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.
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