Media Release Archives - Australian Organic

Federal election shaping as inflection point for organic industry

Tags: domestic regulation, organic farming, organic food

The Coalition and the Australian Greens have each backed the introduction of a legislated definition of the word “organic”. The move would close a loophole that currently allows products to carry an organic label in Australia with as little as two per cent certified organic content, leaving the industry open to greenwashing from non-certified producers....

US tariffs highlight need for investment in market access and domestic regulation

Tags: domestic regulation, organic farming, organic food

The nation’s peak organic industry group, Australian Organic Limited (AOL), has expressed its disappointment with the latest round of tariffs imposed by US President, Donald Trump, but says there are two moves the Australian government could make to ease the burden on Australian producers. AOL CEO, Jackie Brian, said the United States was the number....

Organics should be on the menu at national food security meeting

Tags: organic farming, organic food

Australia’s peak body for certified organic producers, Australian Organic Limited (AOL), has welcomed the Federal Government’s support for a new national food security strategy and says the organic industry is well positioned to be a major contributor to the plan. Federal Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Julie Collins, announced that if re-elected, an Albanese....

Organic Boom: Industry seeks election promises to unlock $5.8b future

Tags: domestic regulation, organic farming, organic food

Australia’s certified organic industry has released a detailed and costed list of election priorities ahead of the federal election which have the potential to more than double the annual value of the $2.6b sector. Once considered a niche sector, certified organic agriculture has evolved into a mainstream contributor to Australian agriculture and export markets, underpinned....

Senate Report shows momentum building for organic regulation

Tags: organic farming, organic food

The Organic Development Group, which represents nine of Australia's largest organic industry organisations, says momentum is building towards historic new consumer protections following the release of a Senate Committee Report declaring the current lack of regulation leaves the sector open to greenwashing and exploitation. The Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee has spent....

AOL completes 2025-26 Federal Budget Submission

Australian Organic Limited has provided a federal pre-budget submission, requesting investment in key areas to help support our industry's growth potential. These requests are broken down into three key pillars, as detailed below.....

Senate Inquiry reveals groundswell of support for closing organic loophole

Tags: domestic regulation, organic farming, organic food

Australia’s organic industry has welcomed the broad-based and emphatic support for the introduction of domestic regulation, with more than 95 per cent of submissions to a Senate Inquiry in favour of the move. The Senate Committee on Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport is currently assessing the merits of the National Organic Standard Bill 2024,....

Industry warns Australia is losing ground in world organic rankings

Tags: news, organic food

Some of Australia’s leading organic businesses and certifiers have warned a Senate Inquiry that Australia risks going from world leader to world laggard if the National Organic Standard Bill is not passed in Parliament next year. The proposed legislation, introduced to Federal Parliament last month, follows years of advocacy by the organic industry to create....

Inquiry Report recommends greater support for Australian organic operators seeking to export in Southeast Asia

Tags: organic farming, organic food

A parliamentary report has affirmed the potential of Australia’s organic industry as a driver for export growth in the Southeast Asia region, putting forward an unprecedented range of recommendations to support our nation’s organic operators with market access. The ‘Trading North’ report follows the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Agriculture’s Inquiry into the role....

Organic industry calls for trade barriers to be removed

Tags: organic farming, organic food

The certified organic industry continues to be on the agenda in Canberra, with peak body Australian Organic Limited (AOL) appearing at the latest public hearing of the Joint Standard Committee for Trade and Investment Growth’s Inquiry into the understanding and utilisation of benefits under Free Trade Agreements.....

Proposed law to usher in new consumer protection in Australia

Tags: domestic regulation, organic farming, organic food

NEVER-before-seen protections for organic consumers and the promise of lucrative new export markets for producers are among the benefits of proposed legislation introduced to Federal Parliament yesterday. The National Organic Standard Bill, a Private Senators’ Bill tabled by The Nationals Senator Bridget McKenzie would, if passed, make Australia the final country in the OECD to....

Food regulator risks Australia’s $2.6bn organic industry with GMO changes

The peak industry body for Australia’s certified organic industry has sounded the alarm over a proposal to drop labelling requirements for gene-edited products saying it will reduce transparency for consumers and increase the risk of unwitting contamination in the strictly non-GMO organic sector.....

How to farm twice the amount of land without buying a single extra hectare

Five years ago, fifth generation producer Matthew Marshall and his father Stephen made the bold decision to go “cold turkey” on synthetic fertilisers, replacing them completely with biological fertilisers to enhance productivity on their properties ‘Nandowrie’ and ‘The Pines’, totalling 5,725ha. The Marshalls run Angus/Limousin cross breeders and cultivate organic dryland crops, as well as....

Education the key to positive future for rural women

Tags: organic farming, organic food

One of Queensland’s largest organic beef producers says education is the key to women thriving in the ag space, whether through sharing experiences with each other in rural communities, adopting new technologies or completing a university degree online. Anna Appleton and her husband Fred, in conjunction with Loid and Zabby Appleton, operate Appleton Cattle Company,....

Organic industry presents five ways to boost exports to Southeast Asia

Tags: domestic regulation, organic food

Leading voices from Australia’s certified organic industry have appeared before a federal parliamentary inquiry into agricultural exports with simple changes that could seize the opportunities represented by a rising Southeast Asia middle class increasingly seeking out premium-quality food.....

Organic Development Group (ODG) actively working on solution for domestic regulation

Tags: AOnews, domestic regulation, organic farming, organic food

The Organic Development Group (ODG) was formed in 2023 to advance the interests of Australia’s growing organic sector, including the pursuit of domestic regulation. An update is provided on recent progress in this area, as well as other important developments and initiatives in the organic space.....

Strength of certified organic industry on show at Parliament House BBQ

Tags: domestic regulation, organic farming, organic food

HUNDREDS of farmers, producers, politicians and supporters of the certified organic industry have gathered at Parliament House in Canberra to celebrate Australian Organic Awareness Month and discuss how to unlock even more economic value from one of the success stories of Australian agriculture.....

Miss Universe Australia fronting Organic Awareness Month

Former Miss Universe Australia, Tegan Martin, is taking the leading role as Ambassador for Australian Organic Awareness Month (AOAM) this September to inspire Australians to eat and live more healthily. AOAM is Australia’s largest campaign raising awareness of the certified organic industry and the benefits its products have on human health and environmental sustainability, as....

The red tape holding back Australia’s certified organic industry

Tags: AOnews, domestic regulation

Leading voices from Australia’s certified organic industry have told a federal inquiry into food and beverage manufacturing they are being held back by Australia’s world-lagging approach to labelling laws. The peak industry group, Australian Organic Limited (AOL), and Australia’s largest certification body, ACO Certification Limited, were flanked at the public hearing in Brisbane by representatives....

‘Severe ramifications’ required in greenwashing crackdown

Tags: AOnews, domestic regulation

Australian Organic Limited (AOL) will call for harsher penalties on companies found to be misleading consumers when it presents at the latest public hearing of the Senate inquiry into greenwashing in Canberra today. Since AOL’s initial submission to the Senate committee in May 2023, the ACCC conducted its own inquiry into greenwashing after an internet....

Winners of 2024 Australian Organic Industry Awards announced

Tags: organic farming, organic food

This year’s winners of the prestigious Australian Organic Industry Awards were crowned at a gala event in Melbourne on Friday evening. Hosted by Australian Organic Limited (AOL), the awards ceremony marked the conclusion of the two-day 2024 Australian Organic Conference at Pullman Melbourne on the Park.....

Niki Ford steps down as CEO of Australian Organic Limited

After nearly six years at the helm of Australian Organic Limited (AOL), Chief Executive Officer, Niki Ford, has announced she will be stepping down from the role. Ms Ford, who became the organisation’s first female CEO in 2018, made the announcement at the close of the 2024 Australian Organic Conference that her tenure will end....

Collaboration key theme of Australian Organic Conference

Tags: Australian Organic

The 2024 Australian Organic Conference is underway in Melbourne, with keynote speaker, US impact investor Robyn O’Brien, known as “food’s Erin Brockovich”, saying Australia is the global frontline of the intersection of agriculture, climate and food security.....

Finalists announced for prestigious Australian Organic Industry Awards

Tags: organic farming, organic food

Australia’s finest certified organic producers, processors and operators will be celebrated at the 2024 Australian Organic Industry Awards, with finalists announced across seven categories. Hosted by Australian Organic Limited (AOL), this year’s awards will be presented at a gala dinner at the conclusion of the two-day Australian Organic Conference, held at Pullman Melbourne on the....

Ag and finance investor to share ‘exciting’ global opportunities at Australian Organic Conference

Tags: Australian Organic, organic farming

Australian Organic Limited has secured powerhouse global business innovator Robyn O’Brien as keynote speaker for its March 2024 conference in Melbourne, where she will speak to the conference theme of ‘Our Future: Growing Together’. Designed with the aim of unifying Australia’s certified organic industry, the two-day event will focus on three key pillars – business....

Wine expert pops the cork on his top nine tasting tips

Tags: news

If you want to sound more knowledgeable about wine, there aren’t many better people to learn from than Mike Bennie. The renowned wine judge and writer recently delivered a private masterclass session for the recipient of the 2023 Australian Organic Wine Awards Associate Scholarship, as part of his role leading the expert judging panel for....

Organic labelling laws under spotlight

Tags: news, organic farming

Rugby league legend and 2023 Australian Organic Awareness Month Ambassador, Anthony Minichiello, has backed the push for stronger regulations around organic ‘greenwashing’. Now a qualified nutritionist, Mr Minichiello advocates for certified organic farming practices as a key element of a nutrient-dense diet. “There’s a lot of misleading marketing claims and fake studies out there that....

South Australian growers dominate Organic Wine Awards

Tags: news, organic farming

South Australia has scooped the pool at the 2023 Australian Organic Wine Awards, with four of the six major trophies awarded to growers from the Wine State. Hosted by Australian Organic Limited (AOL), the Awards, now in their third year, celebrate Australia’s certified organic and biodynamic wine industry. In total, 45 certified organic and biodynamic....

Free-range poultry definitions fall fowl of consumer expectations

Tags: news, organic farming

The variability in poultry stocking densities allowed to be claimed as ‘free-range’ is being thrown into the spotlight during the 2023 Australian Organic Awareness Month. Under organic certification, no more than 1,500 egg-laying birds are permitted per hectare for set stocking, while non-organic free-range products can have up to 10,000 birds per hectare.....

Wilyabrup winery takes Organic Awards by Storm

Tags: news, organic farming

The burgeoning organic production of the Margaret River wine region has been celebrated at the 2023 Australian Organic Wine Awards, with five producers from the region among the trophy and medal winners. Wilyabrup-based Stormflower Vineyard claimed a Silver Medal and the Trophy for Best Left of Centre Wine for their 2022 Petillant Naturel, described by....

How certified organic farming can lower Australia’s agricultural emissions

Tags: news, organic farming, organic food

Scientists and industry leaders have explained how certified organic farming can play a key role in the fight against climate change, as part of the 2023 Australian Organic Awareness Month (AOAM). AOAM is run by Australian Organic Limited (AOL) in September each year, raising awareness of the benefits of certified organic products for human health....

Adelaide Hills winery claims top prizes for the second time at the Australian Organic Wine Awards

Tags: news, organic farming

Adelaide Hills Ngeringa Vineyard’s Iluma Syrah has once again secured the coveted Cullen Wines Trophy for Wine of Show, the top prize for Red of Show, and a Gold Medal at the 2023 Australian Organic Wine Awards. This year, it was the Mount Barker vineyard’s 2021 Iluma Syrah vintage crowned the Wine of Show, after....

Parliament puts on show of support for certified organic industry

Tags: domestic regulation, news, organic farming, organic food

Members of Parliament from across the political spectrum have joined international dignitaries and an array of the country’s top certified organic producers for a historic event at Parliament House to mark the formation of the Parliamentary Friends of Australia’s Organic Industry (PFAOI). Recognising the certified organic industry’s development into a major export earner and economic....

Washing not enough to remove pesticides

Tags: news, organic farming, organic food

Consumers are being urged to consider the potential harms of toxic pesticide residue on fresh produce during the 2023 Australian Organic Awareness Month (AOAM). AOAM is run by Australian Organic Limited (AOL) in September each year, raising awareness of the benefits of certified organic products for human health and environmental sustainability, and the importance of....

Rugby league legend backing Australian Organic Awareness Month

Tags: news, organic farming, organic food

Anthony Minichiello’s feats on the rugby league field are the stuff of legend, but in the age of sports science he’s determined to dispel some of the myths around health and fitness. As ambassador for Australian Organic Awareness Month 2023, which launches today, the former Sydney Roosters, New South Wales Origin and Kangaroos star is....

Historic formation of united voice for organic industry

Tags: domestic regulation, news, organic farming

There is a new, united voice for Australia’s organic industry, with eleven organisations coming together to form the Organic Development Group (ODG) to advance the interests of the organic sector, including the pursuit of domestic regulation. The ODG brings together all of Australia’s certification bodies and key industry groups in one forum.....

Food security inquiry considers crucial role of organics

Tags: news, organic farming, organic food

The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Agriculture has heard from Australian Organic Limited (AOL) on the crucial role organics can play in creating a resilient farming ecosystem to enhance food security into the future. Speaking at public hearings in Brisbane this week as part of the ongoing inquiry into food security in Australia, AOL....

Young sommelier awarded coveted judging spot

Tags: Organic Wine Awards

The 2023 Australian Organic Wine Awards will showcase the highest quality organic and biodynamic wines in the country, with one of the industry’s rising stars set to take her place on the judging panel. West Australian sommelier Sophia Gannon has been named as the recipient of this year’s Associate Scholarship for the Awards, which aims....

Federal MPs get behind Australia’s growing organic industry

Australia's organic operators have welcomed support from the halls of Canberra with the formation of a Federal Parliamentary Friendship Group for organics. Established by Liberal Party Member for Casey, Aaron Violi, and Labor Member for Hunter, Dan Repacholi, the Parliamentary Friends of Australia’s Organic Industry will provide a forum for members of the industry to....

Organic Wine Awards to showcase country’s finest drops

A talented young sommelier from Western Australia has been named as the recipient of the Australian Organic Wine Awards Associate Scholarship and will join the judging panel of this year’s prestigious Australian Organic Wine Awards. Applications are now open for the 2023 Australian Organic Wine Awards, set to showcase the highest quality organic and biodynamic....

Australia’s organic industry grows to record size, but huge potential remains untapped

Tags: organic farming, organic food

The Australian Organic Market Report 2023 shows there are 53 million hectares of certified organic farmland across the country (up from 35.7 million hectares reported in 2021), highlighting increasing confidence in the industry and the value of certification.....

New data on greenwashing highlights need for regulation

Tags: organic farming, organic food

The Australian Organic Market Report 2023 shows ‘greenwashing’ continues to undermine consumer trust in the $2.6 billion industry, underscoring the need for regulation to protect consumers and certified organic producers.....

Minister Watt says no to national standard on organics so Minister, what now?

Tags: domestic regulation, organic farming, organic food

Australia’s certified organic industry has been left shocked and disappointed at the decision by Minister for Agriculture Murray Watt to abandon plans to introduce domestic regulation, ignoring his own panel of industry experts and thousands of producers. In a bitter twist, Minister Watt’s decision comes on the same day New Zealand’s parliament formally passed a....

Organic industry leaders add voice to domestic regulation debate

Queensland’s oldest organic processor and the nation’s leading producer of organic free-range chicken have expressed their frustration at the government’s “ill-informed” and “ridiculous” decision to abandon organic domestic regulation. Quentin Kennedy, Managing Director of Kialla Pure Foods, addressed media and industry leaders today in response to Agriculture Minister Murray Watt’s recent comments that regulation would....

Minister Watt ignores evidence, experts and industry with captain’s call on domestic regulation

Tags: domestic regulation, news

As peak body for Australia’s organic industry, AOL has reacted with alarm and dismay at the move by Minister for Agriculture Murray Watt to place domestic regulation into the too-hard basket, despite his department’s own commissioned advice finding it will leave the industry and consumers worse off.....

Australian Organic Limited celebrates International Women’s Day

The many and diverse achievements of women in the organic industry are being highlighted this International Women’s Day by peak industry body Australian Organic Limited (AOL). AOL Chief Executive, Niki Ford, said Australia’s $2 billion a year organic sector is filled with innovative, driven, and successful women. “Diversity is essential to the success of our....

Scholarship promotes the next generation of female leaders in the organic wine industry

Applications for the highly sought after 2023 Australian Organic Wine Awards Associate Scholarship are now open, presenting a unique opportunity for the next generation of female wine leaders. Supported by peak industry body Australian Organic Limited (AOL), the scholarship is aimed at promoting female talent and leadership in the organic wine industry, as well as....

Australian Organic Limited launches solo advisory services

Tags: Australian Certified Organic

Peak organic industry body Australian Organic Limited (AOL) has announced the launch of solo advisory services to assist businesses and individuals looking to navigate the path to certified production. The new service will provide end-to-end guidance in becoming certified organic and assist those who are in-conversion or looking to maintain or reinstate certification status, as....

Canberra meetings up ante on urgent need for domestic regulation

Tags: Australian Certified Organic, domestic regulation, organic food

Peak representative body Australian Organic Limited (AOL) has taken its campaign for mandatory domestic regulation of the organic industry to Canberra, as organic producers and businesses grow increasingly frustrated by the protracted pathway to an urgently needed regulatory framework. AOL met with almost 20 parliamentarians and stakeholders from across the country last week, to refocus....

Peak industry body Australian Organic welcomes new Chair

Tags: Australian Certified Organic

Australia’s peak industry body for the organic sector, Australian Organic Limited, has announced the appointment of highly regarded winemaker and business owner, Mike Brown as Board Chair. With more than two decades in the wine industry, Mr Brown, with his wife Melissa, own Gemtree Wines, an award-winning certified organic winery in McLaren Vale, South Australia.....

Andrew McIlwain named Young Organic Leader of the Year at 2022 Australian Organic Industry Awards

Tags: Australian Certified Organic, organic farming, organic food

General Manager of Green Camel Organic Produce and up-and-coming leader, Andrew McIlwain, is on a mission to change perceptions around organic produce and promote its wide-ranging benefits to more consumers. Andrew’s clear leadership potential and commitment to the industry was recognised on Friday 25 November when he was named Young Organic Leader of the Year....

Georgia Beattie named Organic Woman of the Year at 2022 Australian Organic Industry Awards

Tags: Australian Certified Organic, organic farming, organic food

A focus on diversity, sustainability and technology has earned Georgia Beattie the title of Organic Woman of the Year at the 2022 Australian Organic Industry Awards. Georgia is CEO and Managing Director of Australia’s largest organic mushroom farm, Bulla Park, and received the title at the ceremony hosted by peak industry body Australian Organic Limited....

Brendon Hoyle named Farmer of the Year at 2022 Australian Organic Industry Awards

Tags: Australian Certified Organic, organic farming, organic food

Growing the sweetest berries is an art and a science according to Brendon Hoyle, who has been named as the organic industry’s Farmer of the Year for 2022. Brendon, who is co-owner and operator of Ashbern Farms in Queensland, received the title at the Australian Organic Industry Awards at Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley on Friday,....

Hall of Fame inductee and Chairman’s Award recipient announced at 2022 Australian Organic Industry Awards

Tags: Australian Certified Organic, organic farming, organic food

THE winners of two of the most prestigious honours in the Australian organic industry have been unveiled at the 2022 Australian Organic Industry Awards. Australian Organic Limited Chairman, Martin Meek, said it was a privilege to select the inductee into the AOL Hall of Fame and the recipient of the Chairman’s Award. “This year’s honourees,....

2022 Australian Organic Industry Awards winners announced

Tags: Australian Certified Organic, organic farming, organic food

A Queensland strawberry farmer, the head of Australia’s largest organic mushroom producer, and a Victorian dairy company were among 10 award winners at the 8th Australian Organic Industry Awards on Friday night. Held at Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley in Lovedale, NSW, peak industry body Australian Organic Limited (AOL) announced the night’s honourees, who collectively span....

Finalists announced for 2022 Australian Organic Industry Awards

Tags: Australian Certified Organic

AUSTRALIA’S finest organic operators will battle it out for top honours at this year’s Australian Organic Industry Awards, with finalists announced across eight categories. The premier night for the nation’s $2 billion organic industry features two new categories, Brand of the Year and the Innovation Award, in recognition of the trailblazing efforts of those introducing....

Pesticide concerns reinforce need to be mindful of chemical consumption

Tags: organic farming

Research released last week showing 8% of Australian people in a test population had traces of weed killer glyphosate in their urine has further brought to light the need for consumers to be aware of chemical use in the food supply chain. The research, conducted by the University of Queensland, comes after earlier reports in....

Tips on shopping organic affordably as nationwide demand grows

Tags: Australian Certified Organic, organic food

The increasing availability of organic products and the desire for more healthy living is driving greater demand for organic products according to a new survey of shoppers, with almost six in 10 people purchasing at least one organic product in the past year. AOL CEO Niki Ford, said while certified organic products often cost more....

On the road to meeting sustainable packaging targets

Tags: Australian Certified Organic, organic farming

A NEW educational campaign on the Australasian Recycling Label and innovations in packaging for the wine industry were key discussions at the inaugural Australian Organic Conference in Brisbane today, as businesses across the country work towards the 2025 National Packaging Targets.....

Innovative insect pheromones and viruses support organic agricultural farming

Tags: Australian Certified Organic, organic farming

NATURAL pheromones to increase honey bee pollination and cultivating insect viruses to combat pests are two innovative practices an Australian company is using to support organic farming practices.....

Organic food systems support climate change reduction

Tags: Australian Certified Organic, organic farming

THE Vice Chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has told the inaugural Australian Organic Conference in Brisbane that organic food production has a direct opportunity to slow climate change and support the wellbeing of the planet.....

Registrations open for inaugural Australian Organic Limited conference

Tags: Australian Certified Organic, Australian Organic, organic farming

The immense opportunities for the thriving organic industry will be unveiled and examined during the Australian Organic Conference 2022 being held in Brisbane from 21 to 22 July to coincide with Australian Organic Limited’s (AOL) 35th anniversary.....

Australian Organic Limited welcomes re-election commitment to implementing domestic organic standard

Tags: Australian Certified Organic, domestic regulation

AOL has welcomed today’s Coalition Government re-election commitment to implement a domestic standard for organic production, processing, supply chains and labelling.....

South Australia’s diverse wine regions and varieties clean up at Australian Organic Wine Industry Awards

Tags: Australian Certified Organic, Australian Organic, Organic, organic farming

South Australian wineries have reigned supreme at the 2021 Australian Organic Wine Industry Awards, with Ngeringa, Tscharke Wines and Mount Horrocks Wines among the big winners.....

Northern Victorian winery wins two new categories in Australian Organic Wine Industry Awards

Tags: Australian Certified Organic, Australian Organic, Organic, organic farming

A Goulburn Valley winery has claimed two of the new categories in the 2021 Australian Organic Wine Industry Awards announced on April 8.....

Syrah secures top prizes at the Australian Organic Wine Industry Awards

Tags: Australian Certified Organic, Australian Organic, Organic

The 2021 Australian Organic Wine Industry Awards have been handed out, with Ngeringa claiming the coveted Cullen Trophy for Wine of Show.....

Australian consumers urged to have their say on organic labelling

Australian Organic Limited is urging consumers to have their say so misleading and false organic claims on product labelling can be stopped.....

Organic industry celebrates milestone victory on journey towards establishing a mandatory standard for use of the word ‘organic’

Australia's $2.6 billion organic industry is celebrating a milestone in establishing a mandatory standard for use of the word ‘organic’ following an Australian Government announcement today calling for public consultation on the matter.....

Taking the sting out of a healthy gut

An Australian honey infused with apple cider vinegar that delivers the health benefits associated with the acidic drink, but without the burn, has been recognised at a prestigious organic awards ceremony.....

Australia’s growing organic meat industry recognised at Awards

Standout performers in Australia’s world-leading meat sector were recognised at Australian Organic Limited’s (AOL) 7th Annual Industry Awards, taking home prestigious accolades including Business of the Year and the coveted Chairman’s Award.....

Entry into Hall of Fame for organic baby food founder

The mastermind behind a company known to most Australian parents has been recognised with one of the highest honours in the organic food industry.....

Organic pantry items on the rise

Organic retailers across the country are experiencing extraordinary growth as Australians continue to place growing importance on personal and environmental health, and stock their pantries with organic items.....

Women powerhousing the organic industry

Women powerhousing the organic industry have blitzed the field to take home national Awards for their exceptional leadership and innovation in the organic industry.....

Toasting the wine industry at the Australian Organic Industry Awards

Sustainable, synthetic chemical-free wineries are the toast of the organic industry this week, with two McLaren Vale vineyards winning prestigious prizes at the Australian Organic 7th Annual Industry Awards.....

2021 Australian Organic Industry Awards winners announced

A Sunshine Coast organic farmer, a Sydney tea company, and two South Australian wineries were among 11 winners at the Australian Organic 7th Annual Industry Awards.....

Aspiring wine judge joins Australian Organic Wine Awards judging panel through new scholarship empowering women in wine

The rising wine career of Olivia Evans, a trained sommelier, writer and aspiring wine judge, has today been given further momentum with the announcement she has been named the inaugural recipient of the Australian Organic Wine Awards Associate Scholarship.....

2021 Australian Organic Industry Awards finalists announced

The finalists have been announced for the 7th Australian Organic Annual Industry Awards, including leading Australian brands and trailblazing individuals.....

MasterChef’s Andy Allen Ambassador for Australian Organic Awareness Month 2021

MasterChef Australia Judge and renowned Chef Andy Allen is the official Ambassador of Australian Organic Awareness Month 2021, and the much-loved foodie is calling for Aussies to ‘swap in’ certified-organic products this September.....

Melbourne retailer reverberates clearer labelling demands

Improved labelling of organic products will streamline the consumer buying process according to one of Australia’s largest certified organic retailers, Apples and Sage Organic Wholefoods, which has echoed Australian Organic Limited’s call for mandatory labelling on all certified products.....

Jalna Dairy Foods backs The Bud and AOL’s calls for mandatory logos

Jalna Dairy Foods has backed calls for clearer labelling in the organic sector and agrees with Australian Organic Limited’s stance certification logos should be mandatory on products.....

Olio Bello backs call for a mandatory standard for use of the word organic in marketing

Olio Bello, an award-winning olive grove in the Margaret River region, has echoed calls among the organic industry that a national mandatory standard for use of the word “organic” in marketing needs to be established.....

Renowned judge joins ranks for Australia’s biggest certified organic wine competition

High-profile wine judge, Mike Bennie, will join the industry-leading judging panel that will preside over the 2021 Australian Organic Wine Awards in a contest to find Australia’s best-crafted organic drop.....

Dynamic training strengthens industry leader embarking on phase of growth

Australian Organic Limited (AOL) Chief Executive Officer, Niki Ford, has been named among the Australian Rural Leadership Program (ARLP) 2021 cohort.....

Highlighting opportunities for organic in future R&D programs

AOL has provided comment to Hort Connections highlighting the need for R&D programs to become accessible to organic growers.....

Organic produce consumption surges since COVID-19

Millions of consumers have turned to organic food since the commencement of the COVID-19 pandemic and more than half (56 per cent) of all Australian shoppers have purchased certified organic in the last year, according to the new Australian Organic Market Report 2021 released by today.....

Barambah Organics CEO’s swift calls for mandatory standard

Barambah Organics CEO Matthew Stanton, has been quick to back calls for the introduction of a mandatory standard for use of the word “organic”.....

Organic certification demands highlighted at Naturally Good

The importance of organic certification in unlocking growing domestic and export markets and building consumer trust was highlighted by Australian Organic Limited at Naturally Good 2021 in Sydney.....

Students to learn the benefits of organic food production

Launched in 2020 by Australian Organic Limited, the Australian Organic Schools Program provides resources to help Prep to Year 10 students understand the importance of organic principles and practices.....

AOL and ASF successfully protects organic seed import from mandatory fungicide treatment

Australian Organic Limited worked alongside the Australian Seed Federation to have the Australian Government suspend its decision to introduce the mandatory fungicidal treatment of some vegetable seed imports.....

Earth Hour founder Todd Sampson shares his captivating journey

Earth Hour founder and acclaimed documentary-maker, Todd Sampson, has capped off Australian Organic Limited’s (AOL) Organic Earth Week with an address reiterating the cumulative effects of individual sustainability efforts.....

State’s biggest organic farmers call for domestic regulation

Victoria's largest organic producer, Wattle Organic Farms, is echoing the industry’s cry for the Federal Government to create a domestic regulation for the organic sector.....

Organic industry backs NFF’s Regionalisation Agenda

AOL has backed the National Farmers’ Federation’s (NFF) robust Regionalisation Agenda, which will bolster employment opportunities, create smarter regulatory frameworks and help build resilience in the national economy.....

Beef producer frustrated with fake organic products reaching shelves

Tasmanian cattleman Rex Williams is calling on the Federal Government to establish a domestic regulation to protect the organic industry from fake organic products.....

Organics on course for new regulatory framework

In a fundamental step towards reducing red tape within the valuable Australian organic sector, Federal Minister for Agriculture, David Littleproud has requested the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment appoint an Organics Industry Advisory Group to investigate the creation of a nationwide regulatory framework for the production and sale of organic products.....

Australia’s best certified organic wines vie for top shelf recognition

Nominations are open for the Australian Organic Wine Awards 2020, after a three-year hiatus the coveted competition has returned to showcase the nation’s best organic drops.....

Australian Organic Joins DAWE Market Access Teleconference

Australian Organic Limited (AOL) has today taken part in a teleconference, hosted by DAWE, focusing on the achievements and challenges related to export market access for organic producers.....

Australian Organic backs growers on appeal of GMO decision

Australian Organic Limited has expressed its support of the McLaren Vale winemakers seeking to appeal the South Australian Government’s decision to reject 10 local council applications to maintain status as non-genetically modified (GM) crop areas.....

Driving export opportunities organically

Minister for Agriculture David Littleproud said Australian Organic Ltd will use its recently launched online platform to provide free resources and information to certified organic operators interested in exporting.....

Australian Organic Limited joins Trusted Labels Group

Australian Organic Limited has joined six certification programmes to form the Trusted Labels Group (TLG).....

Australian Organic CEO Niki Ford Graduates from NFF Diversity in Agriculture Leadership Program

Australian Organic Limited is delighted to announce that Chief Executive Officer Niki Ford has graduated from the NFF Diversity in Agriculture Leadership Program alongside 12 women with skills and experience in the agricultural industry.....

Draft Organic Rules Update

In response to a submission by Australian Organic to the Department of Agriculture, Water and Environment, key changes will be made to the draft organic rules.....

AOL’s position on South Australia’s GMO moratorium decision

In August, the South Australian government made the decision to lift their state-wide GMO moratorium on organic crops.....

Australian Organic Awareness Month this September

The valuable work of Australian organic producers will once more be highlighted throughout September during Australian Organic Awareness Month (AOAM).....

Australian Organic Limited’s Position on the Draft Export Control (Organic Goods) Rules 2020

The Department of Agriculture, Water and Environment (DAWE) have published the Consultation Draft Export Control (Organic Goods) Rules, 2020.....

“Demystifying the lure of organics – why demand will survive and thrive beyond 2020”

Australian Organic CEO Niki Ford responds to a recent article theorising that the uplift of sales for organic products during COVID-19 has been due more to “necessity” – commenting that organic consumers, in fact, buy organic products for a variety of reasons.....

Australian Organic CEO Niki Ford to Commence Appointments with the ACCC and NFF

Australian Organic is thrilled to announce that CEO Niki Ford will commence appointments with the ACCC and NFF.....