quite removed from its origins. Reliance on academic messengers has taken the issue of organic farming away from farmers and citizens. It seems that today only scientists are qualified to have an opinion about organic farming. This is wrong. Organic food and farming is, and always has been an issue for concerned farmers and citizens. This common sense element must be brought back into the debate. Common sense is simple, understandable by everyone, down to earth and leaves no room for arguing. It puts the ball firmly back into the court of the consumer, allowing him or her to make a judgement and form an opinion. We must remember that this is about forming a perception among the general public. But at the same time it forms a back drop and reassures organic producers who can use this for their own communications. The mantras of the industry opposed to organic farming (e.g. organic farming cannot feed the world) must be matched by our own mantras; and the mantras must be simple. The following (next page) is an example of what this could look like. - - - >
This is their strategy

1 Science is the chosen route providing the basis for their message. In todays world we are used to believing in and following scientifically based information and knowledge. 2 High profile people with an unquestioned level of competence, credibility and authority are chosen as messengers. When the message exceeds the understanding of the consumer, the messenger becomes a decisive part of the message. On this basis they have selected scientists, professors, academics, reputable journalists and other experts. No consumer of course knows that these messengers are being paid to deliver the message. 3 They shape the message by starting with research results from recognised universities, taking fragments of this research out of context and presenting them in isolation so as to show organic food and farming in a negative light. The message can also be shaped by designing research in a way that guarantees the desired outcome, using flawed research methods. The aim is to confuse consumers and make them doubt the benefits of organic farming and food. 4 This strategy is complimented by attempts from a biased sector of the scientific community, which, using the same flawed methods, plays down the harmful role and effects of pesticides, synthetic fertilisers and food additives in conventional agriculture and food. 5 At the same time the organic sector is discredited by portraying its representatives as dreamers, romantics, yesterdays men, not for todays world, hopeless idealists, heads-in the-clouds, incompetent scientists, elitist or too affluent. Now consumers find themselves increasingly exposed to a situation where any positive claims about organic food are immediately contradicted by credible scientists and they
Putting common sense into food

Consumers are getting increasingly confused. Just when one scientist states a new finding another scientist comes along and claims the opposite. For consumers it is not always easy to know when and where vested interests are involved. Perhaps common sense is a good advisor in this situation. Here is some common sense advice for confused consumers.
opinion
1 Avoiding food sprayed with pesticides can eliminate several health risks. (Scientific studies have linked pesticides to autism, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Parkinsons and, Alzheimers Diseases and cancer. Now researchers at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University have found an association with food allergies).
(Food diversity is under threat from GM technology which gives patent protection and thereby ultimate control over our food to a small number of profit-driven global companies).
6 A sustainable form of food production is better than industrial farming methods which exploit the soil for short term gains. (The world is fed by a few inches of top soil. This top soil, which needs to be protected and cared for, is
2 A farming system which produces healthy animals is better than mass animal production systems which depend on high levels of medication. (Multi Resistant Strains of Antibiotics (MRSA) are the result of irresponsible overuse of antibiotics, especially in animal feed in conventional farming. 80% of all antibiotics produced are now destined for animal feed. What are we going to do when these antibiotics wont work anymore? And what are the possible consequences for the effectiveness of antibiotics among humans?)
being lost in industrial farming at an alarming rate. If we want to feed the world of tomorrow the only answer is to sustain the soil through organic farming).
7 I dont have to be concerned about E numbers if these are not in my food (The human body is not equipped to protect itself from most synthetic chemicals and our immune system is not capable of processing or removing these. Tests of thousands of volunteers have discovered an average of 700 different synthetic chemicals in their bodies, absorbed through food,
3 A tasty, naturally-grown tomato is better than a wateredup, fertiliser-pushed tomato. (Chemical fertilisers increase the water content in vegetables by an average of 20%, which means that, even at an organic premium of 20%, you are paying the same price as conventional food on a dry matter basis).
water and the air. Children today particularly show a lack of concentration, aggression, hyper activity, mood swings and a range of allergies never before witnessed, and there is evidence to link all of these changes (at least partially) to synthetic chemicals in food. Organic food is the most strictly regulated food sector in Europe and covers not only farming but also processing.), with artificial additives not being allowed.
4 A farming system which protects bio-diversity is better than one that leads to its continuous decline. (Large scale industrial farming practices have led to an irreversible decline in bio-diversity. The latest victims are bees who are dying from exposure to nicotine based seed dressings. One third of our food depends on pollination through bees). We must remain aware that the companies and lobby groups seeking to discredit the organic sector are very well organised internationally and have harmonised strategies. As such they will always be ahead of the organic sector as long as it organised at national level. It is vital that European organic organisations see and accept the need for a common communication strategy. This process should start as soon as possible. I encourage European organic organisations to 5 A vibrant, diverse food culture is better than an industrial food sector where power is concentrated in ever-fewer hands. team up and get working on this common strategy.
Josef Finke runs an organic farm in Co. Tipperary, Ireland josef.finke@ballybrado.com
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Calculating the value of organic chains
The global market for organic food and non-food production

Peter Brul
ING bank (not known as the greenest of banks) reports that

the Dutch organic market is growing faster than the Chinese economy
Markets
espite a recession and difficult economic conditions in the two main
Textiles Less than 30 years ago, the first certified organic cotton was grown, spun and then woven into t-shirts and other products. Now there are more than two hundred thousand organic cotton growers around the world and the market is worth approximately 5.65 billion. Organic cotton is grown in 22 countries: the leading ten (in rank order) are India, Turkey, Syria, Tanzania, China, United States, Uganda, Peru, Egypt and Burkina Faso.Textiles are not regulated under European organic legislation and this almost inevitably means that the data are far less reliable than for foodstuffs. In addition to organic cotton there is a range of environmental and sustainability labels for cotton. Large textile companies often mix organic and conventional cotton. They bring the products to the market without organic certification to fulfil their own overall sustainability criteria. The textiles industry is also under considerable pressure to significantly reduce pollution. Conventional cotton cultivation involves intensive pesticide use, cotton is a large consumer of scarce water resources and the processing of cotton (including bleaching and dyeing) involves extremely polluting processes that dye rivers in developing countries red, blue or purple, depending on the fashions of the day. Only a few of the environmental improvements in the textile industry are associated with certified organic production; far more improvements come in small steps or are made by the industrys own environmental labels.
Organic cotton is mainly certified through the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS). The number of facilities certified by GOTS increased by 11% in 2012, growing from 2,714 facilities in 2011 to 3,016 facilities in 2012. The countries with the most processing facilities are India (with 1062 certified), Turkey (400) and China (252). Market demand in Europe grew by more than 20% for the second year in a row. India is by far the largest producer of organic cotton, producing just over 100,000 tons of cotton fibre in 2010-11 on nearly 250,000 hectares of certified land. The top ten customers of organic cotton through the Textile Exchange are mainly large textile retail chains: H & M (Sweden), C & A (Belgium), Nike, Inc. (USA), Inditex (Zara) (Spain), Adidas (Germany), Green Source (USA), Anvil (USA), Target (USA), Disney Consumer Products (USA) and the Otto Group (Germany). Table 1 (based mainly on figures from the Textile Exchange) shows the growth in the global organic textile market over the last five years. Wellness The third significant market segment is for cosmetics, skin care and widely used natural medicines such as arnica, neem and echinacea. This segment is also not covered by the regulations and there no clear distinction between natural and organic products. Some large producers consistently use organic ingredients, and this is an integral part of their corporate identity and their brands, but there is no organic label on the packaging. According to market researcher
markets for organic products, Europe and the United States, the market share and volume of organic products has continued to grow in recent years. The worldwide acreage of organic land is also growing. However the relationship between the two is not always straightforward. The worlds organic market is made up of a number of segments. By far the most important market is that for food and beverages. Western Europe and North America account for more than 95% of the world market for certified organic foods. The consumption of organic products per head is more or less the same in the USA and north-western Europe, around 57 per person in 2011. In Europe as a whole the average was 24 per person, but in Denmark and Switzerland it was more than 130. Other markets, such as Brazil, China, Russia, Turkey and the Middle East are growing strongly, but only make up a small part of the entire market. Almost all countries apart from the US, Canada and north-western Europe are net exporters of organic products. Organic farming is regulated by law in the US and Europe, so the statistical data on acreage and turnover in organic foods are pretty reliable. This is much less the case for the markets for organic textiles (mainly cotton) and cosmetics and wellness products. These markets are also quite large and have grown fast over the last ten years.
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Table 1:
The global organic textile market

in US$
Year Market
2008 $3.2 billion
2009 $4.3 billion
2010 $5 billion
2011 $6.2 billion
2012 $7.4 billion
Kline & Company, the total market for natural cosmetics and natural care products, (including organic ones) was 26.3 billion in 2012, twice the size it was in 2005. This is about 12% of the total market of 210 billion, i.e. 160 billion. Organic cosmetics account for around 3% of the total global market in 2012. The German natural cosmetics market alone is worth 815 million. Sales grew rapidly until 2010 (by 11% in 2010 but only 2.5% in 2011 and stagnated last year). However with a market share of 6.5%, it is still a significant market. 70 billion dollars Taking these three segments into account we can calculate that the global organic market was worth some US$70 billion or 54 billion, 84% of which is accounted for by food and drink. The organic food market is still growing, the textile one probably not, because of lower yields in India and the cosmetics segment is growing slowly, probably because of the recession in Europe. According to the Organic Trade Associations 2012 Organic Industry Survey the U.S. organic industry grew by 9.5 per cent overall in 2011 to reach $31.5 billion in sales. Of this, the organic food and beverage sector was valued at $27.4 billion, while the organic non-food sector reached $2.2 billion.
Calculating the value of the organic chain FiBL produce pretty reliable global organic statistical data every year. According to their latest report there were 37 million hectares of certified organic land in 2011 in 162 countries. One hectare of organic land thus represents a retail value of almost $1900. However there is a huge difference between intensive production in countries where the organic markets
provides around 1875 for the farmer and around 27,000 retail value (9000 x 800 gram loaves of bread). In north-western Europe and the USA, which make up more than 95% of the world market there is a strong link between production and market value. Virtually all organic produce is sold as certified organic products, unless the quality is poor or there is temporary overproduction of certain products. Some segments are still hidden
In 2011, the global market for organic products was 70 billion dollars
In many other regions, the link between organic production and organic marketing is weak or almost non-existent. Only a part (sometimes a small part) of the total production goes into organic export chains. For example, a family farm in Ethiopia produces all the food for a large family, and will use less than 20% of the land for their cash crop, coffee. The domestic market for organic produce is almost non-existent. But in neighbouring Kenya, there is a
are strong and low input production in exporting countries. For example, the Dutch organic market is worth around 750 million, the sector exports around 550 million worth of produce a year and imports account for 300 million. So Dutch production has a retail value of about 1 billion, grown on 47,400 ha. This gives a retail value per ha of a little over 20,000. One hectare of organic wheat
small organic market, with shops, farmers markets and consumer groups. Organic produce sold on these local markets is generally not certified by third party certifiers, as this would increase the prices too much without adding much value. So both these forms of organic production and marketing are totally under the statisticians radar, suggesting that the organic market is larger than we generally believe.
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Andre Leu
based on Science
GMOs were prohibited by the organic sector primarily due to the use of the precautionary principle. The precautionary principle is embodied in IFOAMs Principle of Care. This principle states that precaution and responsibility are the key concerns in management, development and technology choices in organic agriculture. Science is necessary to ensure that organic agriculture is healthy, safe and ecologically sound. Organic agriculture should prevent significant risks by adopting appropriate technologies and rejecting unpredictable ones, such as genetic engineering. This concern about artificially transferring genes between kingdoms and species in a way that has never occurred naturally is now being validated by a large body of science.
These pictures (right) are examples of the types of mammary gland tumours (breast cancer) that the scientists found in the rats. Source: (Seralini et al 2012)
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MOs are currently being pushed as the solution to feed the worlds ever growing population. This logic has to be
Multiple Health Problems Professor Gilles-Eric Sralini and colleagues published a study that reviewed 19 studies of animals fed with GMO soy and corn in the peer reviewed scientific journal Environmental Sciences Europe. The studies covered more that 80% of the GMO varieties that are widely cultivated around the world. Their review found significant levels of negative effects to kidneys and livers in the animals that were fed GMOs. The scientists stated: ...the kidneys were particularly affected, concentrating 43.5% of all disrupted parameters in males, whereas the liver was more specifically disrupted in females (30.8% of all disrupted parameters). One of the key conclusions is that the current testing methodologies, length of feed trials and the parameters measured are insufficient to evaluate the health problems that are caused by diets of GMOs. The scientists clearly stated that this lack of proper testing protocols is socially unacceptable in terms of consumer health protection. (Seralini et al 2011) GM Soy has Adverse Effect on the Offspring
seriously questioned in the light of the scientific studies that show numerous serious health issues that are connected to the consumption of GMO food. A long term feeding study found that rats fed a diet that contains a proportion of GM maize or minute residues of Roundup has resulted in significantly higher increases of cancers, kidney disease, liver damage and other negative health effects. The study led by Professor Gilles-Eric Seralini and published in Food and Chemical Toxicology has found that both the GM maize and Roundup acted as endocrine disrupters and resulted in the females dying 2 - 3 times more than the control animals. (Seralini et al 2012). The females that were fed either GM maize or non GM maize with minute roundup residues, developed large mammary tumours almost always more often than and before controls. All the non-control females, except for one that had ovarian cancer, had mammary hypertrophies (enlarged mammary glands) and in some cases hyperplasia with atypia (nodules in the mammary glands). The pituitary gland was the second most disabled organ and the sex hormonal balance was modified in females fed with the GMO and Roundup treatments. The treated males presented 4 times more large palpable tumours than controls and these occurred up to 600 days earlier. The treated males had liver congestions and necrosis that were 2.5 - 5.5 times higher than the controls as well as marked and severe kidney nephropathies (kidney damage) that were also generally 1.3 - 2.3 greater than the controls. This study was the first 2 year feeding trial conducted on rats designed to see the effects of GM over an animals lifetime. Currently, no regulatory authority requests mandatory chronic animal feeding studies to be performed for edible GMOs. However, several studies consisting of 90 day rat feeding trials have been conducted by the biotech industry even though there is no requirement to do this. Regulatory authorities use a basic chemical analysis of a GM variety and compare this with it closest non GM variety. If this chemical composition is much the same, the GM variety is declared as substantially equivalent and suitable for uncontained commercial release. The comparison of the chemical composition of the GM maize used in this study (NK603) revealed no particular difference and consequently it was classified as substantially equivalent. Similarly a 90 day feeding trial showed no significant differences between the controls and the rats fed the GM maize variety. The results of the 2 year feeding study show that the current regulatory system for approving GM crops for consumption are inadequate for assessing the effects of eating these foods over a normal lifetime.
One of the most concerning issues is the negative effects that occur in the offspring of rats and mice that are fed GM diets. These effects include increased infant mortality, reduced litter sizes and reduced body weights of the offspring. In experimental trials male and female mice were fed GM soy and then mated. The early stage embryos (4-8 cells) showed a temporary decrease in gene expression. This was not found in embryos whose parents ate natural non-GM soy. (Oliveri 2006).There is strong body of science that shows that subtle changes to gene expression in embryos can cause permanent negative effects in the development of offspring. A Russian rat study conducted by Dr Irina Ermakova and colleagues found that offspring of rats fed on GM soy had higher levels of mortality than rats fed with non GMO soy. (Ermakova 2006)
Control
Control The scientists noted that babies of the rats that were fed GMO diets developed at slower rate, had lower weights and looked markedly different than the babies of rates that were fed non GMO diets.
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gmo
health professionals and regulators to ensure that the GMO Non-GM soy group GM-soy group foods that are currently being consumed are not doing damage to our future generations. Studies published in the highly respected medical journal The Lancet and in the peer reviewed Journal Nutrition and Health by Dr Arpad Pusztai showed multiple serious problems with rats that were fed GM potatoes. The scientific studies found that the rats that were fed on the GMO developed smaller brains, livers and testicles, had partial atrophy of the liver and damage to their immune system. The studies showed that the rats developed potentially precancerous cell growth in the linings of their stomach and intestinal walls. (Pusztai 2002, Ewen and Pusztai 1999)
The photo on the left is the offspring from mothers fed natural soy. In the lower right is the GM group.
Control group
GM-soy group
The GMO group has a significant reduction in average weight. Difficulties with Conception Dr Ermakova and her colleagues found that the mated offspring of the GM group did not conceive. This is a serious concern that needs to be fully investigated with more scientific research. One of the possible causes for the developmental differences and the lack of fertility in the offspring of mice that are fed GMOs is that several studies have found that GMO diets cause structural changes to the testicles. A study published in the European Journal of Histochemistry found that testicles of mice fed GM soy had altered structures and function which influenced sperm development. (Vecchio 2004) Non GMO-fed inestinal wall GMO-fed inestinal wall
The picture on the left is the intestinal wall of a rat that was fed on non-GMO potato. Picture on right is from a rat that was fed on GM potato. These types of inflammatory growths are potentially precancerous and can lead to bowel cancer, which has become one of the forms of cancer that is increasing in humans.
Control group
GM-soy group
Stomach wall non-GMO Stomach wall GMO The picture on the left is the stomach wall of a rat that was fed non-GMO potato. On the right is the stomach wall of a rat that was fed GM potato. These inflammatory growths are potentially precancerous.
Effect on Mothers and Children The greatest concern for humans is that the toxin from pesticide producing GMOs can be found in bloodstream of women and their unborn children. A Canadian study published in the scientific journal, Reproductive Toxicology, found the pesticide toxin from GMO crops in the blood samples of women and their unborn babies. The GMO toxin was found in 93%of maternal blood samples and of greater concern in 80%vof fetal blood samples. (Aris and Leblanc 2011) Given the evidence of the changes to the offspring of animals fed a GMO diet, this Canadian study should be the cause of great concern amongst
Figure 1
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GMO Soybean Products There are several animal studies that show a range of adverse effects from consuming GM soybean products. Mice fed GM soy for 8 months had a profound drop in the amount of digestive enzymes produced by their pancreas. (Malatesta 2002 a, Malatesta 2003). Researchers also found that the liver cells were damaged or misshapen and there was altered gene expression. They found that there was a higher rated metabolic activity that suggested that the liver was reacting to a toxic insult. (Malatesta 2002 b)
BT Corn In a study by Monsanto made public because of a lawsuit, rats fed Bt corn developed signs of liver and kidney toxicity. These included kidney inflammation and kidney lesions, and decreased kidney weight. The latter symptom is typically related to blood pressure problems. They also developed increased basophiles which are related to allergies. The study showed that they had increased lymphocytes or white blood cells which are part of the immune system indicating a reaction to infection or possibly disease. There was also a 10% increase in blood sugar and a 50% decrease in immature red blood cells. (Burns 2002, Seralini 2007)
Mice livers GM Corn When Liberty Link corn was fed to chickens, twice the number of chickens died. But the test conducted by the industry was designed so poorly, even a doubling of the death rate was not statistically significant. (Leeson 1996) Control group GM fed FlaverSavr Tomato The first GM crop that was looked at by the US FDA was the The above photos show how the membrane surrounding the nuclei of liver cells was more irregular in the GM-fed mice. Mice livers FlavrSavr tomato, engineered to have a longer shelf-life. Calgene, its producers, were the only company to give the United States FDA raw feeding study data. They did a study with rats but the rats refused to eat the tomato. They force fed rats the FlavrSavr tomato for 28 days. 7 of 20 rats developed stomach lesions. Another 7 of 40 died within 2 weeks. In the documents made public, scientists said that the study doesnt show a reasonable certainty of no harm. The FDA did not block the introduction of the tomato. The company had created two lines of the GM tomato, both with the same gene inserted. One was associated with these Control group GM fed high rates of lesions and deaths, the other was not. The company voluntarily decided to market the one that was not associated with the rat problems. This also provides an example of how the same crop inserted with identical genes, may have very different results. And it provides a good example of what can go wrong with GMOs. (FDA 1993, Pusztai 2002) Rat livers GM Pea In Australia, CSIRO researchers took a gene from a kidney bean which produced proteins that acted as a pesticide, and inserted it into peas to kill the pea weevil. The researchers did an allergic-type test on mice that no other GMO food crop developer had done before. When they exposed mice to the pesticide proteins from the Control group GM soy group Rats fed GM soy also showed changes in their livers
The above photos show that within the nuclei of the liver cells, the structure called the nucleoli was also misshapen in the GMfed mice.
kidney beans, it caused no reaction. They expected the same to happen when mice were exposed to the same protein produced by the transgene inside the peas. In fact, the amino acid sequence was identical in both proteins as the one produced
gmo
by both the bean and the pea. But the mice developed an inflammatory response to the protein produced in the GM peas. It was an immune type response that was very dangerous, suggesting that the peas might create a deadly anaphylactic shock or other types of immune or inflammatory reactions in humans. To understand why the GMO pea caused the severe allergy problems, the researchers looked very carefully at the protein structure and found that the sugars that had attached to it had a slightly changed pattern. They said it was the slightly changed pattern of the sugars that made the peas harmful. The problem is that the potentially deadly GM peas had already passed all the allergy tests that are normally used to get GM foods on the market. The only reason they were stopped was because the crop developer had chosen to use a mice study that had never been used on any other GM food crop. This shows that the regulatory system, as practiced, is a failure, and may be letting deadly allergens on the market. To the credit of the CSIRO they discontinued bringing the GMO pea to point where it would be grown commercially. (Prescott 2005) LTrytophan In the late 1980s an epidemic that killed about 100 Americans and caused another 5-10,000 to fall sick or become permanently disabled was traced to an amino acid health supplement called L-tryptophan. Ltryptophan is a common amino acid that is found in milk products. For many years it was extracted from milk and sold as health supplement to help people sleep. A Japanese company Showa Denko started to produce L-tryptophan from genetically engineering the bacteria. The epidemic was traced back to the L-tryptophan that was produced from the genetically engineered bacteria. It took years to discover that the epidemic was underway. It required a series of coincidences, plus the fact that the disease had three concurrent characteristics. The disease: Was new with unique symptoms that stood out It was acute so people went to doctors or hospitals It came on quickly, so they went to doctors right after taking it According to the Los Angeles Times, July 10, 1991: A Japanese chemical manufacturer was ordered to pay more than $2 million to four people who used L-tryptophan, a food supplement linked to a rare blood disorder that killed at least 27 people. The state arbitration panels order late Monday was the nations first damage award against manufacturer Showa Denko Co., said Turner Branch of Albuquerque, N.M., vice chairman of a steering committee for attorneys representing L-tryptophan victims. The Misconceptions The GMO protagonists promote the image that they are only speeding up the natural crossbreeding processes used by farm-
ers and breeders for millennia by inserting the new gene with the desired trait directly into the new organisms. This distortion of the facts needs to be corrected. The Natural Breeding Misconception One critical issue is that multiple genes are being transferred across kingdoms and species such as bacteria, viruses, plants and animals in ways that do not occur by natural breeding methods. All living things are classified according to a ranking system that starts with species. Closely related species are grouped together under a rank that is called a Genus. Closely related Genera (the plural of genus) are grouped together under the rank of Family. Closely related Families are grouped together under the rank of Order. There are seven ranks. Starting with the highest they are: kingdom, phylum or division, class, order, family, genus, species. Plants, Animals, Fungi, Viruses and Bacteria belong to separate Kingdoms. Natural breeding can take place between some species that belong to the same genus and very occasionally between species of different genera. However species that belong to different families do not breed and definitely species that belong to different Kingdoms such as plants, animals, fungi, bacteria and viruses do not breed in nature. Plants for example do not breed with animals, bacteria or viruses. Genetic engineering allows for the transfer of genes between Kingdoms in a way that can never occur naturally. This is something that has never occurred before and it creates a new frontier with many uncertainties due to sciences limited understanding about genetics. The Single Gene Misconception The other great misconception is that researchers are only inserting one new gene. At this stage science is not sophisticated enough to insert a single gene and get it to work. To overcome this problem, scientists have to combine the gene with the desired trait (such as herbicide tolerance or pesticide production) with other genes that will make it work. Researchers also insert genes that help them to identify if the new gene is working within the chromosome. This becomes a complex construction of transgenes that can come from bacterial, viral, fish, plant and other sources. Inserting the Gene Sequence Another misconception is that the gene is neatly inserted into the cell chromosome. Genes are grouped together inside the cell in long strands call chromosomes. Researchers use what can be best described as a shotgun approach when they push new genes into a chromosome. They either shoot the genetic material into the target cells, insert it after weakening the cell
membrane with an electric shock/chemical, or use a modified microorganism such as a virus to infect the target cell with the new genes. The problem with these approaches is that the researchers do not know if genes have been inserted into a chromosome and if they have been inserted they do not know where the new genes have landed in any of the chromosomes and if they will work. Antibiotic Resistance Marker Genes The most common method of discovering if the new gene will work involves using Antibiotic Resistance Marker Genes. These genes come from bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics. The marker genes are attached to the gene with the desired trait (herbicide resistance as an example) and they are shot into the target cells. These cells are then cultured and an antibiotic is added. The cells that live have adopted the new genes as they are resistant to the antibiotic. These are then grown out as plants. The big problem with these plants is that every part of the plant has genes for antibiotic resistance. Many scientists and medical professionals have expressed concerns about these genes being horizontally transferred into the gut and mouth bacteria of humans and animals eating genetically modified food. They are worried that this could create bacteria that are resistant to the antibiotics needed to cure infections. Horizontal gene transfer is where microorganisms take up genes directly through their cell walls rather than by the normal method of reproduction. It has been shown to occur with the antibiotic resistant super bugs that are now found in many hospitals. When the potential danger of this was pointed out to the genetic scientists they dismissed it as impossible. Several studies have since shown that these antibiotic resistance genes can be transferred to bacteria in as little as two hours after eating genetically modified food. New Scientist in July 2002 reported on a scientific experiment that showed that this can happen to bacteria in the human digestive system: for the first time, it has been proved that bacteria in the human gut can take up DNA from genetically modified food. Currently every commercially released GMO plant has antibiotic resistance genes in every cell. They should be banned for this reason alone. Queensland researchers have developed a fluorescent marker gene that comes from a jellyfish. This gene can be used to select the cell with the desired trait as they fluoresce under an ultraviolet light. This will be a major improvement in the safety of GMOs over the current technology, however it does not address the multiplicity of more serious problems. Problems with the CaMV There are several problems with the CaMV. Every current GMO plant is part virus. Every cell of their bodies contains the active section of a virus. With billions of these plants now released into the environment, many scientists believe that there is a great risk of horizontal transfer of the viral genetic code from GMO plants into invading viruses, creating new virulent transgenic viruses. The Union of Concerned Scientists states: Recombination can occur between the plant-produced viral genes and closely related genes of incoming viruses. Such recombination may produce viruses that can infect a wider range of hosts or that may be more virulent than the parent viruses. According to Dr Mae-Wan Ho of the Institute of Science in Society, London: GM constructs are designed to cross species barriers and to invade genomes. In other words, GM constructs are more likely to transfer horizontally. Genetic engineering will accelerate the generation of new viruses and bacteria. The Cauliflower Mosaic Virus Promoter (CaMV) When foreign DNA is inserted into organisms, three things usually happen. The most common one is that the foreign DNA is digested to provide energy and building blocks for the cell. It can also be rejected. The other response is to close over the foreign DNA and deactivate it. All of these responses are defence mechanisms to overcome attacks by pathogens (disease). The host organism defends itself by getting rid of the foreign material. This is the reason why transplant recipients have to take anti-rejection drugs. When organisms detect foreign DNA a whole range of responses, collectively known as the immune system, can be activated to repel or destroy the invaders. When foreign genes are shot/infected into a cell, they tend to be digested, rejected or closed over. Either way this means that the target organism will not have the desired trait from the new gene. To overcome this, genetic scientists build a construction with a section of the cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV). The CaMV gives the signal that activates or promotes the new gene. It ensures that the gene is active so that its desired trait, like herbicide resistance, works in the new plant.
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When GMO scientists and researchers are questioned on this the standard reply is that the cauliflower mosaic virus is harmless and doesnt affect humans. Many harmless viruses change into forms that can be serious. The various forms of the flu are the classic example. Seventy years ago AIDS was restricted to monkeys and didnt affect humans. SARS is a slightly modified common cold virus and is now a seriously fatal disease with the potential for massive epidemics. According to Helen Pearson writing in the journal Nature, April 2003: In a simple overnight experiment, researchers transformed a coronavirus that is lethal to cats into one that infects mouse cells by replacing a single gene. The result strengthens the idea that the SARS coronavirus might have arisen when an animal and human virus met and swapped genes, says the studys lead scientist The fact is no scientist can predict what would happen if transgenic viruses and bacteria emerged from GMO plants. It was only a short time ago these same scientists were saying pollen drift from GMOs would not affect nearby crops and that the horizontal transference of antibiotic resistant genes from GMOs into gut microorganisms was not possible. Dr. Mae-Wan Ho further states: This CaMV promoter is also known to work for genes all across the living world: in plants, bacteria, fungi, and, as we discovered recently in the literature more than 10 years old, also in frog eggs and human cells. It is able to substitute, in part or in whole, for the promoter of many other viruses. Viruses are not only everywhere in the environment, they also lie dormant in the genomes of all organisms, bacteria, plants and animals without exception. And there is evidence that such dormant viruses can be reactivated as a result of genetic recombination. Unstable GM Constructs A serious problem with the CaMV is that it has been proven to be unstable within the chromosomes of GMO plants. Researchers from the John Innes Center, UK one of the worlds major biotechnology research centres, have found that during field trails of GM plants, later generations became unstable and variable. The CaMV moves from one part of a chromosome to another and activates the new gene next it. This means it randomly causes genes within the plant to work in ways that would not occur normally. It could lead to all sorts of future problems like making plants that have small amounts of beneficial phyto nutrients, express them in toxic amounts cause hormones and other regulatory functions to be pushed out of balance and cause future chaos in the genetic makeup of plants and animals that we do not understand. It is the equivalent of Russian Roulette with DNA. Dr. Mae-Wan Ho sums up the potential dangers of this technology: GM constructs are designed to cross species barriers and to invade genomes. In other words, GM constructs are
more likely to transfer horizontally. Horizontal gene transfer will increase the opportunity for genetic recombination. The GM constructs are already of mixed origins, with base sequences similar to the genetic material of many pathogenic bacteria and viruses. That, again, as every geneticist should know, will greatly increase the probability for genetic recombination, and with a wide assortment of bacteria and viruses. What is most concerning with this is that this viral promoter gene and other GM constructs have escaped into the wild relatives of GMO plants and also contaminated a sizeable proportion of non GMO crops like corn, canola and soybeans. The potential danger is being completely ignored by regulatory authorities, with no ongoing research looking at these potential pathogenic transgenic viruses and bacteria. Dr. Mae-Wan Ho warns: The scientists set up guidelines, based largely on assumptions, all of which have fallen by the wayside as the result of new scientific findings. Instead of tightening the guidelines, our regulators have relaxed them as commercial pressures built up. It does not take a great feat of imagination to see why genetic engineering will accelerate the generation of new viruses and bacteria. Lack of Research Many scientists have expressed concern that the current regulatory systems are inadequate in ensuring the safety of GMOs, Professor Seralini and his colleague have expressed great concern over the lack of scientific testing for the adverse health effects associated with GMOs. They stated: ...that it is unacceptable to submit 500 million Europeans and several billions of consumers worldwide to the new pesticide GM-derived foods or feed, this being done without more controls (if any) than the only 3-month-long toxicological tests and using only one mammalian species, especially since there is growing evidence of concern... (Seralini et al 2011) Conclusion We a looking at a large scale uncontrolled experiment and we do not know the outcomes. Logic and common sense would state that we need a moratorium on the release of all GMOs anda until there is good quality, long term peer reviewed science that ensures that there are no risks. To do otherwise is to leave a massive problem for future generations. Never forget that the scientist who invented DDT received a Noble Prize because of the immense benefits this discovery was supposed to bring to the world. We are still paying the hidden price of a lack of understanding of the long term consequences of this discovery.
Many of the pictures and some of the text comes from a comprehensive GMO presentation by Jeffrey M. Smith, Executive Director, Institute for Responsible Technology. www.responsibletechnology.org
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Nuria Alonso, Eva Mattsson, Kolbjrn rjavik, Gunnar Rundgren & Stephanie Wells
Table 1:
Number of certification bodies per region

Grolink, The Organic Certification Directory 2013
The Organic Standard

2007 8 147 172 47 83 11 468 2008 10 157 177 48 78 11 481 2009 10 164 180 47 76 12 489 2010 12 165 214 51 78 12 532 2011 19 179 213 51 74 13 549 2012 19 222 213 38 72 12 576
Quote quote
2004 Africa Asia Europe Latin America & Caribbean North America Oceania Total 9 91 142 33 97 11 383
2005 7 117 157 43 85 11 420
2006 8 93 160 43 80 11 395
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TOS
Canada and Switzerland recognise each others organic programmes One more bilateral equivalency agreement has been added to the list of those achieved recently, this time between Canada and Switzerland. The equivalence arrangement has some limits as it requires all products, as well as all ingredients in processed products, to be grown in or originate from Canada, Switzerland or the European Union. Products outside the scope of the arrangement can continue to be traded as usual (being certified to the standards of the importing country). Public Consultation on the EU Regulation The EU is currently immersed in a revision of its organic legislation. One of the steps in this process was a public consultation (which recently closed but can still be found at http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/ consultations/organic/2013_en.htm). This was open to all citizens interested in organic production in Europe. The EU Commission will use the responses from this questionnaire together with other studies and evaluations as the basis for a renewed political and legal framework for organic agriculture in Europe. It is anticipated that a first draft will be available from the Commission around the end of 2013. The tenth edition of The Organic Certification Directory was published in February 2013. The Directory lists all the organic certification bodies in the world and can be found at www.organicstandard.com/ directory In 2012 there were 576 certification bodies operating in the world, up by 27 from 549 in 2011. The majority are located in the European Union, followed by South Korea, Japan, the United States, China, India and Canada. According to the Directory, there are only 39 countries in the world that do not have organic certification bodies, most being tiny micro-states such as Andorra, Liechtenstein and
Monaco in Europe, Pacific archipelagos such as Micronesia or countries with unstable political situations such as Afghanistan. (see Fewer standards and more countries with legislation for organic production Around one hundred countries have either finalised or are working on legislation for organic production. This has changed the role and space for private standards for organic production. The Organic Certification Directory asked certification bodies whether they have their own standard. 121 of the 267 that responded said yes. This number has declined since 2011, when 127 answered that they had their own standards (The term own standards includes both private standards with a wide scope (such as the standards used by organisations like the Soil Association) and standards made by public or private organisations to cover specific areas (such as aquaculture). The term also includes products outside the food/feed sector, such as cosmetics.
Stork-friendly rice in Japan A scheme for stork-friendly farming has allowed the oriental white stork which became extinct in Toyooka City, Japan at the beginning of the 1970s due to the introduction of intensive rice farming methods to return to its old home. Since 2003, farmers have been encouraged to apply the white stork-friendly farming method. Participating farmers are required to reduce pesticide use by 75%, to use no fertilisers, to sterilise seeds by soaking them in hot water (rather than buying treated seeds), to flood their paddies deeper and to retain the water in the paddies for longer. Pure organic farming is also being promoted among farmers, and while the uptake is still small it is growing. Toyooka City farmers are paid by the government to follow the rules of this scheme and receive a 60% premium for rice sold under the stork-friendly label. Imports to South Korea From 1 January 2013, all fresh organic products exported to South Korea must be certified to the Korean standard. However this requirement will not apply to processed organic products until 1 January 2014. This means that processed organic products certified to other standards can still be imported into South Korea throughout 2013. Equivalency system dominates imports into the EU The new equivalency system introduced in 2012 for accepting imported organic products into the EU now accounts for around 90% of all product acceptances carried out in the importer approval sys-
UAE will introduce organic regulation The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has initiated a process to regulate organic production and certification. These regulations are currently being drawn up, before the Government discusses them.
More information: www.thenational.ae/news/ uae-news/uae-moves-toregulate-organic-foodproduction
tem. The previous imports derogation system (whereby the competent authority in an EU country applies for approval of an import to the EU) will run in parallel until the end of June 2014 when this route will be closed down.
Nuria Alonso: assignment@organicstandard.com Stephanie Wells: Canadian Organic Trade Association (COTA) ECOLOGY & FARMING | 2-2013 47
A birthplace for social innovation

Maximilian Abouleish-Boes & Maryam El Masry
The Social Innovation Centre at Heliopolis University for Sustainable Development
Education is the base for human and societal development. It is a challenge that all countries face in todays world. Teaching knowledge, raising awareness and building skills are the foundation for improving the living conditions of humans and communities in the long run and for transforming the current state of our society.
The Heliopolis University campus
48
Education
Students in a fine arts session in the core programme
Our mission is to empower our students to become champions of sustainable development and agents of change within society
of over 95% desert which leaves less than 0.02 feddan (= 84 m2) of arable land per person for over 85 million people. The fact that the population is growing annually by an average of 2% raises serious questions about future food security in Egypt. Desert land reclamation is a necessary strategic approach to increase Egypts arable land resources. Sekems farms in Sinai, Bahareya and Minya contribute
has created many structural issues and problems. It is not just technological solutions that are required: social innovations are much more important for successfully resolving burning social issues. In 1977, Dr. Ibrahim Abouleish founded the Sekem initiative on an untouched part of the Egyptian desert (70 hectares) in an area 60 kilometres northwest of Cairo. He was awarded the Right Livelihood Award in 2003, became a Schwab Social Entrepreneur in 2004 and won the Business for Peace Award in 2012. The Sekem initiative is now seen as a model for sustainable development. Alongside the Sekem Holding and the Sekem Development Foundation (SDF) there is now the newly established Heliopolis University for Sustainable Development. The SDF runs a community medical centre, a kindergarten, several schools, a centre for children with special needs, different vocational training centres, an adult arts training centre and various research labs. The companies within Sekem are involved in farming, post-harvest processing, phytopharmaca, textiles and foods. The integration of these different roles creates strong synergies and is backed up with strong international partnerships in Sekems approach to agriculture is based on regeneration. By turning desert into living soils through the application of compost and biodynamic concepts and methods, Sekem has shown that desert land can be reclaimed and regenerated. For over 30 years, Sekem has been building up living soils in desert land, implementing a closed nutrients cycle, and integrating livestock with a diverse range of crops, plants and trees. Egypt consists the organic movement and beyond. All of the 600 farmers who supply biodynamic and organic raw materials to Sekem are members of the Egyptian Biodynamic Association (EBDA) that provides capacity building and is supported by Sekem. In 2008, Sekem started further expanding its own farmlands on a number of locations in the Egyptian desert.
gypt has suffered from weak educational systems for decades and this
to ensuring future security which creates jobs to sustain the farms. It can thus be seen as a form of social innovation. But how to encourage more innovations of a similar nature? Heliopolis University will play a crucial role in this. It was officially established in September 2012 to continue the work of the educational system in the Sekem initiative and to extend the cycle for life-long learning. It aims to further enhance the sustainable development of individuals, communities and nature in Egypt. This approach to sustainable development includes a holistic worldview which involves seeing the world as an integrated whole, rather than a dissociated collection of parts. It involves striving for a future where all human beings can unfold their potential, where people live together in social forms
49
Students exploring farm life at Sekems farm close to Bilbeis
that respect and foster human dignity, and where all economic activity is conducted in accordance with ecological and ethical principles. Our mission is to empower our students to become champions of sustainable development and agents of change within society. Heliopolis University provides a place where new ideas can find fertile ground for further research and teaching. Our education combines teaching, research and practice with a unique humanistic core programme to develop curious and creative personalities. This will prepare a new generation of future leaders able to tackle the challenges that Egypt and the world face, such as climate change, water and food scarcity and the depletion of energy resources. Currently in its first phase, Heliopolis University presently has three faculties: the Faculty of Engineering, with departments of renewable energy, water, and mechatronics; the Faculty of Business and Economics for sustainable management and economics, and the Faculty of Pharmacy and Drug Technology. Our way of teaching includes an advanced dynamic curriculum, which has been developed together with international partners. Prominent faculty members, small student numbers, modern teaching methods and student exchange programmes all enhance the learning environment and ensure a high standard of education. All degree programmes are accredited by the Egyptian Ministry of Higher Education and based on the credit hour system. This system is easily transferable into the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS), facilitating international mobility.
Our next faculty will be the Faculty of Sustainable Agri-Culture
Heliopolis University has strong links with the Sekem initiative. This is a unique characteristic that differentiates it from other private or public universities. The institutional setting or ecosystem can be considered as a birthplace for many social innovations, as it combines all dimensions of life: economy, ecology, society and culture. The aim is to further upscale and transfer the Sekem model and we have explicitly created a Social Innovation Centre for that purpose. This focuses on trans-disciplinary research, building staff capacity and developing curricula for sustainable development. One of the centres main priorities is the challenge of water scarcity. The first difficult step is to understand water from a different perspective and to define the problem adequately before we try to find solutions or implement them within our specific context. We are therefore happy to engage with any serious actors in the field that know more about water apart from the fact that it is H2O. (Maximilian Abouleish-Boes) Another focus of Heliopolis University and its partners is the development of an inclusive concept for agri-culture. By highlighting the word culture we seek to emphasise that agri-culture is not only about cultivating farming land, but equally about the development of
humans and the earth. This implies a broader understanding of the term and the practices involved in agriculture, one that emphasises that agri-culture is an essential foundation for societal development that holds the key for many burning contemporary issues (such as the depletion of soils, scarcities of water, energy, food and mineral resources and the loss of biodiversity). The leverage effect of the agricultural sector is particularly significant in developing countries situated in arid climate zones. In Egypt around 40% of the population is directly employed in agriculture and over 85% of all available water is used in irrigation. The problem is that no one wants to become a farmer anymore. But looked at from the holistic development perspective, being a farmer can have a totally different meaning and sustainable desert reclaimer could become one of the most exciting jobs of the century. Our next faculty will therefore be the Faculty of Sustainable Agri-Culture and we welcome everybody who wants to contribute to this endeavour!
Maximilian Abouleish-Boes is Sustainable Development Manager at Sekem and is setting up the Social Innovation Center at Heliopolis University. Contact maximilian.abouleish@hu.edu. eg Maryam El Masry works in Sekems fundraising department Helioplis Universitys website can be found at http://www.hu.edu.eg/
june 2013 - december 2013 //
Calen dar Items

Textile Sustainability Conference November 11-13 2013 Istanbul, Turkey http://textileexchange. org/event/2013-textilesustainability-conferenceistanbul-turkey Middle East Natural & Organic Product Expo December 3-5 2013 Dubai www.naturalproductme.com CONTACT
Lay-out Vilarrica bv, Baarn, The Netherlands Maurice Spithoven (design) Annemieke Praamstra Advert acquisition Van Westering Groep bv Baarn, The Netherlands T +31 (0) 35 88 735 31 Subscriber administration P.O.Box 696 3740 AP Baarn, The Netherlands E subscriptions@ ecologyandfarming.com W www.ecologyandfarming.com Subscription Annual fee 2013, frequency of 4 x per year: 44 euro Printer Veldhuis Media BV Raalte, The Netherlands FSC certified
Ecology and Farming published by Van Westering Groep bv, The Netherlands, under the auspices of IFOAM
Agroecology for Sustainable Food Systems in Europe: A Transformative Agenda. June 26-27 Brussels, Belgium http://www.ensser.org/ Organic Marketing Forum June 17 -19 2013 Warsaw, Polen Fair and conference http://www.organicmarketing-forum.org/ The East African Organic Conference July 2-4 2013 Dar es Salaam, Tanzania www.ifoam.org/partners/ projects/osea.html
IFOAM-EU July 2-4 2013 Vilnius, Lithuania http://icoas2013.org/ registration/ Natural Products Expo Asia August 29-31 2013 Hong Kong, China www.naturalproductsasia.com Natural Products Expo East September 25-28 2013 Baltimore, USA www.expoeast.com Biofach Japan October 31 November 02 2013 Tokyo, Japan www.biofach-japan.com
Publisher Jaap van Westering Editorial staff Peter Brul (editor in chief) Denise Godinho, Nick Parrott Contributors to this issue Authors & photos: Andr Leu, Barbara Fitch Haumann, Bernward Geier, Bo van Elzakker, Eva Mattsson, Gunnar Rundgren, Josef Finke, Kolbjrn rjavik, Maximilian AbouleishBoes, Nuria Alonso, Peter Brul, Rob Sexton, Stephanie Wells, Wiebke Volkmann Editorial office P.O.Box 696, 3740 AP Baarn, The Netherlands T +31 (0) 35 88 735 31 F +31 (0) 35 54 241 19 E p.brul@ecologyandfarming.com W www.ecologyandfarming.com
Ecology & Farming is a magazine for all elements of the organic movement - from organic farmers associations to organisations from the organic food industry and Fair Trade; from research institutions to certifiers; from organic consumers to organic advocates. Ecology & Farming provides information on key issues in the organic sector and offers the space for discussions on the topics of the day. The articles published in Ecology & Farming reflect the opinions of their respective authors and should not be interpreted as an official IFOAM position. IFOAM The International Federation of
Organic Agriculture Movements is the umbrella organisation for the organic movement. Established in 1972, IFOAM has over 800 affiliates in more than 100 countries. and represents the common interests of the organic movement based on the principles of organic agriculture (ecology, health, fairness, care). IFOAMs mission is to lead, assist and unite the organic movement in its full diversity.
Peter Brul has been working in the organic sector as a
farmer, researcher and consultant for more than 35 years. He combines the role of Chief-Editor of Ecology & Farming with his own consultancy.
The Van Westering Groep B.V. have been publishing magazines since 1988. VWG also maintains a focus on ecology through Ekoland, the professional magazine for organic farming in the Netherlands and Belgium and Gezond Bouwen & Wonen, a professional magazine about sustainable building and living.
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SOS Save Our Seeds

Growth in the American organic sector

Sustainable Cocoa production and market

BCS ko-Garantie GmbH - the

organic certifier Number 1

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in The american organic sector

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Best practices, beautiful farms

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Our organic seeds grow your success

We set up emission reduction projects in developing countries and generate sustainable

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Lets join forces on our way to sustainability!

// 2 million protesters marched against the biotech mulitinational Monsanto.

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Growth in the American organic sector

Strong growth and new challenges in the USA

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IN U.S. PRODUCTION AT FARM-GATE VALUES

OF U.S. FAMILIES ARE

MORE THAN A HALF MILLION AMERICAN JOBS

ORGANIC APPLE MORE THAN

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WITH CANADA AND THE EU EXPAND GLOBAL MARKETS

OF PARENTS BUY ORGANIC TO AVOID TOXIC PESTICIDES AND FERTILIZERS

ASS conducted the survey for USDAs Risk Management Agency to

Stronger enforcement in the NOP

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OF THE ORGANIC MARKET IS DAIRY

Market growth continues at almost 10% p .a.

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