Organics South Africa

1
Organics - South Africa
Struggling a bit but planting many new
seedlings
2
Current Status

• 250 - 300 Certified Organic Farms
• 500 when including individual farmers of group
  schemes
• Small family farms owned by mostly white farmers
  with a strong philosophical bent towards
  preservation of the ecology, the environment and
  the health of the planet and the people.
• Hundreds of new black emerging farmers entering
  organic agriculture, because of governments land
  transfer program.
• 7 Certifying organisations
• Organic Standards legislation now in 3rd draft
• Stakeholders have been lobbying government since
  1998.

3
Organic Conventional Comparison

• According to Parrott and Van Elzakker (2003),
  there was 45 000 ha of certified land, with 250
  farms in South Africa in 2003. This represents
  0.54 of the total farming units (45 818)
  identified in the 2002 Agricultural census

4
Organic Produce

• Fruit
• Citrus (Oranges, Lemons)
• Deciduous (Apples, Pears)
• Subtropical (Avocadoes, Mangoes, Bananas)
• Stone Fruit (Olives, Plums, Apricot)
• Nuts (Pecan Nuts, Almonds)
• Table Grapes and Wine
• Livestock limited
• Some dairy
• Mutton and Beef
• Eggs
• Wool

• Vegetables Large Variety
• Tomatoes, lettuce, onions, brassicas, squashes,
  melons, sweet potato, cucumbers, etc
• Teas and Coffee
• Rooibos / Honeybush etc
• Herbs
• Grain / Field Crops
• Sunflowers
• Wheat
• Asparagus
• Essential Oils
• Cosmetics
• Health Products

5
Training, Education Research

• Only 2 country-wide training organisations. The
  rest small NGOs operating in local areas.
• First two agricultural colleges now starting to
  give organic training.
• Extension officers in Limpopo Province receiving
  basic organic training.
• Very little organic research Agricultural
  Research Council.
• QALIF Research programme

6
Major Projects

• Organic Freedom Project
• Ezemvelo Farmers Organisation
• Mthombongashi secondary co-op
• Limpopo Market Organic Project
• BioSwiss organic production farms and freezing
  plant
• Government FRIDGE study into the organic value
  chain

7

• Project sponsored by Anglo mining groups and the
  countrys largest retailer (Pick Pay) to
  utilise unused land as well as existing farmers
  and new emerging black farmers to establish
  reliable organic production and supply
• Already tens of millions of Rands of plant
  programs issued
• Chaired by Jody Scheckter, South Africas first
  and only Formula 1 world champion and now a
  successful organic farmer in the UK.

8
Ezemvelo Farmers Organisation

• Project in Kwazulu Natal province involving more
  than a hundred small farmers combined in a group
  scheme to grow indigenous vegetables for the
  countrys leading organic retailer (Woolworths)

9
Limpopo Market Lead Organic Project
10
(No Transcript)
11
BioSwiss Project

• BioSwiss (Pty) Ltd incorporated in South Africa
  in 2003
• 100 owned by BioPro Enterprises SA, Geneva
• Have contract to deliver deep frozen organic
  vegetables to the USA and EU
• Chose Kwazulu Natal for establishment of
  production farms and freezing facility
• Plant programs given to black emerging farmers
  over a radius of 150 km
• Nearly 200Ha of land planted in 2005 and
  expanding
• Growing green beans and broccoli.
• More than R70 million Rand investment

12
The Dream!
13
(No Transcript)
14
(No Transcript)
15
(No Transcript)
16
(No Transcript)
17
FRIDGE Study into the South African Organic Value
Chain

• The Fund for Research into Industrial
  Development, Growth and Equity (FRIDGE)
• A project of the National Economic, Development
  and Labour Councils (NEDLAC) Trade and Industry
  Chamber, funded by the department of Trade and
  Industry and administered by the Industrial
  Development Corporation of South Africa Limited
  (IDC).
• The National Department of Agriculture and
  Organics SA are also participating in the
  Counterpart Group
• R1.3 million funding
• Recommendations to be implemented by government

18
Project Scope and Activities

• Focus on the value chain of the organic produce
  industry (sector), identifying development
  opportunities and constraints that exist in the
  production, processing and marketing of organic
  produce
• Literature Review
• Regulatory and trade environment
• Cost benefit analysis
• Benefits and opportunities
• Strategy Development

19
Preliminary Strategies

• Strategy 1
• Provide the necessary legislative and regulatory
  environment to enhance the credibility and growth
  of the sector
• Strategy 2
• Develop a representative sector body capable of
  lobbying government and facilitating cooperation
  and sharing information with all stakeholders
• Strategy 3
• Development of aspirant organic producers
  through mechanisms aimed at guiding and
  supporting organic producers
• Strategy 4
• Expand the existing consumer and marketing base

20
Our Precious Soil
Stand unshod upon it, for the ground is holy,
being as it came from the Creator. Keep it, guard
it, care for it, for it keeps men, guards men,
cares for men. Destroy it and man is
destroyed Alan Paton Cry the Beloved
Country
21
Thank You !