Woolies' organic midway target draws flak
November 4, 2009
By INGI SALGADO
In a bid to cut chemical inputs, Woolworths' locally grown fresh produce would by 2012 be either fully organic or a hybrid of organic and conventional farming, the retailer announced yesterday.
The combination farming technique, carrying the logo Farming for the Future, would cost "no more than conventional farming" and could instead reduce costs due to lower need for agricultural chemicals, Woolworths said.
Rival retailers yesterday described Woolworths' move as "bold", although organic lobbyists labelled it "greenwashing".
Fertiliser producers, meanwhile, said it would have a limited impact on the agro-chemical market.
Rod Humphris, the chief executive of fertiliser and chemicals group Omnia, expected the quantities of displaced chemical fertiliser to be "minuscule".
Warren Lupke, the general manager of fresh produce at Pick n Pay, which aims to implement biodiversity farming methods among its own suppliers, said there was insufficient organic fertiliser to sustain major production in South Africa's commercial market.
"It's going to be extremely unlikely for any South African retailer to achieve biodiversity farming in two years based on the challenges facing us today," he said.
David Wolstenholme, the director of Cape Town's Natural and Organic Product Exhibition, said the Woolworths initiative would continue to give suppliers a licence to use chemical insecticides, pesticides and fertilisers, while reaping the benefits of green public relations.
Combining organic with conventional farming was "like trying to be half pregnant. You're either organic or you're not," he said.
But Woolworths chief executive Simon Susman said the retailer had realised organic farming was not a large-scale solution because the yields could be inconsistent.
"We've learned a great deal from our experience with organic farming, for example about managing soil and plant health, as well as about integrated pest management. Now we're able to apply these insights," he said.
Rather than relying on past experience and blanket formulas for interventions like irrigation and fertiliser application, suppliers would be required to perform actual measurements and analysis. "This means that water, chemicals or nutrients are only used if and when required," Susman said.
Wolstenholme claimed that Woolworths was devising "clever wordage. The loser... is the South African consumer, who is already confused because of the backlash by chemical companies."
Woolworths' initiative has the backing of environmental group WWF South Africa. The shares fell 0.9 percent to R16.69.
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