RIRDCInnovation for rural Australia ORGANICS. RIRDC Completed Projects in and Research in Progress as at June 2010

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1 RIRDC Completed Projects in and Research in Progress as at June 2010 RIRDC Publication No. 10/098 ORGANICS RIRDCInnovation for rural Australia

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3 RIRDC Completed Projects and Research in Progress at June 2010 ORGANICS August 2010 RIRDC Publication No 10/098

4 2010 Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation. All rights reserved. ISBN ISSN RIRDC Completed Projects in and Research in Progress at June 2010 Organics Publication No. 10/098 The information contained in this publication is intended for general use to assist public knowledge and discussion and to help improve the development of sustainable regions. You must not rely on any information contained in this publication without taking specialist advice relevant to your particular circumstances. While reasonable care has been taken in preparing this publication to ensure that information is true and correct, the Commonwealth of Australia gives no assurance as to the accuracy of any information in this publication. The Commonwealth of Australia, the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC), the authors or contributors expressly disclaim, to the maximum extent permitted by law, all responsibility and liability to any person, arising directly or indirectly from any act or omission, or for any consequences of any such act or omission, made in reliance on the contents of this publication, whether or not caused by any negligence on the part of the Commonwealth of Australia, RIRDC, the authors or contributors. The Commonwealth of Australia does not necessarily endorse the views in this publication. This publication is copyright. Apart from any use as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, all other rights are reserved. However, wide dissemination is encouraged. Requests and inquiries concerning reproduction and rights should be addressed to the RIRDC Publications Manager on phone Research Manager Contact Details Dr Dave Alden RIRDC PO Box 4776 Kingston ACT 2604 Phone: Fax: In submitting this report, the researcher has agreed to RIRDC publishing this material in its edited form. RIRDC Contact Details Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation Level 2, 15 National Circuit BARTON ACT 2600 PO Box 4776 KINGSTON ACT 2604 Phone: Fax: Web: Electronically published by RIRDC in August 2010 Print-on-demand by Union Offset Printing, Canberra at or phone ii

5 Foreword RIRDC produces Research in Progress summaries of continuing projects and those completed during Our intention is to: provide stakeholders with early access to the results of ongoing and completed work to inform their decisions, and inform researchers of results to shape research directions. Organics Research in Progress June 2010 contains short summaries of continuing projects as well as those that were completed during The Organics Program aims to deliver R&D to facilitate the organic industry s capacity to meet rapidly increasing demand, domestically and globally. The research objectives for the Organics Program are: 1. Improve organic farming system performance 2. Address supply chain and food safety issues and technical barriers 3. Assess agro-ecological performance of organic farming systems. This report is an addition to RIRDC s diverse range of over 2000 research publications which are available for viewing, free downloading or purchasing online at Purchases can also be made by phoning Craig Burns Acting Managing Director Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation iii

6 Contents Completed Projects Improve organic farming system performance PRJ A model for an education program to support conversion... 1 Research in Progress at June Improve organic farming system performance PRJ Optimising the quality and yield of spelt and other specialty grains under organic production... 3 PRJ Improving soil fertility of wheat crops using tailored carbon based inputs... 4 PRJ Developing an Organic Knowledge Hub... 5 PRJ The embryonic development of organic upland and aerobic rice for Northern Queensland... 6 PRJ Smart organic lamb Building health attributes into a premium meat product... 7 Other supported activities PRJ PRJ Journal of Organic Systems Development of a Five Year R&D Plan for a Broader Organic Systems Program Travel Grants / Conference Sponsorships PRJ Travel: Aerobic composting humus for application to crop production soils iv

7 Completed Projects Improve organic farming system performance PRJ A model for an education program to support conversion Start Date: 23/6/2008 Finish Date: 3/2/2012 Researcher: Organisation: Alan Broughton Phone: Fax: Objectives Background Research Outcomes Implications Organic Dairy Farmers of Australia Ltd soiltest@austlandscapetrust.org.au 1. To facilitate the organic conversion and certification of dairy farms to increase the supply of organic milk through the Organic Dairy Farmers of Australia Ltd (ODFA). 2. To evaluate an education/industry development project designed to foster conversion of conventional dairy farmers to organic. 3. To develop principles to support conversion in other industry sectors. The Organic Dairy Farmers of Australia desired to increase the supply of organic milk by embarking on an organic dairy conversion program. The domestic market for organic dairy products has been growing rapidly and an export market is developing, which the ODFA wants to meet, otherwise it will be met by imports. The ODFA therefore developed a plan to increase the number of organic dairy farmers. This project was then used as a model for organic conversion. There were several components to the project. 1. A survey of the international organic dairy industry to determine the main barriers to organic certification. 2. Interviews with four current organic dairy farmers to record their techniques and make this information available to those interested in converting. 3. Preparation of a resource list for converting farmers, covering input suppliers, information sources, organic education opportunities, organic organisations and details of the organic certification organisations. 4. Introductory meetings and farm walks in the main dairy areas of Victoria for people interested in converting. 5. A series of one day training sessions for converting farmers, covering certification requirements, livestock health and soil management. Review sessions were held to conclude the program, on organic dairy farms. 6. An online organic certification course was made available to farmers, outside the funding parameters of this project, called Moogle. All parts of the program were successfully carried out. Ten dairy farmers are undertaking organic certification, which is at the top end of the goal of 5-10 conversions. This will increase the supply of organic milk by about 60%. A survey of these farmers was used to determine which parts of the program were most useful in assisting farmers in committing to organic certification. The factor that stood out was the opportunity to meet with and discuss issues with current organic dairy suppliers, and visit their farms. However all other parts of the program except the Moogle online course were identified as being "most useful" to the converting farmers. A successful organic conversion program is likely to require the following components: 1. A united industry with members who are willing to spend time to provide the 1

8 Publications necessary information to new entrants. 2. An established and expanding market. 3. A well organised plan of face to face information sessions and discussions involving industry members. 4. Farm visits. 5. Written materials detailing organic practices and experiences for that industry, plus lists of resources available. An article on the project is being planned to be sent to Acres Australia, the Weekly Times and the Organic Agriculture Association newsletter Seedbed. The final report will be sent to the certifying organisations and the Organic Federation of Australia, and to each of the overseas organic organisations which assisted with information for the international status of organic daity conversion. It is anticipated that a paper will be presented at the IFOAM conference in 2011 in Seoul. 2

9 Research in Progress Improve organic farming system performance PRJ Optimis ing the quality and yield of s pelt and other s pecialty grains under organic production Start Date: 1/7/2006 Finish Date: 1/9/2010 Researcher: Organisation: Robyn Neeson Charles Sturt University Phone: Fax: Objectives Current Progress robyn.neeson@dpi.nsw.gov.au The project will aim to 1. improve the supply and quality of organic spelt (Triticum aestivum var. spelta) Kamut (Triticum turgidum) and cereal rye (Secale cereale) by: Selecting superior lines of spelt for organic production 2. develop a preliminary agronomic package for spelt production Three spelt genotypes (ST1019, ST1040 and ST1041) have been selected as potential replacements for the industry standard 'Kamarah'. In 2009 the genotypes were further evaluated at 5 NSW locations - Bellata, Cootamundra, Trangie, Somerton and Tulloona. Results confirmed superior yield to 'Kamarah'. Yields were however below the yields of common wheat, Durum and barley. Seed increase of the spelt genotypes was undertaken during 2009 at Industry and Investment NSW's Organic Research Site at Yanco. Seed increase is again occurring at Yanco (under irrigation) in 2010, and will also occur at I&I's Wagga Wagga Agricultural Institute should seasonal conditions be favourable. A field day was held at the Yanco seed increase site in December Growers indicated a preference for hulled as opposed to free-threshing genotypes. ST1041 is 'hulled' whilst ST 1040 is partly free-threshing and ST1019 is freethreshing. Processors prefer a free-threshing type as the hull is difficult and therefore more costly to remove. It is anticipated that by July a publication detailing the production requirements for spelt will be available and by September the Final Project Report will be submitted. 3

10 Research in Progress Improve organic farming system performance PRJ Improving s oil fertility of wheat crops us ing tailored carbon bas ed inputs Start Date: 29/6/2008 Finish Date: 15/4/2011 Researcher: Organisation: Eric Love Phone: Fax: Objectives Current Progress Warmma Pty Ltd & Sydseed Pty Ltd elove@bigpond.com The primary objective of the project is to increase the productivity wheat through the optimisation of carbon based organic inputs. This will be achieved through the analysis, evaluation and development of selected tailored carbon based products. Project objectives include: 1. Develop and evaluate compost products based on recycled organics, tailored for specific applications in broad-acre farming, in order to provide cost-effective fertility management for wheat producers. 2. Develop basic principles for tailoring Carbon based inputs to different applications. 3. Develop composts in selected regions close to the grains industry in order to boost grain production (critical to growth in other areas of organic production). 4. valuate the need for a biological test for compost to be included in the Australian Standard AS4454. This project has stalled due to lack of funding support. We would like to work with RIRDC to see if we can get support from GRDC. 4

11 Research in Progress Improve organic farming system performance P RJ Developing an Organic K nowledge Hub Start Date: 30/6/2008 Finish Date: 11/2/2012 Researcher: Organisation: Phone: Fax: Objectives Current Progress Dean Hargreaves Dean Hargreaves Consulting Pty Ltd dean.hargreaves@gmail.com 1. To develop a readily accessible, searchable, comprehensive and easy to use online resource for information relevant to the Australian organics industry. 2. To develop an online platform to support interactions within communities of interest between those within the Australian organics industry. 3. To evaluate and to document learnings about the technology, tools, and processes related to development and implementation of a suite of online tools to support the aggregation of information, and the potential contribution those tools have to the Australian organics industry. A beta version of the Organic Knowledge Hub (OKH) has now been developed, and is currently undergoing final testing. The OKH will shortly be released for a wider beta test program. A stakeholder focus group and semi structured interviews were completed which resulted in a set of user requirements, and has also provided input to a framework for evaluation. A stakeholder workshop was conducted with representatives of the Australian organics industry at which we elicited information that contributed to developing a website schema, paper prototypes including wireframes of each page, information architecture, and graphic design. The search engine has been evaluated, licensed and now configured. This has involved developing multiple configurations and then testing each of these against a standardised search criteria. The search engine has also been configured to allow ongoing collaborative updating by authorised participants. This distributed, collaborative approach, will spread the maintenance cost among voters who have an interest in keeping the site current. An evaluation framework and strategy has been developed that will be implemented alongside the wider beta test program. This will include and ongoing and regular qualitative-based survey approach, with periodic qualitative interviews. 5

12 Research in Progress Improve organic farming system performance PRJ The embryonic development of organic upland and aerobic rice for Northern Queensland Start Date: 21/9/2008 Finish Date: 15/7/2012 Researcher: Organisation: Adam Willson Phone: Fax: Objectives Current Progress Soil Systems Australia Pty Ltd 1. Evaluate a number of upland and aerobic rice varieties suitable to Nth Australia (currently there are no varieties suited to Nth QLD) 2. Establish that the use of on-farm producers humified compost benefits organic rice production (most commercial composts are mineralised and not humified) 3. Establish the importance of complete nutrition in the tropics (most organic farming is founded on chemical free, not nutrient rich farming practices) 4. Establish the importance of pivot irrigation in organic rice farming (most rice production is flood irrigated) 5. Show that green manures can assist weed control (using crumple rolling techniques) A. Develop organic rice farming: The trial started with a certified organic area of 4ha, now expanded to 47.4ha for winter B. Overcome technical barriers: 1. Right machinery to sow Great Plains disc opener will be used in winter. The summer crop was sown on 80cm rows because of a lack of equipment 2. Weed control inter-row weed control trialled no success. Purchased Austrian Einbock spring tynes for winter crop 3. Irrigation scheduling on conventional crop was very poor. Will schedule next crops. Producers are early in transition for understanding proactive organics. 4. Trialled 4 varieties, Takinimora, Lamont, Quest & Doongarra. Takinimora appears to yield the best C. Field days and technical notes: The field day for summer was postponed till winter as weeds were a serious issue. This has now been solved with the purchase of spring tynes. D. Develop, monitor and document farming systems that sequester soil carbon: Initial soil samples were sent to CSIRO for carbon analysis. A second sample is due to be collected in May. E. Develop a greater diversity of cropping options: Rice appears to be a viable cropping option F. Reduce the tonnage of imported rice: This will be an outcome if we can show success in winter 6

13 Research in Progress Improve organic farming system performance PRJ Smart organic lamb B uilding health attributes into a premium meat product Start Date: 15/6/2009 Finish Date: 30/4/2011 Researcher: Organisation: Viv Burnett Phone: (02) Fax: (02) The Department of Primary Industries on behalf of the State of Victoria viv.burnett@dpi.vic.gov.au Objectives 1. To investigate the effect of different lamb finishing diets on the fat profiles and health attributes of organic lamb meat from crossbred and Dorper lambs; Current Progress 2. To identify the bio-actives in the forages, and the biophysical and physiological pathways for the metabolism of the fatty acids, in the two breeds of sheep on the different feeding systems; 3. To deliver production systems science to primary producers. The first finishing experiment was conducted from March until May 2009 at DPI Rutherglen using 54 crossbred lambs with four different finishing diets. Dorpers were not used in this experiment due to experimental design constraints. Lambs were allocated to treatment paddocks and were grazed on either perennial pasture (lucerne/phalaris) (control), or grazed senesced annual pasture with supplements of hay and oat grain, with linseed meal or crushed linseed. Measurements included Vitamin E and fatty acid analysis. Meat from lambs in the control treatment had higher levels of Vitamin E (atocopherol concentration) than lambs grazing annual pasture and receiving supplements (5.88 vs 3.40 (average of supplement treatments)). There was no difference between supplement treatments for Vitamin E content. Fatty acid analysis of meat showed that there were no differences in long chain omega-3, total omega-3 or total fat content between treatment groups. Inclusion of oat grain in the supplemented treatments increased the linoleic acid and the ratio of omega-6/omega-3 content in meat compared with lambs grazing perennial pasture. The experiment showed that grazing perennial pasture can provide higher Vitamin E levels in lamb meat which reduces the effect of oxidation post slaughter and may improve retail shelf life of lamb meat. 7

14 Organics Research in Progress June 2010 contains short summaries of continuing projects as well as those that were completed during The Organics Program aims to deliver R&D to facilitate the organic industry s capacity to meet rapidly increasing demand, domestically and globally. The research objectives for the Organics Program are: ORGANICS RIRDC Publication No. 10/098 RIRDC Publication No. INSERT PUB NO. HERE RIRDC is a partnership between government and industry to invest in R&D for more productive and sustainable rural industries. We invest in new and emerging rural industries, a suite of established rural industries and national rural issues. Most of the information we produce can be downloaded for free or purchased from our website < Improve organic farming system performance Address supply chain and food safety issues and technical barriers RIRDC books can also be purchased by phoning for a local call fee. Assess agro-ecological performance of organic farming systems. Most RIRDC publications can be viewed and purchased at our website: Contact RIRDC: Level 2 15 National Circuit Barton ACT 2600 PO Box 4776 Kingston ACT 2604 Ph: Fax: rirdc@rirdc.gov.au web: RIRDCInnovation for rural Australia