3.7 Environmental impact (implications for widespread adoption)
3.7.1 Infrastructure and resources
There was a general consensus that the agriculture service industry would need to change in response to widespread adoption of organic farming (Table 23). The number of suppliers of a range of organic products would increase, along with factory processing capability. Special transport requirements of some organic products and industries highlighted the need for additional and more specialised transport systems and accredited operators. The dairy Focus Group identified that council bylaws would need to change with respect to providing accreditation assurance through spray exclusion zones, etc.
Widespread adoption of organic farming systems is likely to benefit the life and vitality of rural communities. Three workshops concluded that labour requirements would increase, putting more families into rural communities, or at least arresting the current decline, and bringing in a new range of skills. This assumes that the organic farming systems would be profitable, and that people would be willing to undertake physical versus more technical work.
A greater diversity in land use and enterprises, including more forestry and the development of eco-tourism, is likely to enhance the financial stability of the rural sector by spreading the risk associated with only a small number of enterprises. The spirit of the community may also be enhanced if farmers were pooling together on issues such as weed and pest control, and learning in groups better ways of overcoming various problems. A particular sense of pride is likely to develop in the community if the origin or location of the product is associated with a brand name. This could occur whether organic systems are adopted or not.
Table 23 Infrastructure, resources: implications of widespread adoption of organic farming
| Issue | Sector |
|||
Sheep and beef |
Deer |
Arable |
Dairying |
|
| Local government | No opinion | No opinion | No opinion | Potentially more appropriate bylaws Spray exclusions zones Mechanical cleaning of drains rather than spraying Bylaw changes could lead to higher rates |
| Community viability | Repopulation due to labour demand | No opinion | No opinion | No opinion |
| Labour | New specialists enter and existing ones exit Those remaining will have a possible shift in focus, generating greater diversity, enthusiasm, and new opportunities |
Labour different training | Increased labour input | No opinion |
| Infrastructure | New and different merchandise suppliers and new product lines Expansion of other suppliers of organic inputs |
More transport/killing space | Changes in transport industry due to changes in volumes and the need for
certified suppliers Greater need for processing capability to produce for the New Zealand supply chain. Change in terms of trade to reflect risks and returns |
Increased availability of organic inputs Greater choice of inputs |
| Other Sectors | Restriction on chemical use – impact on conventional growers | |||
| Services | New opportunities in adult learning Shift from simply product supply to management planning |
Information networks | Smaller New Zealand market for chemicals
. Fewer products registered Costs per unit higher |
No opinion |
Note: At each of the four workshops, participants were asked what in their view would be the implications to infra structure and resource requirements (both on- and off-farm) from the widespread adoption of organic farming.
3.7.2 Production systems
There was general agreement that organic farming would result in lower volumes of product, and that this would not necessarily be compensated for by a larger premium. This would work against the small-scale producer. Several workshops perceived an opportunity to build the geographic origin or location of the farming system into a brand image for the product or a range of products. The opportunity to integrate this with eco-tourism, and building a range of life experiences was highlighted.
Concern was also expressed about difficulties in safeguarding the integrity of the "Organic" brand with a more widespread adoption of organic farming.
Implications of the widespread adoption of organic farming on production are listed in Table 24.
Table 24 Production systems: implications of widespread adoption of organic farming
| Issue | Sector |
|||
Sheep and beef |
Deer |
Arable |
Dairying |
|
| Levels | Lower volume of product/ha | No opinion | No opinion | Only marginal reduction in total New Zealand production |
| Pricing | No opinion | No premium Already considered a natural product Organic branding reinforces natural image | Domestic premium will be diminished in time due to non-export product Impacts negatively on smaller scale Growers focused on the local market | Complex pricing models that provides some incentive within a co-operative structure |
| Branding | No opinion | Branding that embraces both the production system and surrounding
landscape/district e.g. NOSLM Enabling market access |
Critical mass enables new marketing opportunities and leverage | Some specialised processing and marketing entities Diversification of incomes |
| Changes in land use and activities | More forestry Fewer sheep Tourism |
More integrated systems | No opinion | More diversity in land use and
enterprises Tourism |
Note: At each of the four workshops, participants were asked what in their view would be the implications in the production (both on- and off-farm) from the widespread adoption of organic farming.
3.7.3 Environmental impact
People often assume that all environmental parameters will improve under organic farming, but this is not true in all aspects. Both the sheep and beef and arable workshops concluded that fossil fuel use would increase in an organic system. The same two sectors concluded that both soil and water resources could deteriorate under organic production, while two (deer and dairying) concluded the opposite. These differences emphasise the importance of a complete understanding of each farming system.
In the sheep and beef system, the increased erosion and nitrate leaching,and decreased soil and water quality arises from the increase in cattle numbers. In the long-term the failure to address depletion of key nutrient reserves (e.g. potassium) could impact on future land use options. In the arable system, the decrease in soil and water quality (potentially greater nitrate leaching) arises from the increased reliance on cultivation for weed control. With dairying, the improvement results from a reduction in stocking rate. The improvement under deer was the result of a heightened awareness of the impacts of deer on the landscape.
Many of the predicted changes in environmental impact were thought to arise from a heightened awareness of the environmental issues. One workshop concluded that animal pests would be better controlled, since farmers would have a heightened awareness regarding control because of the reduced range of available control options. Similarly, all four groups concluded that weeds would not become more widespread or more of a problem under organic farming, despite the fact that weed control emerged as one of the major technical challenges to all organic producers. Again, one workshop suggested that the greater awareness of the implications of losing control of weeds would result in a more determined approach to weed control.
A more natural landscape, and a better vista with wild flowers and more trees, was a conclusion reached by the three livestock workshops. The workshops also concluded that there would be a greater diversity of land use options, which would contribute to landscape enhancement.
Implications on the environment of the widespread adoption of organic farming are listed in Table 25.
Table 25 Environment: implications of widespread adoption of organic farming
| Issue | Sector |
|||
Sheep and beef |
Deer |
Arable |
Dairying |
|
| Landscape/ vegetation/vista |
More wild flowers in landscape | More natural landscape More trees in the landscape |
No opinion | Better vista and landscape |
| Soil resource | Negative impact on soils of more and heavier cattle Lower nutrient reserves |
Enhanced sustainability of high country and elsewhere, based on heightened awareness | Accentuated soil degradation and erosion due to increased cultivation Lower nitrogen status |
Better soil structure in region Less erosion/nitrification/ sediment loading in water courses Reduced nutrient reserves |
| Water quality | Impact on water quality of more cattle | Potentially better water quality based on heightened awareness | Less potential control of nitrogen loss within nitrogen cycle due to increased cultivation | Better soil structure in region Less sediment loading in water courses |
| Weeds | No change | Better control district-wide for weeds – (broom) based on heightened awareness | No change | No change |
| Pests | No change | Possible outbreak of pests e.g. porina Better control district-wide for possums. Greater response due to fewer options for control. |
No change | No change |
| Energy use | Higher fossil fuel use | Higher fossil fuel use | ||
Note: At each of the four workshops, participants were asked what in their view would be the potential changes to the environment (both on- and off-farm) from the widespread adoption of organic farming.
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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