5.3.2 What issues were raised?
The following responses to the presentation were made. Some dealt with issues that were nationally applicable, including:
- Participants argued that a domestic version of OPEG is necessary as BIO-GRO NZ is unlikely to perform such a function.
- Some participants found OPEG to be a problematic organisation which needs closer connection with the domestic organic agriculture movement (this echoes a repeated concern voiced by some long term organic producers since the inception of the OPEG in 1995).
- Some participants argued that the role of BIO-GRO NZ inspectors should not be assumed to involve so much extension of organic information and techniques as the inspectors are already under too much pressure to service the certification process for the increasing number of organic properties.
- Some participants suggested producers would benefit greatly from further information support mechanisms such as the toll free telephone information services that operate in some other countries.
Other issues raised were more directed at the local level and how the Canterbury organic industry should proceed. These included the ideas that:
- Local producers and consumers needed to have closer contact on a regular basis to be able to synchronise the development of new organic products and their delivery to market.
- Strong links should be maintained between the growers of organic products and those interested in wider environmental issues - in particular, Christchurch consumers and the Christchurch City Council.
5.3.3 How have the findings been utilised?
Discussions throughout the evening concluded that participants in the industry needed to meet more often. It was also proposed that the Canterbury Organic Growers group was not the right vehicle as this organisation only included growers. The general plan that emerged was that:
- valuable information was emerging which needed to be better accessed by organic growers, processors, retailers and consumers;
- the Commercial Group of the Trust provided an appropriate place for this activity as it could involve all these parties; and
- researchers from the University of Otago should continue to present further findings to the next two gatherings of the Commercial Group.
These plans have been put into action, with further Otago results being presented at the December 1997 meeting. Other concerns involving national issues will be addressed as the Commercial group becomes more established as an organisation before making formal representations to BIO-GRO NZ.
These plans will be complemented by a future participatory action research program being designed by Liepins to investigate new initiatives in regional organic networks which could service both the needs of producers and other stakeholders in the organics industry.
Contact for Enquiries
Kay Brown
Sector Performance Policy
MAF Policy
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
PO Box 2526
Wellington
NEW ZEALAND
Phone: +64 4 894 0695
Fax: +64 4 4 894 0746
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