Production

25pc growth seen in Certified Organic applications

Beef Central, 07/01/2014

 

A major Organic certifier has recorded a 25 percent increase in applications for organic certification from beef producers over the past two years, representing an additional 60 requests from beef producers across Australia.

Australian Certified Organic’s chief certification officer Michael Baker said livestock applications were coming from western Queensland, western New South Wales, South Australia, Western Australia and the Northern Territory.

Tambo, Central Queensland beef producer Andrew Walker, whose family has operated its Moonbong Partnership for three generations, applied for organic certification in November 2012.

“We don’t use buffalo fly treatment or hardly any other chemicals for that matter when we finish the bullocks, so we thought we might as well be finishing them under organic status,” Andrew said.

“We decided to become organically certified because the returns are much more significant. We can expect to get 55c/kg more for a two-tooth steer weighing 300-340kg, from 355c that we currently receive to 410c under organic status.

The CEO of organic supply chain managers and exporters, Arcadian Organic & Natural Meat Co, Alister Ferguson, said more beef producers were gaining certification because of the increased profit margin and demand for the product.

“Eight years ago when we opened our doors we started with 66 head of cattle a fortnight. Earlier in 2013 we were processing 1000 a week,” he said.

“The reason is that producers can see a 40pc premium in it for them. They can also see huge markets, like the US, demanding organic beef, with these orders still struggling to be filled. Our programs are currently growing by 20pc each year, and the great unknown is China, which is just starting to come on board as a customer.”

  • Producers interested in knowing more about organic production or applying for certification can click here go to Australian Certified Organic’s website for more information or call ACO on (07) 3350 5716. austorganic.com

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