ITINERANT JOBS AND ADVERTS WITH CHEMISTRY: JUST ANOTHER ORGANIC WEEK

In any given week, there is an abundance of organic farming and food news, from the global to the local. Inevitably, many stories slip by. Usually, this column focuses on one main story. Instead, this week it will round up and analyze some of what's going on in the organic world.

Going global first, it turns out that for interesting reasons, independent business experts in Australia think that organic farming and food have a lot of potential.

Business information specialists IBISWorld rank growth in organic farming-related jobs as being the highest growth area for employment in Australia for 2010.

While some of these jobs are quaintly described as �itinerant� agricultural jobs, in other words transient fruit and vegetable farm hands, jobs across the spectrum are predicted, including at the business, promotion, and research ends.

Organic farming is also ranked second highest as a growth area overall, outscoring traditional big hitters like oil and gas production and health insurance.

IBISworld cite higher returns for farmers, increased ranges, increased consumer demand, and organic farming's resilience and adaptability in the face of extreme weather conditions as being positive signs for the industry.

Interesting lessons for Ireland?

At EU level, there are still a few days left to vote for what will be a mandatory EU organic logo. While this logo will be compulsory, private symbols will still be allowed after this logo is introduced.

Many have criticised the entire notion of a loosely regulated public on line vote for the organic logo.

After all, the Wolfe Tones' version of 'A Nation Once Again' topped a BBC poll for best song ever. Likewise, the recent UK Christmas number one was a song by Rage Against the Machine rather than the X factor winner. In both of these votes, committed campaigners changed the result.

More importantly perhaps, not engaging branding and copyright experts from the beginning of the logo choosing process has troubled many.

However, experts were at least engaged to whittle the entrants down to the last three: you can vote by going to either the Organic Trust or IOFGA (Irish Organic Farmers and Growers Association) websites.

Speaking of which, back home, IOFGA, have launched a new, improved and very detailed website.

Along with a searchable database and a dedicated section for producers, there is also information on their school gardening initiatives and more generic information on organic food, such as news, events and links. So now, both IOFGA and Organic Trust have top notch websites.

At the organic food end of the spectrum, two little bits of history were made here in Ireland.

Ireland's first certified organic gastropub was opened in the Dundrum shopping centre. Ruairi Maguire's Bar and Organic Kitchen describes it itself as both a traditional Irish pub and a place that only serves 100% organic food.

Glenisk also made a bit of history lately, with their TV advert: surely an Irish organic company's first TV advert? This is a milestone for organic in Ireland, and the advert does look exceptionally well.

It also looks exceptionally warm, sunny and picture perfect in the advert: nice young family, lots of nature everywhere, windmills in the background � the kind of vista that looks especially appealing in the middle of a cold winter.

As a moment in time, during the clutter of a 2 minute ad break, this advert, which is called, ' it's only natural', stands out as an oasis of calm.

Explaining why they choose such a subtle approach for their first advert, Glenisk suggested that the advert encapsulates messages of family, future environmental sustainability, the soil, nature, and, yes even milk.

Interestingly, the location has been quite technologically adapted, as what you see was actually filmed, or perhaps more accurately created, in a cold Irish December.

And I couldn't help a wry smile when I noticed on the Glenisk facebook page who had made their organic ad: a company called Chemistry. That, you couldn't make up.

Converting to Organic Farming: the cold hard cash

update:

for a list of the Teagasc organic training courses, which start this week, click here

Despite the recession, despite having 20 billion less to play with, both the grant aid and indeed the direct payments for the Organic Farming Scheme have been re-introduced.

What's equally significant is the fact that they have been introduced at the same levels they were at previously.

In the context of government coffers being especially low, unemployment being especially high, and a deflationary economy for almost 12 months, this is a major coup for the organic sector.

(Photo by Stephen Mosel)

The rates of pay mean that a farmer with the Irish average of 32 hectares receives nearly �7000 for the first two years of conversion. After that, the rate halves.

The specific rates of payment are as follows: �212 per hectare (ha) in conversion, from 3 to 55 ha, and a further �30 per ha for every ha above 55 ha claimed.

Full organic status: �106 per ha, from 3 to 55 ha, with �15 per ha for every ha above 55 claimed.

Horticultural payments start at �283 per ha for in conversion holdings under 6ha, and �142 per ha for full organic status.

The rates are the same as non-horticultural payments after this i.e. �212 per ha up to 55 ha and so on.

In expectation of a surge of interest, the Department has laid down some specific tasks for the prospective organic farmer.

Farmers and growers new to the Scheme must sign a five year contract, do an approved Teagasc course and prepare a business plan.

"At a time when funds are limited and we have to ensure value for money," Minister Sargent, minister with responsibility for organic farming, said."These changes in the Scheme are designed to ensure that the farmers joining it are those who have most to offer to the growth of the organic sector so that it can meet the increasing demand from consumers for organic produce."

Not only that, reading the details of the Departmental information on the Organic Farming Scheme, it is clear that if the scheme is over subscribed, the Department will select the most promising candidates only.

In other words, there is no guarantee that just because you want to go organic, the Department will allow you.

After the closing date for applications, 15 May 2010, decisions will be made �on the number of applicants that will be accepted into the scheme� according to the Department.

Grant aid has also been re-introduced. This had been suspended for a longer period of time, due to over subscription. It had proved especially popular, and indeed was growing in popularity up to its July 2009 suspension.

The number of successful applications increased from 82 in 2007 to 123 in 2009, an increase of 50%.

Expenditure under the schemes went from �594,000 in 2007 to �1.5 million in 2009, an increase of over 150%.

�176,845 (29.7%) went to two organic processors and �417,155 (70.3%) went to 80 organic producers, from the 2007 total of �594,000 in grant aid to registered organic operators.

In 2009, the Organic Unit's grant aid payments of �1,500,000 was broken down between payment of �873,060 (58.2%) to 7 organic processors and �626,940 (41.8%) to a total of 116 organic producers.

The on-farm scheme provides grant aid of 40% of the cost up to a maximum grant of �60,000. For off-farm investments, the maximum grant is �500,000.

In announcing the return of the Organic Farming Scheme, the minister also reaffirmed his commitment to the 5% land area organic farming target for 2012.

With limited government coffers, the reaffirmation of the 5% target in January 2010 is significant. The target came at the beginning of the current government term in 2007, when the economic landscape could not have been different.

The opportunity would have been there, with declining state revenues and a deep recession, to claim inability to pay for 5% of farmland to be organic at present. Instead, the target was reaffirmed.

All told, these commitments auger well for the organic sector.

Earthquake Relief Fund

The Cooperative Development Foundation's (CDF) Cooperative Emergency Fund is accepting donations for Haiti recovery. Donations will be used to help cooperatives and cooperators affected by the earthquake to rebuild their facilities and their lives. CDF is working with ACDI/VOCA and the NRECA International Foundation, who run cooperative development programs in Haiti, to send volunteer cooperators to help in this effort. CDF does not take any fee or charge any overhead for any use of its Emergency Fund, so every cent donated will go toward helping cooperatives and cooperators affected by the earthquake.

Donations made through Google checkout will not be assessed any processing fee due to a grant received from Google.

CDF has received and distributed over $275,000 for cooperative relief and recovery for disasters including the 1997 flooding in North Dakota, the 1998 Kenyan embassy bombing, the 2001 earthquake in El Salvador, the 2004 Asian tsunami, and Hurricane Katrina in 2005. If you would like to contribute on-line, please go to www.cdf.coop. If you would like to contribute by check, please make it payable to Cooperative Development Foundation, note that it is for Haiti, and send it to:

Cooperative Development Foundation

2011 Crystal Drive, Suite 800

Arlington, VA 22202

If you have any questions, please contact Steve Thomas, CDF's Executive Director, at (703) 302-8093 or sthomas@cdf.coop

NEW IOFGA SITE

IOFGA, Ireland's largest organic certification body, have (finally) updated their website. It's all bells and whistles, and full of useful information.

And, seeing as the likes of greatfood.ie are in the links section, who haven't updated their organic section in about 18 months, who knows, maybe I'll be lucky enough to make it over there someday too!

have a look at the new IOFGA site: look

ORGANIC MARKET 2009-2010

Where will Irish organic food find new markets in 2010 and beyond? It appears that the European market for organic products is surprisingly strong at present.

According to Amarjit Sahota, director of Organic Monitor, the UK based research and consultancy company, estimated overall growth in Europe was between 2 and 6 per cent in 2009. This is a drop from the double-digit growth rates of previous years but it is still unusually strong for a premium priced category.

The picture for organic food sales in 2009 was varied across Europe. Some some countries, such as the UK and Spain, suffered badly, whereas Scandinavian countries fared better.

Both the UK and Spain suffered from the global economic recession badly, and this is reflected in the organic market in each of these countries.

However, according to Sahota, the attitude of retailers played an important part too: expecting a downturn in demand for organic products, many retailers in the UK and Spain discontinued organic lines.

This contributed to a significant reduction in sales figures between August and March, but that since then, the market has stabilised.

There have also been signs of growth more recently in these two countries, which prompted retailers to admit that they were overly hasty in discontinuing organic lines.

For example, a recent survey from market research firm Mintel in the UK shows that nearly 40% of consumers claim they haven�t changed organic product purchasing habits because of the recession and only a mere 3% have stopped buying organic products altogether.

�Heavy users of natural and organic food and drink are most likely to indicate they�ve traded down to less expensive organic options,� notes David Browne, senior analyst at Mintel.

�However, less-frequent consumers of organic products have shown that they haven�t shifted their behavior. This is good news for the organic food and drink market, as this group may begin to buy more once recession-related fears begin to fade.�

Outside of the UK and Spain, many markets held firm for 2009: Italy, Germany and France all posted positive growth in 2009.

And in Sweden and Denmark, Organic Monitor said double-digit growth occurred in 2009 thanks to greater economic resistance to the recession and a more steadfast attitude from retailers.

Organic food sales from supermarkets and department stories in Denmark rose to �671m in 2008, marking a 29 per cent vertical rise on the year before, according to the Danish business daily Borsen.

According to Organic Monitor, growth rates for organic are strong in Scandinavian countries because of a combination of consolidation, culture and the economic backdrop.

�Their economies have not been as affected by the financial downturn as the UK, Germany, Spain and other European countries,� according to Sahota.

In addition, Scandinavians � and the Nordic culture � in general appear to be more conscious about environmental issues, he continued.

"Despite the very high cost of living, they don't seem to mind paying more for good quality products," says Sahota of the Scandinavian consumers. This culture contrasts with the 'discounting phenomena' in Germany and the UK in particular.

Consolidation has also been a factor. Between 2006 and 2007, many product ranges were re-vamped.

"After a period of slow growth and consolidation, growth kicks in and investment follows," explained Sahota, suggesting that Scandinavia is currently at the top of the cycle, an 'upturn' that contributed to the high double-digit growth witnessed in 2008.

The agri-food sector in Ireland is heavily export focused, so it is important for the sector to be aware of the trends across Europe. Traditionally, the UK has been a strong market for Irish organic products.

However, there are signs that the market's focus has begun to change towards mainland Europe. It is likely that another strong Irish delegation will travel to the world's biggest organic food trade fair, BioFach, which runs from 17-20th February in Germany . Last year's event led to significant new markets being accessed by Irish organic companies.

For more, see: BioFach

States Ban Practices that Support CAFOs

Several states recently banned specific practices that are common in CAFOs (confined animal feeding operations), taking small steps to level the playing field for more sustainable farms. California outlawed the amputation of dairy cows' tails, and Michigan passed a law phasing out restrictive crates for veal calves and pregnant sows, and tiny "battery" cages for egg-laying chickens, used to pack many animals together in a small space. Arizona, California, Florida, Maine, Colorado, and Oregon had previously acted to ban crates and battery cages, which, along with tail docking, are unnecessary practices that serve only to make large, polluting CAFOs viable. Meanwhile, examples abound of farmers successfully working with nature rather than against it to produce animal products without the problems associated with CAFOs. Listen to this recent National Public Radio story about one Ohio dairyman's efforts to transform the industry and produce fresher, more flavorful milk from cows on pasture.

2009: THE ORGANIC YEAR THAT WAS

In spite of the trials and tribulations every aspect of Irish life has faced this year, organic farming and food has managed to stand tall.

Difficult, challenging, and testing times no doubt, and more yet to come. This is not to say of course that everyone has grown their business, that all have even survived. It is to say, however, that the organic movement is resilient.

The organic year began with a slightly unusual announcement: the arrival of a new certification body: IMO. This global organisation specialises in various ethical certifications, including organic.

Their arrival may in the coming years open up export markets, expertise and multi layered certification and validation of Irish organic products, which may well help build the Irish organic sector - who knows? Its up to farmers and food producers to be innovative in this regard.

February saw the largest delegation yet of Irish organic food businesses at the BioFach trade show in Germany. This was one of the many innovative actions the Department of Agriculture and the organic sector took: the necessity of a weak UK market bred the ingenuity of new European markets.

The summer saw two significant occurrences: the UK Food Standards Authority's (FSA) report on nutrition, and the figures on the growth of the organic market in Ireland. This report was, in my own reasonably informed opinion, flawed in numerous ways.

In brief, however, regarding the nutritional superiority of organic over conventional: a conclusion of 'not enough evidence to make a case either ways' would have been far more accurate than the actual report's conclusion of 'no evidence'.

New excellent award winning organic products emerged: simple, honest foods like Moonshine Milk, Drumeen Farm Happy Heart Oil and Sowan's bread.

In my own small way, myself and Joe Condon have been adding to this by beavering away on the Organics with Altitude initiative. This encourages hill farmers to consider suitable upland breeds, artisan butchering, direct selling and organic certification. It has been going well for us, and I've really enjoyed getting out and about meeting farmers from Donegal to Kerry.

Also during the summer, Foras Organach was established, a streamlined and industry-led way to help develop the sector, whilst public procurement of organic finally began.

Despite or perhaps even because of the recession, the organic market actually grew in the period up to last records, July. It grew at a faster rate than its previous rate of growth,which was fast anyway. Few other areas are also growing in the Irish economy: as a stark contrast, pharmaceuticals and the multinational sector in general are.

A crucial difference between organic and these other growth areas is that organic is about one of Ireland's key and immovable natural resources � the land. Organic doesn't even have the option of relocating to Bangalore or New Deili: multi and transnational capital always has that option.

In this light, it is at least heartening that the 2009 reviewed programme for government renewed and indeed strengthened its commitment to organic.

Post budget, it was announced that all the organic cash was coming back: grant aid and both the in-conversion and area-based payments are being reintroduced at the previous levels.

And, happy new year folks: the Organic Farming Scheme returns tomorrow. Subject to new organic farmers completing a training course and business plan, they can apply from tomorrow on.

It cannot have been easy for the Minister with responsibility for organic farming, Trevor Sargent, to achieve this in the worst economic meltdown the country has even seen.

I genuinely do not think that the organic movement knows how blessed it is to have a supportive, hard working and, yes even visionary Minister at the helm: how would organic have fared in budgetary cutbacks if a journeyman with no real commitment to the sector was in there instead?

The biggest single remaining block to growth now is the issue regarding REPS 2 and REPS 3 farmers not actually being allowed convert to organic: some 30,000 don't even have the option, unless they pull out of REPS and return their payments.

Here's hoping that this crucial barrier is lifted in the New Year.