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Proposed law to usher in new consumer protection in Australia

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....

Le Bon Terroir D’emj: Ethically Raised Heritage Pork

It’s no secret that the conversion to organic farming requires years of dedication, but for Emily Pierce and Glen Moir, it has been a labour of love in achieving their goal of producing organic pork under the brand of Le Bon Terroir D’emj, at their farm at Boonoo Boonoo near Tenterfield, in northern New South....

Education the key to positive future for rural women

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

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

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.....

Winners of 2024 Australian Organic Industry Awards announced

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.....

Finalists announced for prestigious Australian Organic Industry Awards

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

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....

Down Under Enterprises: Pure Australian Essential Oils

Down Under Enterprises is a vertically integrated grower, producer and global wholesale supplier of pure Australian Essential Oils and native botanical ingredients. Products are sourced from their New South Wales farm Buhlambar, which lives in the heart of the traditional home of the Aboriginal Bundjalung people (in Bundjalung language, Buhlambar means ‘Home of Tea Tree’).....

BioAg: Natural Fertilisers and Biostimulants – Organically Certified

BioAg is an Australian owned and operated manufacturer since 1999, offering proven certified organic liquid biostimulants and natural phosphate fertilisers. The company was formed to provide sound biological programs for agriculture-based soil and plants, at a time when suitable solutions and products were not readily available through conventional supply chains. BioAg’s development has been driven....

Organic labelling laws under spotlight

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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....

LSD and FMD: A Summary for the Organic Community

The spread of Lumpy skin disease (LSD) and Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) overseas is a cause for concern among Australian livestock producers. Any incursions could significantly impact our domestic and export industries, so it is vital that sound prevention strategies are adhered to and all stakeholders remain up-to-date on recent news. The following is an update....

Historic formation of united voice for organic industry

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.....

Organigrow: Nutritionally Superior and Certified Organic Eggs

You can find Organigrow’s free range egg farm on 70 acres of land at Monaltrie in Northern New South Wales. The farm been certified organic since 1999, operated by two generations of the Cripps Clark family. Current owner and manager Simon Cripps Clark is committed to offering an idyllic free-range environment for Organigrow’s chickens. Although....

Guano Australia: Leading Nutrient-Based Organic Fertilisers

Buderim-based Guano Australia has been a long-term supporter of the Australian organic industry, offering certified allowed inputs to growers across the nation. Guano Australia has been selling premium Guano Gold fertiliser products for more than 30 years, with the business established in Victoria in 1992 before relocating to the Sunshine Coast in 2005. Their locally....

Food security inquiry considers crucial role of organics

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....

Kym Daniells: Certified organic bananas from Wamuran

A family business in Wamuran has been supplying certified organic bananas to the Australian market since 2011. Kym Daniells is owner operator of two certified organic farms in Wamuran, Moreton Bay region, with approximately 40 acres of land dedicated to growing 15 different varieties of organic bananas.....

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

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

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?

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....

Cullen Wines: Leaders in Carbon Positive and Biodynamic Winemaking

Cullen Wines is the only biodynamic and carbon positive winery in the Margaret River region, with the business built around a philosophy of quality, integrity and sustainability. Located in the township of Wilyabrup in the north of the Margaret River region, Cullen Wines operates with the highest regard for the natural environment, and has done....

Windance Estate Winery: Certified Biodynamics from WA’s Margaret River Wine Region

You’ll find Windance Estate near the small town of Yallingup, in the north of WA’s world-famous Margaret River wine region. The certified biodynamic family business produces a range of high-quality small batch wines, with sustainable land management practices key to their success. Windance was established in 1998 by Drew and Rosemary Brent-White, with their daughter....

Multikraft Probiotic Solutions: A systematic approach to beneficial microbes

Multikraft Probiotic Solutions is a company that takes a systematic approach across agricultural enterprises, offering a wide range of products to help boost yield, increase regeneration and decrease chemical usage on farms. Their liquid probiotic products are combined to form soil health, foliar health and animal health programs. Multikraft’s products are also used in programs....

Grassdale Fertilisers: Large-Scale Solutions for Broadacre Organics

Australia’s largest cattle feedlot can be found near Dalby on Queensland’s Darling Downs. The-state-of-the-art Grassdale facility is managed by Mort & Co and can feed up to 80,000 head of cattle, with the scale of the lot presenting a unique opportunity. Given there is a guaranteed continuous supply of manure, Mort & Co have launched....

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

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

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....

AgBiTech Australia: Organic allowed inputs for selective pest control

AgBiTech has been serving the Australian farming community for over 20 years as a supplier of innovative and environmentally safe products for pest control. The company utilises biological control methods, such as baculoviruses, to target specific pests without impacting other species, damaging soil health, mitigating crops or imposing otherwise limiting withholding periods on harvested produce.....

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

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

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

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....

Ashbern Farms: Organic strawberries from Queensland’s Sunshine Coast

Growing hardy, high-quality organic strawberries can be a challenge, but Queensland’s Ashbern Farms have been working hard to meet this market need since first growing organic varieties in 2008. The business operates from farms in Stanthorpe and the Glass House Mountains, with organic strawberries grown at the latter location across 4.2 hectares of land.....

Boomaroo Nurseries: Year-round certified organic vegetable seedlings

Growers looking to serve organic consumers are well catered for by Boomaroo Nurseries, a world-class wholesale provider of vegetable seedlings who added certified organic options to their product range in 2020. Boomaroo Nurseries operate from facilities in Lara, Victoria, with a state-of-the-art site also opened in Southbrook, Queensland, three years ago.....

Advice for flood-impacted organic operators

As we enter a third la Nina season, many organic operators and farming communities have been heavily impacted by the recent flooding and extreme weather conditions along the East coast. On behalf of AOL, our thoughts go out to all affected farmers and operators. A range of state and federal assistance and resources are now....

Celebrating organic trailblazers for ‘International Day of Rural Women’

This Saturday 15 October is International Day of Rural Women, a welcome opportunity to recognise and celebrate the women progressing organic agriculture in Australia. One such leader is Central Queensland beef cattle producer Melinee Leather, who operates Leather Cattle Company alongside her family and is a committed advocate for long-term sustainability in agriculture.....

Heavy machinery purchase scams on the rise in agricultural sector

A media release published today by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission notes there has been a recent spike in agricultural sector scams, with Australian farm businesses losing more than $1.2 million between 1 January and 31 August this year. This is an increase of more than 20 per cent compared to the same period....

Pesticide concerns reinforce need to be mindful of chemical consumption

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....

LSD and FMD: A Summary for the Organic Community

The spread of Lumpy skin disease (LSD) and Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) overseas is a cause for concern among Australian livestock producers. Any incursions could significantly impact our domestic and export industries, so it is vital that sound prevention strategies are adhered to and all stakeholders remain up-to-date on recent news. The following is an update....

AOL Farm Biosecurity Signs are back in stock

In light of renewed biosecurity threats for Australian farms, AOL has placed an order for more visitor signs branded with the Bud logo. The signs will remind visitors to consider biosecurity threats before entering the property, as well as informing guests that they are entering a certified organic property or paddock where specific treatment and....

On the road to meeting sustainable packaging targets

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

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

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

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.....

Jenbrook Australia: Pure Organic Tea Tree and Native Botanicals from 2000 Acres

You’ll find Jenbrook Farm nestled in Northern NSW’s Bungawalbin Valley, a certified organic tea tree farm that’s home to over 2000 acres of native tea tree. The region is the birthplace for the Melaleuca alternifolia species and is renowned for its ideal ecosystem for tea trees to thrive.....

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

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

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

US organic market reaches $50 billion

The organic market in the U.S reached over $52.5 billion in sales in 2018, growing 6.3% since the previous year and hitting a record high according to a recent survey. The 2019 Organic Industry Survey by the Organic Trade Association found that both organic food and non-food grew substantially – with organic food growing 5.9%....

Organic farms benefit bird numbers in Europe

A recent study by the University of Helsinki has revealed that organic land benefits biodiversity by increasing bird numbers in agricultural areas.....