e-Magazine

In this issue we recap AOL’s second biennial conference which was held in early March, as well as our 2024 Industry Award winners that were unveiled at the conclusion of the event. In this edition you’ll also find interviews with leading certified organic innovators, including livestock operators James and Sarah Pearson who achieved impressive marks in recent MSA quality tests. We also hear from the Eldridge Fresh Organics team in Murray Bridge about their efforts to bring fresh cut organic vegetables to Australian consumers. AOL’s visit to Beef Australia in Rockhampton is also covered, while the current state of global organic agriculture is explored.

Welcome to the Summer Issue of Australian Organic Connect! The fourth edition of our e-magazine for 2023 looks back on an eventful year for the development of Australia’s organic sector. In this issue we review September’s Organic Awareness Month campaign, where the industry came together to promote the many benefits of organic produce and lifestyles. We also share some last minute ideas for Christmas marketing to help organic small businesses close out 2023 on a positive note, as well as delving deeper into the organic certification process, offering a list of common FAQs and a quick-start guide for those considering making the switch in 2024. These and many more organic features are covered in our Summer issue. Have a read now!

In this issue we discuss all of the exciting developments and events across the past few months in organics. An Organic Industry Discussion Group formed with eleven key organisations coming together to put forward a united voice for the industry. We also cover the Australian Organic Awareness Month 2023 initative, which is based around a theme of ‘Why Organic?’. We also speak to this year’s Awareness Month ambassador, rugby league legend Anthony Minichiello, who talks us through his fascinating background in organics and nutrition which helped to rebuild his injury-threatened career. Winners for the 2023 Australian Organic Wine Awards are announced, with comments from Mike Bennie and the esteemed panel of judges. We also hear from Tasmanian dairy farmers, the Lambert family, who explain the benefits they have uncovered as part of their ten-year transition to organic farming. Elsewhere, an intriguing price review is delved into, with some possibly unexpected outcomes. You will also find five profiles of certified organic growers and processors who serve a diverse consumer base across the country.

In this Winter 2023 issue we cover the launch of Australian Organic Market Report 2023, which was published in early May and represents the most complete picture of Australian organics available thus far. We discuss insights from BIOFACH 2023, the world’s leading fair for organic food that was held in Nuremberg earlier this year with 40,000 visitors in attendance. AOL Director David Keens, a fourth-generation farmer, talks us through his family’s decision to grow biodynamic and organic almonds from his property in country Victoria. We look closer at the services available through solo advisory, AOL’s new business unit designed to assist operators looking to navigate the path to certified production. We announce the Associate Scholar for the 2023 Australian Organic Wine Awards, a talented young sommelier from Western Australia. We look back at March networking events conducted by AOL, including trips to Lismore and the Darling Downs to discuss soil health and organic grain storage respectively.

In the Autumn 2023 issue you’ll learn about solo advisory services, AOL’s new business unit designed to support operators requiring specialised advice across all stages of their certification journey. We also share a summary of AOL’s February trip to Canberra, where we met with MPs, Senators and industry bodies to discuss progress toward mandatory domestic regulation of organics. Elsewhere, AOL Chairman Mike Brown takes us through the latest developments in the organic wine industry, including impacts caused by widespread flooding events in 2022. We discuss current opportunities around mentorship in organic wine, including the Australian Organic Wine Awards Associate Scholarship that opens in March. You’ll also learn more about five AOL member companies in Western Australia, including some leading organic and biodynamic winemakers in the famous Margaret River locale, as well as a Perth innovator in organic pet treats and a health-boosting drink business looking to share a “whole lotta goodness”.

In the Summer 2022 issue of Australian Organic Connect, you’ll find a full summary of the Australian Organic Industry Awards held on 25 November, including all category winners and pictures from our Hunter Valley ceremony. Elsewhere, we take a look at the approaching summer solstice and explore the rise of certified biodynamic principles in winemaking. In a feature article, horticulturist Clair Bickle explains how to keep your summer harvest rolling in with a range of well-known veggie favourites that just love the heat and humidity. This issue also features a 2022 update on the organic beef industry from AOL Director Iain Scholes, an introduction to AOL’s new Chairman and Directors, plus we learn more about five AOL member companies, ranging from allowed input innovators to organic growers and a first-of-its-kind liquor producer.

In the Winter 2022 issue of Australian Organic Connect, AOL Research & Policy Officer Nicholas Mukherjee provides an update on our pursuit of domestic regulation, as well as a summary of an advisory group conference that AOL convened in March. Australian Organic Limited Director Leo Watling details the latest developments in organic retail, while AOL’s Advisory Committees update us on their activities across the previous quarter.

We also profile the ‘Fair Farms’ program, an industry-led initiative striving for fair employment practices across Australian horticulture. We then speak to Australian Organic Wine Awards Associate Scholarship Winner
Olivia Evans about her experience six months into her scholarship, before taking a trip to the Byron Shire to profile four organic operators making moves in the region.

In the Autumn 2022 issue of Australian Organic Connect, we discuss the Government’s domestic regulation exciting next phase. Board member and Company Secretary Bernadette Favis provides an update for organic processors and manufacturers, and AOL’s Advisory Committees provide a quarterly update on their activities.

We go behind the scenes of the two days of judging for the Australian Organic Wine Awards 2021 and speak to some of the judges. We chat to Olivia Evans on becoming the first recipient of the Australian Organic Wine Awards Associate Scholarship. Wine writer and judge Josh Martin reviews Agnes restaurant in Brisbane and shares his thoughts on their organic wine offerings. We also learn more about organic operators in the heart of the Barossa, while Dr Sarah Lantz provide us with a delicious organic recipe.

In the Summer 2021 issue of Australian Organic Connect, we discuss the Government’s domestic regulation announcement. We welcome Olivia Evans into our brand new Wine Scholarship program. Board Member Sonya Dowling provides an update on the organic poultry and livestock industry. We wrap up Australian Organic Awareness Month 2021 and try out Andy Allen’s delicious recipe. We celebrate the winners of the Australian Organic 7th Annual Industry Awards. We summarise the literature review conducted by the University of Melbourne surrounding organic agronomic practices and probiotics and also highlight the benefit of partnerships between academia and industry. We present a range of organic Christmas gift ideas in our Organic Christmas Guide. We meet certified organic grain producers and processors in Southeast Queensland. Claire Bickle gives us her tips for edible gardening success and Dr Sarah Lantz shares her recipe for gut-loving bubble tea.

In the Spring issue, we hear from Australian Organic Awareness Month ambassador Andy Allen about his organic journey; we talk organics and wine with Mike Bennie; Anika Molesworth touches on the importance of organic agriculture in creating a healthier farming future; we speak to Dr Liza Oates about organic food as medicine; AOL Board Director and Vigneron Committee Chair Mike Brown of Gemtree Wines gives us an update on the organic wine industry; Chair of the Grain Advisory Committee, Grant Maudsley, provides an update on the Committee’s activities; we learn more about certified organic operators and members of the Sunshine Coast region; AOL’s Amy Stewart gives us some tips on caring for cut flowers; Dr Sarah Lantz helps us to buy organic on a budget; and Horticulturist Claire Bickle lets us know the 101 on all things organic gardening.