Olli

In order for a farmer to start farming organically, the soil will have to undergo a 3 year conversion period. During this phase, crop yield is often poor as the biodiversity of the system has not yet developed properly. An organic farmer will make very little money from his land until his new system is up and running. This conversion cost is part of the reason why organic food tends to be a bit more expensive. However, once an organic farm is up and producing, the input costs are often not as high as conventional farming and this allows for the prices to start dropping again.

The availability of organic food is another contributing factor. At the moment there is not an abundance of organic food being produced in South Africa. As
more and more farmers convert to organic, so the exclusivity of organic food
will fall away and this will help prices to drop.

In order for a farmer or food producer to call themselves organic, they need to undergo a certification process. The certification of a farm or food processing facility is carried out by an independent third party. This ensures that the certifier remains impartial during the certification process and that high standards are met and maintained by organic producers. The certification process is however fairly costly, especially if you need to get a certifier to come out from another country. Certification is also an ongoing process and so needs to be carried out every year.

Organic farmers will have a larger degree of damage occurring to their crop, which means that they need to try to maximise the income they can get from the sellable part. Farmers are often forced to look for oversees markets that will pay more, resulting in there being less organic food on our local market, and available product being very expensive.

Generally, a percentage of an organic crop is first grade produce, which farmers will export oversees. A further percentage of the organic product will be second grade, which will be sold on the local market. The rest of the crop (and in some cases as much as half the crop) will either have to be sold at very low-grade prices or discarded entirely.

However, what we at olli, are doing is buying up that imperfect portion of the farmer’s crop, processing it and turning it into other organic shelf products. This way we are getting more organic products on the shelves and, most importantly, we are able to buy what would have been wasted produce, for a fair price. This means that the farmer is now getting paid something for his entire crop, which helps reduce the premium on first grade organic foods.

It also encourages more farmers to turn organic, where they may have been more reluctant due to the losses involved.

according to the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements, (IFOAM)

The Principle of Health:
Organic Agriculture should sustain and enhance the health of the soil, plant, animal, human and planet as one and indivisible.

The Principle of Ecology
Organic Agriculture should be based on living ecological systems and cycles, work with them, emulate them and help sustain them.

The Principle of Fairness
Organic Agriculture should build on relationships that ensure fairness with regard to the common environment and life opportunities.

The Principle of Care
Organic Agriculture should be managed in a precautionary and responsible manner to protect the health and well being of current and future generations and the environment.

For a more detailed exposition of these principles, go to www.ifoam.org.

Genetic modification is a highly controversial issue. Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) only came to public attention in the last decade or so. In the late 90’s it caused widespread alarm in Europe. People were up in arms as their governments had allowed GMOs to be used freely without the long term effects on humans, animals and the general environment being known.

There are claims that genetic modification of crops will benefit mankind by making plants hardier and less susceptible to pests and diseases, that as yields increase and crop losses are reduced, we will be better equipped to feed the developing world.

Another point of view is presented in Michael van Straten’s book Organic Living: “In truth what the GM companies are after is world domination. A few years ago none of the five major agrochemical companies was involved in the seed industry. Now they dominate it and, by building terminator genes into their seeds, they have ensured that each batch of seed will produce one crop only and the seed from that crop will be sterile. What is more, they won’t sell the seed without the appropriate pesticides or herbicides that it is designed to withstand.”

All GM technology is in the hands of 4 US multi
nationals and because Europe said “no” to their experiments they have turned their focus onto Africa
as a less informed market for what they will sell – we should not be allowing this.

There is no scientific evidence so far to say that GM food is unsafe. However, many parents feel there is not enough research to satisfy them that it is safe, and do not wish their children to be part of a huge genetic experiment. They are concerned about possible unknown risks, to wildlife, to the environment and to the health of their children.

If there is a risk with GM foods then babies are more sensitive as they are still developing – their nervous, immune, circulatory, excretory and reproductive systems are not fully formed and are therefore vulnerable to toxins and other foreign materials that may be found in GM food.

GM food unfortunately does not have to be listed on labels, so the most effective thing you can do to avoid genetically modified foods is to opt for organic food as far as possible, GM ingredients are banned from organic products. Be aware of the culprit foods such as soya, tofu and maize. Also avoid processed foods, which can contain many GM ingredients.