Organic farming in South Africa – Interview with Dr Raymond Auerbach
What is the current state of organic farming in South Africa?
Organics has been growing slowly but steadily over the past ten years. The sector was plagued by divisions, but small and large scale producers have now come together to form the South African Organic Sector Organisation. The South African Government also now has an Organic Agriculture Policy and is forming a National Organic Commission following the report on the organic value chain, commissioned by the Department of Trade and Industry.
What are the benefits of organic farming, in terms of the environment and health issues?
In terms of the environment, it has long been known that organic agriculture does not pollute streams with nitrates or poisons, it doubles carbon sequestration, it is more efficient, both in water and non-solar energy terms and it improves biodiversity. In terms of health, all studies except one show that organic food is healthier; the recent Quality Low Input Food study; which ran for five years and included 31 organisations and costing 18 million euros; showed that organic food has 60% higher anti-oxidant levels, 20% higher levels of certain vitamins, higher poly- and mono-unsaturated fats (good fats) and lower saturated fatty acid levels (unhealthy fats). The recent UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) study excluded all of these results and brought in contradictory reports. These reports were considered by a number of parties to be outdated. With the exception of the FSA, almost all parties agree that organic food contains fewer poisons and is therefore less of a health risk from a toxicological point of view.
Is organic farming predominantly a commercial operation and does South Africa supply local retailers or predominantly overseas markets?
Historically, formal organic farming developed among commercial farmers is mainly for the export market. At the same time, traditional farming did not use chemical fertilizers or poisons and the more progressive traditional farmers used crop rotation and fertilized their soil with kraal manure. These practices are very close to organic farming and in areas where there is an existing tradition of conservation agriculture, it has been easy to introduce organic farm management for household food security and for the commercial market. In Uganda (which has 300,000 certified organic farmers out of a world total of 1.2 million) US$ 22 million worth of agricultural products was exported last year (mainly coffee, cotton, pineapples and bananas) and the local market is now developing rapidly. We are lucky that here in South Africa we also have a growing domestic market and government is beginning to recognise the potential of organic agriculture as a developmental strategy to make South African agriculture world class.
Can organic farming be considered a realistic alternative to commercial farming, which uses chemicals and even genetic-modification, in producing enough food for the world’s population?
The World Bank recently commissioned a study asking the question “How can we maximize production to feed the world’s growing population?” The answer they came up with was, “more Genetic Engineering (GE), more chemical fertilizer and more crop protection chemicals”. They are correct in the sense that in the short term this will increase world production but this food is expensive, both environmentally and in energy terms. It is also not an accessible form of farming for the poor. The production of nitrogen fertilizer uses huge quantities of energy in the Haber-Bosch process, which simulates the action of lightning in precipitating nitrogen (the air we breathe is 80% nitrogen).
The problem is that the World Bank asked the wrong question. After the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) in Johannesburg in 2002, where the World Millennium Goals were formulated, 400 scientists were asked to help answer the question, “How can we reduce World Poverty and Hunger?” I was a reviewer for the Sub-Saharan Africa part of this extraordinary process, which lasted four years, and was called the International Assessment of Agricultural Knowledge, Science and Technology for Development (IAASTD).
The final report was adopted last year at the Johannesburg Plenary, and it concluded that:
What makes organic farming a commercially viable undertaking?
Organic farming uses local resources effectively – the nitrogen in the air is fixed using rhizobium bacteria in the soil together with effective crop rotations, which also minimize disease and promote soil health. Producing crops which are ecologically adapted to local conditions allows farmers to produce at lower cost in many cases. Although certification is expensive, and some crops do produce less per hectare, the lower levels of external inputs, combined with premium prices make organic farming attractive. However, organics requires excellent management skills. Once the South African Government starts funding research, there will be a major shift towards organic production, as has been the case in Italy, Uganda and the UK.
What examples do you know of that constitute major successes in organic farming?
I have mentioned Uganda, which is part of the East African success story. Thanks to a little support from the United Nations (UNCTAD and UNEP), supported by the Swedish government (SIDA) and Swedish organic industry (GROLINK), East Africa developed its own East African Organic Standard and Tanzania, Kenya and Rwanda are also developing their organic industries rapidly. In Egypt, SEKEM (translation of a an Egyptian hieroglyph, meaning "vitality”) now involves about 30,000 small-scale farmers and Italy has seen a very rapid growth in the sector there. They have combined the idea of regional identities with organic production so that you can go to Tuscany and buy Chianti organic wine and Tuscan organic pork, beef and olives. Switzerland has also successfully linked the tourist industry with organic development and has been able to preserve traditional landscapes.
What scope is there for the expansion of organic farming as a commercial venture on both a small- and large-scale in South Africa?
The Department of Trade and Industry study into the organic value chain showed that there is a huge potential for the development of organic smallholders in South Africa but that there is
also enormous potential for large-scale farming ventures. The fact that the South African domestic organic market is expanding means that farmers who are able to meet the requirements of this market sector, can do very well out of certified organic production.
Where does a new farmer or a farmer wanting to convert to organic farming go to get advice and possible investment?
What opportunities can investors look to take advantage of in this sector?
There are many potential projects; we are involved in setting up the Participatory Organic Growers Guarantee System for Southern Africa (POGROSA), together with PELUM South Africa, PELUM Zimbabwe and organisations from Namibia and Zambia. The Bryanston Organic Market is the largest organic market in South Africa and has a Participatory Guarantee System in place, which allows small-scale organic farmers from Limpopo to participate. In Cape Town, Abalimi Bezekhaya has been helping urban gardeners to feed their families for years – they have now grown to a point where they are supplying boxes of vegetables to consumers on a regular basis. Bryanston and Abalimi are also both working with the Rainman Landcare Foundation to set up POGROSA.
What role do organisations such as the Rainman Landcare Foundation, other non-profits as well as government play in promoting organic farming in South Africa?
The organic value chain study called for training as one of the most important elements, backed up by research and effective mentorship. The study also emphasized the importance of effective organisation in the organic sector. Although there is a vibrant new sense of purpose in the organic sector, this has not yet translated into financial support for training and networking. The support of government is extremely welcome and the new Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries is dynamic and interested in listening to the future plans for organic farming. Government and the private sector can really make organic farming work for small-scale farmers if there is some financial backing to help NGOs survive.
