The Organic Food Chain

04/06/2026

Developed by Southern Cross University and funded through the Hort Innovation Frontiers program with co-investment from Australian Organic Limited and all four national organic certification bodies, the newly launched Organic Horticulture Research, Development and Innovation (RD&I) Strategy 2026–2035 aims to double the value and impact of certified organic horticulture production by 2035.

Read the Strategy 👉 https://austorganic.com/organic-horticulture-research-strategy-2025/

Join the Organic Horticulture RD&I Working Group to help bring the Strategy to life - Expressions of Interest (EOI) are now open.

Submit your EOI here: https://survey.zohopublic.com/zs/bnBhvh

The Working Group will provide ongoing governance and strategic oversight of the Strategy. Applications are open to the entire supply chain, from growers and processors to inspectors and retailers. Submissions close 30 June 2026.

Thank you to everyone across the sector who contributed to shaping this strategy.

26/04/2026

The draft Organic Horticulture RD&I Strategy 2026-20235 is now live for your feedback. OFC is proud to partner with Southern Cross University, Australian Organic, ACO, BDRI & SXC to shape the future of certified organic Australian horticulture.

Read the strategy:https://austorganic.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/AOL-DRAFT-Organic-Horticulture-RDI-Strategy.pdf
Give your feedback (closes 5 May 2026): https://forms.microsoft.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=2lBPRsiHG0m-Q4c39eI8xIGyZPvwsURLjcF_sc_lOWVUOUlGMlc3VVIxSVBSTjJTV1RROEY0VTk3Si4u
Join the webinar on 29/04/2026 at 10am AEST: https://austorganic.com/news-and-events/events-webinars/

25/04/2026

Great news this week! The Federal Government has announced it is open to working with the organic sector & other stakeholders to explore domestic regulation of organic in Australia and consider policy options. You can read the Government announcement here: https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Tabled_Documents/16013

17/03/2026

Certified Organic Industry Update

25 March 2026, 12-2pm AEDT, Ainslie Arts Centre, Canberra (lunch provided)

Hear the latest certified organic industry updates including hot-off-the press Organic Consumer Research and Organic Industry Export Market Snapshot; details of the organic industry participation in the Austrade Trade Diversification Network; hear from the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry on Organic National Standard updates and more.

RSVP to attend in Canberra, bookings close on 23/03/2026: https://austorganic.com/events/organic-industry-updates-and-lunch/

RSVP to attend Online: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/bJIMEt1jRYO2_2fbtLGt_Q #/registration

16/03/2026

Join the certified organic industry in Canberra, on Wednesday 25 March 2026, to help shape the future of certified organic/bio-dynamic in Australia.

12-2pm: Organic Industry Update
In Canberra register here: https://austorganic.com/events/organic-industry-updates-and-lunch/
Online register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/bJIMEt1jRYO2_2fbtLGt_Q #/registration

2-4pm: Organic Horticulture Research, Development & Implementation
Preview in Canberra in person (register by 18/03/2026, link below)
Online will be held during April 2026 (link below).

5-7pm: Parliamentary Friends of Organic at Parliament House Canberra (register by 18/03/2026): https://austorganic.com/events/parliamentary-friends-of-organic/

7pm-late: Organic Industry Networking Drinks, Canberra (register by 18/03/2026): https://austorganic.com/events/parliamentary-friends-of-organic/

Read about the Organic Horticulture Research Development and Innovation Strategy and register for webinars in April 2026 here: https://austorganic.com/organic-horticulture-research-strategy-2025/

12/01/2026

The DAFF has launched a new consultation on Have Your Say seeking feedback on proposed changes to the National Standard for Organic and Bio-Dynamic Produce Edition 3.8 (National Standard Edition 3.8).

Applications from the organic industry have proposed various changes to the following sections of the National Standard Edition 3.8:

🌿Section 1.2 - Conversion of land
🌿Section 1.23 - Bee Products
🌿Section 5 - Labelling and advertising
🌿Appendix H - Substances permitted as food additives, including carriers for all products
🌿Appendix L - Permitted processing aids for livestock products

Industry Advice Notice (IAN) 2026-01 provides further information on the consultation and is linked below.

https://www.agriculture.gov.au/biosecurity-trade/export/controlled-goods/organic-bio-dynamic/organic-notices/2026-01

We encourage you to have your say on the proposed changes.

🚨Have your say by 5:00pm (AEDT) on Wednesday 11 February 2026.

07/09/2025

OFC's General Manger Kari Martin is very proud to share that her Dad and founder of The Organic Food Chain, Keith Morris, was presented with the Organic Industry Hall of Fame award at the Australian organic industry awards last week. Keith wasn't able to travel to Melbourne to accept the award, so Kari accepted it on his behalf.

When Keith & Rhondda Morris first heard the term 'bio-dynamic' in the late 1970's, they never would have imagined that in 2025 Keith would receive this award for his dedication to organic & bio-dynamic farming principles.

Happy Father's Day Dad ❤️

Congratulations to all of the winners, highly commended and finalists at the 2025 Organic Industry Awards.

Thanks to the Australian Organic team for organising this event to recognise the achievements of certified organic/bio-dynamic individuals and businesses.

11/08/2025

The second organic industry RD&I roundtable is being held tomorrow in South Australia.

When: 10AM – 2PM, Tuesday, 12 August 2025
Where: Angove McLaren Vale, South Australia

This strategy is funded through Hort Innovation’s Frontiers, with co-investment from Southern Cross University, Australian Organic,
ACO Certification Ltd, The Organic Food Chain Pty Ltd, Bio-dynamic Research Institute, Southern Cross Certified Pty Ltd, NASAA Certified Organic and contributions from the Australian Government.

Other face to face sessions are also planned:

Session 3
When: Wednesday 3 September
Where: Melbourne CBD, Victoria

Session 4
When: Tuesday 9 December
Where: Lismore, New South Wales

Register here: https://form.asana.com/?k=PKpeZxKSx76rGL_BEiUbLQ&d=1138356974456885

11/08/2025

We are letting you know about the launch of the South-East Asia (SEA) Organic Export Accelerator Program, an initiative designed to accelerate organic export growth into East and South-East Asia for Australian certified organic small and medium operators.

This two-year, government-supported program will provide organic businesses with the practical insights, strategies and connections needed to succeed across priority (ASEAN) markets. This program is being coordinated by Australian Organic Ltd (AOL).

What does the SEA Organic Export Accelerator Program offer?

💡 Market Insights & Capability-Building
💡 Market Visit Trips
💡 Inbound Buyer Missions
💡 Export Toolkit

AOL invites you to kick off this exciting program by attending the SEA Organic Export Accelerator Program Webinar on Thursday, 21st August 2025, presented by Australian Organic Limited and Export Connect. This interactive session will cover:
• All you need to know about the SEA Organic Export Accelerator Program
• SEA’s economic and demographic landscape
• Emerging consumer and societal trends
• Retail, foodservice & e-commerce channel trends
• An organic category-specific data snapshot
• A facilitated Q&A with the Commercial Director from premium Singapore retailer, Little Farms

This is your opportunity to understand the potential of SEA markets and learn how the SEA Organic Export Accelerator Program can accelerate your export success. Register for the webinar here.

The export activities that are part of this program are supported by grant funding from the Australian Government through Austrade’s Export Market Development Grant (EMDG) program.
We are letting you know about the launch of the South-East Asia (SEA) Organic Export Accelerator Program, an initiative designed to accelerate organic export growth into East and South-East Asia for Australian certified organic small and medium operators.

This two-year, government-supported program will provide organic businesses with the practical insights, strategies and connections needed to succeed across priority (ASEAN) markets. This program is being coordinated by Australian Organic Ltd (AOL).

What does the SEA Organic Export Accelerator Program offer?

💡 Market Insights & Capability-Building
💡 Market Visit Trips
💡 Inbound Buyer Missions
💡 Export Toolkit

AOL invites you to kick off this exciting program by attending the SEA Organic Export Accelerator Program Webinar on Thursday, 21st August 2025, presented by Australian Organic Limited and Export Connect. This interactive session will cover:
• All you need to know about the SEA Organic Export Accelerator Program
• SEA’s economic and demographic landscape
• Emerging consumer and societal trends
• Retail, foodservice & e-commerce channel trends
• An organic category-specific data snapshot
• A facilitated Q&A with the Commercial Director from premium Singapore retailer, Little Farms

This is your opportunity to understand the potential of SEA markets and learn how the SEA Organic Export Accelerator Program can accelerate your export success. Register for the webinar here: https://events.humanitix.com/sea-organic-export-accelerator-program-webinar

The export activities that are part of this program are supported by grant funding from the Australian Government through Austrade’s Export Market Development Grant (EMDG) program.

Register Now on Humanitix - SEA Organic Export Accelerator Program Webinar. Online. Thursday 21st August 2025. Find event information.

08/07/2025

Apply now for the 2025 organic industry awards.

This year, the event is proudly co-hosted by AOL and NASAA to create a truly industry-wide celebration, with new categories such as Auditor of the Year and Retailer of the Year designed to recognise vital contributions from often-overlooked parts of the supply chain.

Apply now for the 2025 organic industry awards 👇
https://austorganic.com/news-and-events/industry-awards/awards-2025/

01/07/2025

How do I get organic industry advice notices?

You can subscribe to the DAFF organic industry notices using the link below.

Enter your details, scroll down and select ‘Organic exports’, then click on the ‘Subscribe’ button at the bottom. You will receive an email as soon as an organic notice is issued.

https://subscribe.agriculture.gov.au/subscribe

27/06/2025

DAFF have released a new organic industry notice regrading publication of EU country risk rating and guidance on European Union Deforestation Regulation. This notice concerns exporters of cattle, skins and hides, cocoa, coffee, palm oil, rubber, soya and wood to the EU, and some products containing, having been fed with or having been made using these commodities.

EUDR will be applied from 30 December 2025 to large EU businesses, and from 30 June 2026 to smaller EU enterprises.

Read more here: https://www.agriculture.gov.au/biosecurity-trade/export/controlled-goods/organic-bio-dynamic/organic-notices/2025-02

Date of issue: 5 June 2025Date of effect: 5 June 2025Expiry: N/AReference Number: IAN 2025-02