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“We have had several recent incidents of processors looking to purchase organic ingredients, having significant discussions with the potential supplier and believing the products to be organic. After receiving an organic certificate, the processors have then asked us to verify the supplier as currently certified and equivalent – and are shocked to learn that the certificate is an elaborate fake”.
“The fake certificates are getting more realistic – once you could tell just by looking if a certificate was altered, but not anymore. We are seeing an increase in demand for our Approved Supplier verification program", said Marg.
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The benefit of the OS&S Approved Supplier verification program is the speed in which a certificate or supplier is assessed. “We had an incident recently whereby the client’s certification body was asked to assess a potential supplier. We were asked at the same time, and were able to deliver the answer almost immediately, allowing for the client to dismiss the potential supplier and resume searching for alternatives”, said Marg.
Once a fake certificate is discovered, OS&S immediately advises the client and reports the evidence to the relevant certification authority.
For further information on OS&S Approved Supplier verification program, email info@organicsystemsandsolutions.com
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World’s Largest Natural, Organic and Healthy Products Event highlight new consumer trends
Organic Systems & Solutions recently attended Expo West, the world’s largest Natural, Organic and Healthy Products trade fair, held in California, USA, as part of a marketplace tour of the US.
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Overwhelmingly, the biggest trend was for non-GMO verification labelling, and the mass increase in the use of the associated logo. Under USDA NOP regulations, there is a tolerance for GMO presence in organics due to accidental contamination, however under the Australian National Standards, there is no GMO presence permitted. This means that products accredited to the NOP organic regulations may contain GMO’s.
Among the other trends sited at the show was an increase in the raw product offerings, including protein shake powder additives, in addition to bars, yogurts and ice cream.
Attendees were aware of the growing food crisis in terms of what they are actually consuming. Most people we spoke to were concerned about how our food is moving further and further away from being a ‘organic’ product (i.e. It would actually break down within the environment), and the inclusion of additives and “unorganic” (eg. Plastic) material in food & consumables is on the rise.
Detailed reports are available on each product category, including consumer and retail trends in market. Please contact Organic Systems & Solutions for further details.
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According to New Hope Natural Media (USA), the USA Natural, organic and healthy product
marketplace is poised to grow to $226 billion by 2018 with an annual growth rate of 8.6 percent.
Key trends identified for the coming year according to New Hope include:
- The health & wellness consumers. The healthy eating movement is spreading across all demographic groups. Five distinct consumer segments, differentiated by lifestyles, behaviours, attitudes and beliefs about health and wellness have been created for the industry.
- Convenience & Accessibility: The importance of making nutritious, clean food more accessible and convenient across multi-dimensional demographics and how will it affect the health and wellness of all Americans.
- Labelling Transparency: Consumers are asking for transparency with regard to food/product labels, claims and certifications, including non-GMO and organic.
- Food tribes: The growing gluten-free, vegan, paleo and other special diet communities are fuelling the healthy eating movement and changing the way people view food and community.
- The future of personalized health: With nutrigenomic advances and the rise of food intolerances and autoimmune diseases, we are learning that one person’s "medicine" is another’s "poison."
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Organic Beef Project Launched
An MLA Donor Company project being managed by Organic Systems and Solutions, which has set itself the ambitious target of lifting Australia’s Certified Organic beef turnoff by 30,000 cattle each year is off to a flying start.
The first of a series of four regional workshops was held recently at Emerald, on Queensland’s Central Highlands, and attracted a strong gathering of more than 50 participants keen to learn more about conversion to Organic production.
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The attendance was perhaps twice what organisers had originally anticipated, and came despite a number of interested parties who could not attend because they either had cattle on the road due to drought, or who got a localised freak storm the night before and couldn’t leave home.
The two-year project, co-funded by Meat & Livestock Australia and the Australian Organic Meat Group (AOM), is designed to address at least some of the huge shortfall in meeting global demand for Certified Organic beef products.
LEFT: Participants at Emerald Organic Beef Information day
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In addition to the direct contact with interested producers through the workshops, the project also aims to:
- quantify and demonstrate the economic benefits of organic beef production via a series of case studies,
- produce a suite of extension resource materials for producers considering joining Organic programs, and
- deliver one-on-one technical extension support to producers either considering or in the process of converting to organic production.
The project has set a target of enlisting another 100 commercial cattle producers across Queensland, NSW, Victoria and WA, with a target of producing an additional 30,000 Certified Organic carcasses each year.
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Participants at yesterday’s Emerald workshop were drawn from a wide area of Central Queensland, north to Clermont, Nebo and Sarina and west to Alpha. “At this point, at least 50 percent, perhaps more, of the first forum’s participants are likely to enter the Organic certification process,” Marg Will, of Organic Systems and Solutions, said.
RIGHT: Denise and Cyril Vale attended
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Ms Will said the main focus of the day was on what’s involved in the certification process and how to go about it; and how to manage some of the Organic production challenges such as ticks and buffalo fly through non-conventional means. Other discussion focussed on ways to avoid using urea,a source of bypass protein used widely in supplementation, with sources of true protein.
Some workshop attendees questioned whether the current demand for Organic beef would last or was simply a fad. Co-convenor Simone Tully, from Australian Organic Meats, was able to provide a detailed explanation of the huge worldwide demand for Organics, which was continuing to grow at a rapid pace.
Potential premiums for Certified Organic cattle also attracted discussion, with 30-40 percent common. Perhaps more importantly, it was the consistency in pricing for Organic cattle which is a key feature, with little of the volatility seen in the conventional cattle market, Ms Tully said.
While the full Organic certification process takes three years, the important thing is to make a start, participants were told. Those entering the program will now be given assistance in choosing an Organic certifier, completing their application process, getting management plans in place, and undergoing their first audit.
MLA’s manager for on-farm production Dr Wayne Hall said one of the reasons the MLA Donor Company was partnering in the project was to get firm data on the cost-benefits of Organic beef production.
“The premiums for organic beef are large, but there is limited data available on the costs of conversion. This project will help producers access the necessary information to make sound business decisions and to assess the risks involved in conversion to Organic status,” Dr Hall said.
“It will also generate industry extension materials which will be valuable for the entire beef industry.”
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