APPENDIX 14
Memorandum submitted by the BDAA/Demeter
Symbol Scheme (F 18)
1. MARKET TRENDS
AND CUSTOMER
DEMAND
From experience gained since 1970 through the
Bio-dynamic Agricultural Association's Demeter/Organic UK Certification
Scheme (UKROFS approved since 1989), there is clear evidence of
strong customer preference for locally grown fresh and processed
Organic Farm and Market Garden produce of all classes, particularly
also that with a regional identity of some kind. Demeter certified
farms are managed consciously as largely self-contained units,
with minimal imports and a region-specific policy including development
of local breeds and plant varieties, as well as the preservation
of balanced bio-diversity in farm landscapes. This approach applies
equally to large or small units (as well as proving successful
in third world agriculture), and the direction in agricultural
development thus appears to be appropriate for the new customer
and ecological demand both nationally and internationally.
2. THE ROLE
OF ORGANIC
CERTIFICATION ORGANISATIONS
In simple terms organic and bio-dynamic production
standards offer repeated short-term targets for urgent ethical
and environmental changes in conventional farming systems. This
also brings much-needed new and successful markets for agricultural
and horticultural produce, as well as customer confidence. The
Organic Sector Bodies have thus become "Agents for Change
and Development". Much of the real costs of this development
process are born by the sector bodies themselves (with help from
producers and consumers).
3. THE SETTING
OF ORGANIC
STANDARDS AND
TOLERANCES
The BDAA/Demeter UK Standards Organisation works
increasingly closely with "Demeter International", relating
to at least 38 other countries, and is possibly unique in this
respect. This begins the heavy practical task of integrating world-wide
Demeter/Organic and Ecological Standards for production of food.
This process began in 1928 with the launching of Demeter Standards
in Germany. Unifying of organic standards in Europe began with
EC Regulation 2092/91 in the early 1990's. But it is disturbing
to hear of recent UK "academic" opinion inferring possible
risks of E-Coli infection arising from use of animal manures in
"organic farming", this indicates (a) a surprisingly
naive and ill-informed view of the real importance of efficient
composting and manure management standards, much developed, and
part of, bio-dynamic and organic agriculture and (b) a lack of
understanding of the risks involved in the widespread use of raw
slurrys and uncomposted manures of all kinds in conventional agriculture
in UK.
4. THE ROLE
OF FARM
ASSURANCE SCHEMES
Farm Assurance Schemes, as such, are valuable
in so far as they go, in improving consumer confidence, but, like
"cosmetic" environmental improvement schemes, they do
not penetrate deeply into the actual foundation husbandry on a
farm, which is the very purpose of Organic Standards.
5. THE AVAILABILITY
AND SUITABILITY
OF PUBLIC
AND PRIVATE
ASSISTANCE FOR
ORGANIC CONVERSION
It is only slowly being understood that organic
and bio-dynamic farming is an agricultural development, not the
sideline creation of a "Niche market", therefore the
availability and suitability of public and private assistance
for "conversion" is, in reality, of high priority, particularly
for the reasons outlined in 2 earlier.
6. OUTLETS AND
DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS
FOR ORGANIC
PRODUCE AND
PRICING
We find in the BDAA/Demeter working practice
that: outlets and distribution systems have to be created, inspected,
informed, certified, rather than just happening, as we go through
each case of Farm or Market Garden conversion in specific areas.
This process is equally important for smaller-scale retail availability
of certified produce as it is for larger supermarket outlets,
as the two systems work in parallel on a different basis. Once
"critical mass" of production is appearing in an area,
very active work is required by Certification Bodies to Inspect,
Certify and help the new emerging distribution system to comply
with EC Regulations (eg farmers, abattoirs, meat plants, processing/packing
and retail outlets). The subject of "correct" price
is controversial and complex, and again requires a new understanding.
The relationship between World Economics and World Ecology was
identified in a book of the same title by W J Stein in 1938, and
this connection becomes more and more significant as time goes
on. The contemporary step in making some progress in appropriate
pricing of organic foods can be seen in the establishment of Producer/Consumer
Associations and "Community Supported Agriculture" Initiatives
(CSA), now common in organic agriculture worldwide (see USA),
but the subject may be further understood in more detail through
books such as "Towards Social Renewal" by Rudolf Steiner
(published by Anthroposophic Press). Much useful early work was
done in this respect by the late Scottish businessman Daniel N.
Dunlop (1868-1935), former Chairman of the First World Power Conference
in 1922.
7. IMPORTS AND
EXPORTS OF
ORGANIC FOODS
Much help in a developing situation can be obtained
from controlled Import/Export of certified produce, provided organic
production and processing standards are internationally unified/agreed
and understood. However, the ultimate aim appears better directed
towards National (and Regional) sustainability in high-quality
basic foods, using the semi-closed "Farm Organism" as
a model for further development: to include the "diversification"
of on-farm processing and packing, with emphasis on organic certified
seeds, ongoing fertility, and health, as priority factors.
8. LIKELY FUTURE
DEVELOPMENTS
Again from ongoing observations in relation
to practice in Organic-based production compared with conventional:
A closer and closer relationship emerges between nutrition and
health, in that many serious human, and animal, health problems
seem to be nutritionally-linked directly or indirectly. At the
same time the healing power of "the plant" is far from
fully understood. People, as consumers in the Western World, are
asking more and more carefully directed questions regarding the
origin and production practices of their daily food, as well as
the ecological impact that results from these practices. It could
be, therefore, that if links are recognised between "World
Ecology" and "World Economics", a further link
may be established between these factors and human health itself.
The case at this present time, and looking towards a realistic
future, is strong for the firm establishment of worldwide, and
highly sensitive Organic Standards for food production and for
research into the resulting economics and social implications.
6 June 2000
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