Going organicAfrican Cashew Alliance

Maputo, March 2007

Diana Callear

Ecocert-Afrisco

www.afrisco.net or +27 12 349 1070

For organic and fair trade certification in

Southern Africa

Why go organic?Why go organic?Why go organic?Why go organic?

• Good for the environment– Builds up good soils– Doesn’t use any chemicals

• Good for health– Farm workers and consumers

• There’s a good market– In South Africa and beyond

What is Organic agriculture?� All agricultural systems that promote the environmentally,

socially and economically sound production of food and fibres.

� Takes local soil fertility as a key to successful production. � By respecting the natural capacity of plants, animals and the

landscape, it aims to optimise quality in all aspects of agriculture and the environment.

� Dramatically reduces external inputs by refraining from the use of chemical or synthetic fertilizers, pesticides and pharmaceuticals. Instead it allows the powerful laws of nature to increase both agricultural yields and disease resistance.

� Adheres to globally accepted principles , which are implemented within local social-economic, climatic and cultural settings.

� Positively contributes to environment, food security a nd the economic situation for the farmer practicing the system and the region where it is practiced.

A system of production which• Requires active promotion of soil nutrition• Grows crops (and livestock) appropriate for the

local environment• Deals with pest and diseases without chemical

inputs or genetic modification• Is concerned with social, animal and

environmental welfare• Has exploding international demand, led by the

U.S. (+++) and Europe (+).BUT consumers & retailers want strong

assurances of food safety & genuine organic methods

And the consumer has created the organic revolution and now has the power

…so organic certification is needed

• Farmers, packers and processors must be certified to a set of standards

• Logo and labelling indicate certification

• Major problem – no international agreement on standards

• 55 sets in use or being prepared by different countries

• But fortunately:

• they don’t differ much, though approaches are different

• mostly based on IFOAM and EU standards

• IFOAM is working hard to encourage standardisation

Organic certification

In Southern Africa, organic certification –

• Is an absolute requirement for good retailers and exports

• Must be “third party” i.e. independent verification

• To the organic standards of the importing country – and they all vary a little

• Most important for Africa: EU, US-NOP, JAS

– And 50+ others exist or in preparation

• ISO 65 – accreditation of the certifier, ensuring fair, unbiased procedures

– And a basic requirement for export certifiers

Elements of a certification system

• Standards• Contracts• Inspection – at least annually• Certification, approval• Management• Labelling• Information• Trade documents for exports

Crop inspections• Production system – what’s happening in the fields• Farmer’s knowledge• Environment, contamination• Fields• Brought-in materials, seeds• Pest, weed & disease control• Fertility management• (Storage and processing)• Documentation• Traceability• Sales

Seed issues• No GMOs

– Get statements from seed/seedling suppliers

• Seeds –– You MUST try to get organic seeds

– Get letters from seed suppliers saying why you can’t

– You may not use treated seed unless there is a government law to that effect.

Fertilizer issuesBest to make your own compost

– No manure from factory farming (depends on animal conditions)

– Make sure it’s composted properly

– If buying, be careful of labels -

“Suitable for organic production ”(NOT JUST: Organic Fertilizer)

Organic certification of largefarms

1. Farmer draws up a description of the farm2. Inspector goes over the farm, checking

– the description, – adherence to the organic standards– And record-keeping (vital!)

3. Inspector writes a report4. The certifying body (CB) reviews the report.5. The CB sets conditions for organic certification6. After the conditions have been met, a 12 month certificate is

awarded,– On condition that any change in the production system

is reported to the CB during the year, and the client continues to stick to the standards.

Problems for small-scale farmers

• Expensive processMuch more costly than possible returns

• Requires literacy– For reading and understanding and

following the standards

– For record-keeping– For keeping in touch with the certifier

through the year as issues arise.

Problems with organic certification• Expensive!

– Inspectors must be well qualified and well trained– Certifiers have to obtain accreditations and have

other requirements under them– even more expensive!

• Producers MUST know the standards and they are very detailed

• Many South African farmers believe that organics is just agriculture with a different set of inputs. This is a MYTH! Different approach, and must be learnt.

• Difficult for small-scale farmers to know the standards and pay the costs.

Certification for small-scale farms• An important development approach• IFOAM has now obtained agreement from all

major certifiers on standardised requirements for group certification

• To bring down certification costs• But maintain assurance to consumers of organic

methods• Requires an “Internal Control System”: the

association (of whatever sort):– Keeps the records– Does annual inspections

• Then the external certifier inspects the system and …. some of the farms – not every farm

Principles of Smallholder Group Certification

• A central body ensures the compliance of all smallholder farmers with organic standards

• Group has a documented Internal Control System (ICS)

• One certificate for the group (not for single farmers)

Definition:An Internal Control System (ICS)

• is a documented quality assurance system

• that allows the external certification body to delegate the annual inspection of individual group members

• to an identified body/unit within the certified group.

Certification of a Smallholder Group

Internal Control System (ICS)

Certifier

The Internal Control System

Internal Control System (ICS)• Binding commitment of farmers to adhere to the

organic standard• Internal inspection and field advice for farmers • Internal approval and handling of noncompliances• Documentation of farmer and farm data• Product flow control

Farmers in the organic project

Sample Internal InspectionInternal inspection of organic coffee farmer in Tanzania

(farmer present during whole inspection)

Farmers diaryNotes of field officerLast year’s buying list

Check organic fields with coffee & banana around farmers house, incl. all borders to check drift

Depulping machine and drying area

Cows (zero grazing)chicken (free roaming)

Coffee storage

Input & tools storage (incl. sprayer)

Water contamination by depulping?

Waste in the fields?

Visit of conventional maize fields (5 min walk from house)

Organic village coffee nursery (Ask neighbors)

(investigate in village)

Critical Control Points

Leaves were sprayed 2 months ago Pesticides bottles found in tea field

Manual weeding or herbicides? Commingling during weighing in the village?

Summary: ICS• One certificate, one marketing channel• Internal inspections, external check

• Documents: procedures, forms, internal regulation,

» contracts, farmers‘ files

• Continuous risk management• Internal approval and handling of non-

compliances• Sanctions system• Marketing system• Annual approved farms list• Training, training, training.