WA organic foods set for major expansion

[S.Annadana]

28th July 2008, 6:45 WST

Growing consumer demand for organic food will drive a rapid expansion of WA’s fledgling industry over the next three years, with the amount of farmland under certified production expected to expand by 75 per cent.

The State has about 2900ha under organic production with a further 2200ha undergoing the certification process, according to a survey commissioned by the Biological Farmers of Australia.

Certified organic businesses specialise in products grown and processed without the use of synthetic chemicals, fertilisers or genetically modified organisms. The certification process for growers takes about three years.

Australian Organic Market Report co-author Alasdair Smithson said recognition of growing customer demand, along with increasing focus on environmentally sound farming practices, was driving more people into organic farming.

“I think there have probably been a lot of farmers who have sat on the fence but now that the market is coming out of its embryonic stage and there is a guaranteed demand for organic produce, more people are looking at it as a viable option, both economically and environmentally,” he said.

WA land under organic production is tiny compared with more than 11 million hectares nationally of certified organic farmland, the majority of which is used for grazing livestock.

About two-thirds of WA’s certified organic land area goes into producing about 635,000 tonnes of fruit each year, making it the second biggest producer of organic fruit behind NSW. The Brockway family, of Llanelly Organic Orchard in Roleystone, grow a range of organic produce including apples, pears, stone fruit, citrus and avocados at a four-hectare orchard on their property.

Cliff Brockway, who runs the property with his wife Jean and children Heather and Philip, said their produce was sold at the City Farm Organic Markets in East Perth every Saturday morning. He expects there will be a strong swing towards organic production methods in coming years.

“Demand for organic food is growing in leaps and bounds, it’s just a matter of getting enough of it to the market,” he said. “I think the combination of pressure from society to move to sustainable agriculture and the price traditional growers are having to pay for fertiliser and chemicals will also make people look seriously at moving into organic agriculture.”

The report found sales of organic food have hit $578 million a year with major retailers now carrying in excess of 500 different organic lines.

JODIE THOMSON