Our strategy: One Organic Standard

In our last newsletter, I wrote about how Australian organic regulation has failed organic operators, and that we were developing a strategy to improve industry regulation:

• adopt One Organic Standard that can be recognised by Australian courts and internationally
• eliminate non-genuine organic practices from our industry and promote organic farming principles
• implement integrity and conduct measures: for certifiers, auditors, operators, traders

We have now released our strategy (link). It is also summarised below for your examination and to provide feedback to us.


Peter Hislop Speers
Chair

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We want to know your views!

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It's been a while since we heard from you—our last survey was 3 years ago.

Please let us know what you think about the state of our industry and the issues that matter most to you.

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ONE organic standard

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We have a vision where the industry can fix most of its problems itself. Its time for the organic industry to determine its own future!

1.    Fix the organic standard

We need collective action to adopt just One Organic Standard recognised by the courts and internationally.

2.    Integrity measures

Certifying bodies must be accredited to use One Organic Standard—by the Australian Government for exports and by a recognised accreditor (e.g. JASANZ) for domestic.

Implement integrity and conduct measures: for certifiers, auditors, operators, traders.

3.    Reinforce organic principles

Eliminate non-genuine organic practices from our industry. 

Promote organic farming principles:

• organic agriculture resolves the tension between conventional agriculture and sustainability
• organic agriculture is aligned with the wider values of the Australian community

You can help!

We need your help if you support this strategy:

• become a member (free for organic operators in financial hardship)
• provide feedback on One Organic Standard to feedback@organicoperators.au
• complete this year's survey (link)

Join us to help implement this industry strategy!

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Our bid to host Organic World Congress

We are leading an Oceania bid to host the Organic World Congress (OWC) in Brisbane in 2027!

The Phillipines is the only other bidder.

Every three years, the emblematic OWC is held in conjunction with the IFOAM General Assembly, bringing together thousands of organic farmers, producers, researchers, advocates, and policy experts from around the world.

The OWC is an opportunity for organic and like-minded stakeholders working toward sustainable agriculture, value chains, and consumption to trade knowledge, innovations, and experiences. The congress offers inspiration and momentum to all who take part and is seen as a leading event for the global organic sector. How you can best support Oceania's bid to host the 2027 Organic World Congress:

1. Your organic organisation becomes a member of IFOAM International
2. You can then vote for the Brisbane bid as part of this year's virtual Organic World Congress in December

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Become a member or supporter

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For 2024-25 we have introduced Supporter Memberships which are free for small and medium certified operators who are in financial hardship.

Supporter members are still treated as Full Members.

Now organic operators have no excuse not to join us!

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Organic World Congress 2024

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