AVA Conference Adelaide 2016

Until recently 35% of the Falkland Islands land mass was certified organic under the Australian Certified Organics scheme. The choice to enter the scheme was largely pragmatic due to the low requirement for chemical inputs due to such things as the previous eradication of lice and keds on the islands. On the other hand whilst fertiliser would be highly beneficial the high cost of transportation to the islands makes it unfeasible on any substantial scale. In seven years many lessons have been learnt about how to produce organic wool. Many difficulties have been faced such as controlling internal parasites, while other issues arising on organic farms have driven them out of the scheme such as the lack of ability to control noxious weeds. The limitations of the organics scheme standards is discussed in light of the practicalities of farming in the Falkland Islands whilst acknowledging the benefits organics has added to farming practices. The inconsistencies in standards internationally are also discussed and the implications this has on how functional the schemes are within each country