ORGANIC ASSURANCE FOR US BY US

ORGANIC ASSURANCE FOR US BY US - PARTICIPATORY GUARANTEE SYSTEMS

You have just started growing fresh produce; you are using 100% natural cultivation methods; you don?t allow agricultural chemicals or pesticides near your crops; you can?t afford to use chemical fertilisers BUT your yields are too small to pay for organic certification.  Or, what if you are doing all of the above but you are in a remote location and have no access to organic certification at all?  How can you assure your buyers that your growing methods are earth-friendly and with people?s overall health in mind?
These same questions were asked by groups of farmers and organic certification authorities from as far afield as Brazil, Europe and India.  With the help of IFOAM (the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements), they work-shopped a system of peer review, customer participation, transparency and simplicity - kind of like a co-operative of minds and action that was dubbed a Participatory Guarantee System (PGS). From its humble beginnings, PGS has become an international concept receiving growing support.  PGS facilitates a space for small and micro-farmers to market their organic produce, and is an essential breeding ground in support of the expanding organic industry.

At the end of 2005, the Bryanston Organic Market launched its own PGS.  It comprised all of the uncertified fresh produce sellers on the market, all of the fresh produce suppliers, market management, an organic certification inspector and, most significantly of all, our customers.  So began a process wherein we visited all of the farms and smallholdings and began an in-depth examination of our stallholder?s dedication to natural growing methods.  After consulting and work-shopping our standards, code of conduct and procedures, we embarked on our farm visits.

We examined compost heaps, dug into fertile soil, checked on the welfare of chickens and asked a myriad of questions - what pest control methods being used, were there any agricultural chemicals lurking around, how were the fruit and vegetables harvested - were the good intentions of growers translating into nurturing the Earth and producing healthy, wholesome fruit and vegetables?

What we found was really uplifting.  The growing methods used were in tune with the environment; the compost fed back into the earth was enriching the soil; all harvesting and cleaning of the fruit and vegetables was done by hand; and people were being trained in how to grow organically.  In addition, the farmers began trading advice and offering suggestions in how to increase yields and solve problems.

Apart from establishing and strengthening the trust relationship with our customers, our PGS venture had a surprising ? and welcome ? spinoff.  Our efforts were recognised by IFOAM, and I was invited to a workshop on PGS in Arusha, Tanzania on 2 and 3 April.  I was asked to present our Market and PGS to the participants as part of a case study on PGS in Africa.  The East African countries are establishing a unified organic label for the whole region, and have recognised PGS as a valuable tool for small-scale producers to be part of the system.

The big difference between our and their organic process is that ours tend to be disjointed and fragmented whereas the East African countries are integrating as a region under one banner.  It was clear that a lot is being done to promote organics and organic farming in a very poor region.  Our country and government still needs to recognise the potential of small scale organic farming to address problems such poverty, nutrition, soil conservation and ecology.  In this way, the small beginnings made by our market make a contribution in this regard. 

What also became very clear during my visit is that no system can operate without people and culture: paperwork, rubber stamps and labels are useless without the heart.  Meeting in Tanzania with Germans, Danes, New Zealanders and Africans made it very clear to me that our global village might be struggling to come to terms with its chemical and industrial legacy, but the commitment and goodwill extended at this workshop gives me hope that we can be part of the solution ? and even show the way ? in Africa.  We might lack infrastructure but we abound with soul.  Some Roman sage once said: ?Ex Africa semper aliquid novi? which means: Africa always offers something new.  We are not only the Cradle of Humankind, but could be the Cradle of Rebirth for a planet in dire need of some nurturing.  It is with this in mind that I wish to extend an invitation to all our readers to join our PGS.  Help us create a vibrant, effective, grassroots system of trust and quality for the good of our community and our country.  The Bryanston Organic Market pioneered organics ? we want to see it lead the way into an integrated, planet friendly future.

Konrad Hauptfleisch - Bryanston Organic Market