EFFECTING CHANGE

Scott Kinnear - Chair of Organic Federation of Australia

Where Are We Now?

It is easy to forget the overarching objectives that drove most of us into business with organics. If we step back, most of us would agree that we desire to see all food grown organically and what follows is that all food consumed is organic. We would support social change whereby poverty and starvation have been eliminated.

The greatest danger to organic is that we allow the economic niche market drivers to turn organic food into a global commodity. One that is processed, packaged and transported from one side of the world to the other with little regard to the use of fossil fuels (food miles) and the impact this has on the environment.

What we have to move towards is an economy based on enduring relationships supporting food production that is predominantly local, fresh and provides a meaningful income to those who grow. By meaningful I mean enough income to grow healthy food in a way that is beneficial for the environment and enables farmers to feed, clothe and educate their children.

If we look at the food production system the only sectors making money seem to be the processors, wholesalers, distributors, retailers. Farmers are driven to the lowest common denominator always.

The challenge is for organics to define its soul. In Europe there are the excesses of organics with every type of processed product from organic condoms to Swiss chocolate (offered in increasing quantities). Yet amongst what would seem to be a market that had become organic for only those who can afford it, are signs of a serious search for a deeper philosophy.

Effecting Change

The obvious way to begin to define organic soul is to bridge the link between producers of food and those who consume. It is essential we have organisations that are capable of bringing these two groups together for constant and ongoing developmental dialogue. But more importantly we need to develop policy that is consistent and shared throughout the organic organisations. If we do not cooperate then we will easily lose touch with deeper issues and waste resources defending against what should be our allies. We are entering an age where any behavior that ultimately does not stand the test of the triple bottom line is out. We must be able to clearly measure and take account of the impact on environment, health and social systems from our actions.

By cooperating to develop policy the organic movement will be better able to go onto influence its destiny. A shared vision is essential to bringing about the deeper social changes that are required. One example of cooperation is to develop a national standard that will be needed before the meaning of the word organic can be effectively defined in any legal or moral sense. Once the meaning of organic and biodynamic is articulated then the education of people will see reciprocating trust and support following. One of the greatest threats is the lack of controls at a time when people can clearly abuse the trust and reputation that organic foods have built.

We need to heed the lessons of the Soil Association in the UK where standards setting are done by a partnership of producers and consumers with a clear separation of powers from certification. This will ultimately be the most serious test of the organic movements ability to bridge the gap between consumers and producers. Where we open up the setting of standards to involvement from consumers, who after all are half of the dialogue, then we are moving to a more mature definition of organics.

Cooperation can also take place at the level of production. One of the exciting stories coming out of Scandinavia is of cooperatives forming with up to 80 families that own land and employ farm managers and local people to produce food. Each family receives a box each week and contributes funds if the farm needs capital or suffers hard times for example during bad seasons.

Social awareness is spreading exponentially across the globe via the Internet and we cannot underestimate the ability of consumers to move fast to support socially accredited as well as environmentally accredited products. As individuals and organisations we must put aside our desires to dominate the organic movement or market and explore the deeper meanings of socially responsible organic food.

One of the obvious results of a deeper approach to organic food is developing a strong domestic market. In the UK the Soil Association is now looking to protect its local producers with a strong policy to buy local UK in place of imported produce if it is available. This idea of buying local needs to be supported for so many reasons. Not just nationally but regionally. For example the least energy use is locally grown and locally consumed. The highest income is from locally sold food where the farmer sells direct to the consumer with a box scheme or else to one intermediary rather than several. The issue of energy use has also seen some Swiss certifiers refusing to certify processed foods if ingredients come via airfreight into the country.

This is not to say that countries like New Zealand should not export. Because most of the primary production of New Zealand is exported then markets should be sought in countries closest that will always need to import to sustain a food supply like Japan.

Once we have built understanding and cooperation then we need to educate the wider community about the responsibility that we all have to protect ourselves and the environment by supporting a deeper approach to food production. This can be done at all levels from organic gardens in kindergartens, primary schools to volunteering to talk at the high school or church group. Where possible set up demonstration farms and take schools to visit. The issue of genetic engineering has pushed the industrial approach to our food supply to the extreme creating an enormous opportunity to talk to people. I find that I am constantly being asked to speak on GE issues and I take the opportunity to always speak to deeper meanings. Most of us when asked want basic things to improve in our lives like family, health, environment, safety, and friendships. So inform yourself and take every opportunity to be part of a learning community.

The concept of investing in the deeper issues also needs mention. Most of us feel deeply distressed by the changes around us and feel we can do little to stop it. By purchasing organic foods we can do a lot to support organic farmers and other businesses involved. We can take it further by seeking out green investment opportunities. Be active with your savings and use them to support organic if you can. Approach your bank or credit cooperative and ask if they have organic bonds or investment options. These are available now in Europe and are proving popular. Trusting in the path of organic is important and our farmers will need all the support they can get through access to low interest funds.

We must also encourage the organic businesses that are doing well out of the upswing in demand. The retail, processing and wholesale distributors often do well in the start up phase and yet do little to contribute to the community and development of the deeper meaning of organics. They have a responsibility to invest in organisations and funds set up to support the organic movement. These organisations carry the responsibility for coordinating much of the social change impetus.

And do not let up the pressure on government. They are responsible to us, paid by us and have a duty of care that they need to be reminded of constantly. Visit, write, phone, argue and cajole them into providing reasons deeper than the shallow rhetoric we are so used to seeing to explain their support for policies that have little relationship to sanity.

Finally we must enjoy the changes to a deeper organic community. Through coming together for conferences, support groups, community groups etc we must eat organic foods and encourage the local farmers and shops to supply them. Remember the slow food movement started in Italy with 8 million members world wide dedicated to a return to the meaning of food and wine in an environmental, social and sensory context. It is exciting to be alive at a time when change for the better seems so much a possibility.

In Summary

• Put aside differences
• Find common ground
• Create policy
• Act together
• Educate
• Invest
• Lobby
• Celebrate changes