Organic Insights - Spring 2022

Organic Insights / Spring 2022 / 3

MES SAGE FROM THE GENERAL MANAGER

Welcome to our latest issue of Organic Insights. In this issue we are exploring the role of ethics in business, and the various mechanisms to establish and communicate the cultures and values of businesses throughout agribusiness supply chains. More importantly, what value the mechanisms bring to building the trust between supply chain partners, right through to the end consumer.

In the last three months, we have shared the responsibility between staff and Board Directors in flying the flag for organics at various expos, conferences, and forums. A common theme across these forums has been the discussion of validation of business and the various levels of Government in both addressing and communicating their commitment to SDG’s and ESG’s. We have now entered the world of acronyms…ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) and SDG (Sustainable Development Goals). What is evident is every presentation and conversation in industry now validates its presence, or reports to some form of SDG or ESG benchmark. Conference exploring the role of third-party certification in the Australian Seafood industry. Seafood Directions is the premier seafood industry conference in Australia, hosted by Seafood Industry Australia, and it was a privilege to be included in the discussions for this important industry. Most recently, I was part of a panel discussion at the Seafood Directions

The feedback I receive frommany agri- businesses, large and small, is how highly they value the process of certification in building credibility for their industry, but struggle to personally capitalise on the return of investment required to make the necessary business changes and time commitment to provide all the various audit requirements. As some said- it was easier to be third party certified ten years ago, but the 2022 Standards are now providing a better platform of trust, and a more thorough supply chain commitment to the chain of custody. As we all know, sometimes accreditation to programs is a personal pursuit, and other times it is adopted to gain access to certain markets, or supply specific customers. Regardless, there needs to be trust in what accreditation brings to a business. As is often quoted… “Trust takes a long time to build, and a single moment to lose”.

The best time to have acted on climate change was over 20 years ago and the second-best time is today.”

Professor Mark Howden, Vice Chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and Director of the ANU’s Institute for Climate Change, Energy and Disaster Solutions - addressing the Australian Organic Conference 2022.