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EU: AIR TRANSPORT MAY DISQUALIFY AFRICA'S ORGANIC EXPORTS(English IPS News Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge) YORK, England, Sep. 21, 2007 (IPS/GIN) -- The newly launched East Africa Organic Standard could fall at the first hurdle if the largest licensing body in the U.K. decides in November that air-freighted produce no longer qualifies as organic. The organic standard was designed to boost exports to Europe. African farmers have been highly critical of the U.K. Soil Association's controversial consultation on air miles, which may eventually lead the association to refuse to endorse products imported by plane. Despite the fact that less than 1 percent of all U.K. food comes by air, campaigners have said air travel is responsible for 11 percent of carbon emissions and is therefore at odds with organic principles. Soon-to-be-published research commissioned by the United Nation's International Trade Center, which has been outspoken in its opposition to the Soil Association's position, will reveal that as many as 15,000 people in Kenya and Ghana -- the largest exporters to the U.K. -- would suffer hits to their livelihoods if the produce is disqualified. The figure is based on research carried out among five organic exporters, their workers and dependents. "These exporters are tearing their hair out," said Alexander Kasterine, senior market development advisor for the International Trade Center. "It's created a lot of uncertainty and is deterring new entrants to the market. One exporter told us they'd followed the Soil Association guidelines for the last five years. They'd invested in training and bought processing machinery. Now the Soil Association may turn round and say, 'You can't use our logo.'" While the Soil Association is only one of half a dozen such agencies in the U.K., it's responsible for certifying more than 70 percent of retail organic produce, making it the best-known brand with consumers and the one most sought after by exporters. Its decision will send a strong message to certification agencies not only in the U.K., but across Europe. Among them, Naturland in Germany is considering a similar gold-plating of its standards. Kasterine said the Soil Association has the wrong target. "There are much bigger contributors to climate change than air freight -- for example energy intensive U.K. agriculture," he said. "If you're an African farmer living on 3 percent of Lord Melchett's income, you might wonder why he is cutting off your market in the name of reducing climate change," he said. Lord Melchett is the policy director of the Soil Association. African growers, who have taken advantage of the $40 billion global market in organics, have benefited considerably from premium prices and a healthier environment brought about by the greening of agricultural practices, somewhat ironically driven by the very agencies that are now questioning the ethics of importing produce. Uganda, one of the first signatories to the new East Africa Standard, saw overseas sales boosted 61 percent between 2003 and 2004 and latest figures put the state's total organic exports at $6.2 million. Neil Sorensen, communications manager for the International Federation of Organic Agricultural Movements, which also represents the Soil Association, said that although developing local African markets is important for the long-term viability of farmers in the sector, "you can't begrudge them when they are offered way more money to export their product to Europe. To deprive them of that development is not appropriate." Amarjit Sahota, director of London-based market analysts Organic Monitor, said the Soil Association is in danger of scoring a goal against itself. "From a consumer's point of view, if they cannot find an organic pineapple, they will just go back to conventional. In theory, what the Soil Association is doing is correct, but the reality is slightly different," he said. According to the latest research, 83 percent of organic fruit and vegetables sold in the U.K. is imported from the least developed or poorer developing countries. Exotic fruits make up almost half of all organic fresh produce bought by British consumers. Most organic pineapples and mangos come from Africa. The East Africa Organic Standard covers produce from Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Burundi and Rwanda. It is the first of three standards to be developed by the International Federation of Organic Agricultural Movements, which is also working on regional standards for West Africa and the South Pacific. Cooperation between leaders of the East African states, which together represent 600,000 hectares of organic cultivation, has been vital to making the standard possible, said Sorensen, who added that others may soon join. "There are a lot of really good organic products in other East Africa countries. We are working where it is most feasible," Sorensen said. While the standard is said to be built on a newly revised EU minimum for organic certification, which would in theory guarantee access to the European market, it is unclear when, or indeed if, Brussels will grant it equivalent status. "We are aware and supportive of the launch of this cooperation on standards between East African countries, but we have not studied the content of these standards, and there have been no activities so far in establishing or even studying the possibility of equivalence between them and the current or future EU-regulatory framework," a European Commission spokesman said. But it does at least free farmers from having to rely on expensive European agencies to audit production. "It's absurd to have to pay for English people to fly to Kenya to get certified," said Sorensen. "Farmers wanted to establish their own infrastructure and regulation and make it a more economic scheme that they can manage, without having to rely on agencies like the Soil Association. It can only be beneficial for the market in Africa and in general." According to the Organic Monitor, there are more than 400 national and private organic standards competing on the world market. "The big issue is incompatibility with the [American] and EU regulations," Organic Monitor's Sahota said. "Many producers who have certified according to the [U.S. agricultural] standard are not recognized in Europe and vice-versa. These are the two major standards, but there are still incompatibilities. They have been talking about harmonization for years, but it's going to take a few more, if ever, before they reach agreement," he said. Meanwhile, more and more Africans are themselves choosing organic produce over conventionally grown produce. "Local consumption is growing in Uganda and Kenya, with farmers' markets and stores, such as the Nogamu shop in Kampala," Sorensen said. "It's a misnomer that it's only the rich who buy organic products. Whether it's Uganda or the U.K., people are primarily purchasing organic for health reasons." Sales through the Nogamu outlet, which is supplied by 100 groups of small farmers, have increased steadily from $1,142 a month in 2002 to $2,571 a month today, and more are opening, said Derrick Tenywa, local marketing officer for the Ugandan Organic Agricultural Movement. He welcomed the new East African standard. "It makes work easier for producers targeting both the regional market and other markets. If organic standards are introduced in Kenyan supermarkets, and in Uganda or Tanzania, we can exchange what each one does not produce." Copyright 2007 Global Information Network |