Lauren and Henrietta Damon of Kindred Organics (above) have won the Organic Innovation Award sponsored by Organics Tasmania Inc., the state’s organic industry representative body.Judges Alexandra Mitchell and Chris Brunswick-Hullock said: “The Damon’s innovations in developing farming practices, processing and product development for Kindred Organics Red Quinoa showed great ingenuity, attention to qualityand a close eye on the commercial outcome”. In accepting the Award, Lauren Damon said: Our 237ha cropping farm is certified by Tasmanian Organic Producers (TOP), and close communication with people in the value chain and consumers has helped us develop and deliver a great product.
Getting information on appropriate machinery and practices was very difficult due to intellectual property protection by the South American quinoa industry, the origin of this ancient, but increasingly popular grain.”
The award ceremony was held in Oatlands, close to the historic Callington Mill windmill. Callington Mill was an Award finalist for their business model using predominantly local suppliers and extensive knowledge building to process and market their organic and chemical free traditional milled range of products. Yorktown Organics, producing and marketing high quality salad vegetable packs and other products, was an Award Finalist for their innovations in raised beds with organic crop rotation in indoor and outdoor systems to decreased risk and labor cost, plus water and nutrient recapture in an environmental management system. Tasmanian Seaweed Fertilizerswas an Award Finalist for their Marrawah Goldbio-digested fresh seaweed, retaining nutrients that are lost in dried products. International commercial scientific scrutiny won Tasmanian Seaweed Fertilizers a major export contract that caused sales to rocket from 20,000 litres to 450,000 litres in 18 months.
“The value of the Australian organic industry is now exceeding $1.27 billion annually, with more than 3,000 operators, 25,000 employed, and it experienced a 50% growth rate between 2008-2012” Chris Landon-Lane, Chairman of Organics Tasmania, said yesterday.
“You don’t get growth rates like that without innovation, and many of our Tasmanian farmers, processors, wholesalers and retailers have demonstrated valuable innovations in farming systems, business processes, technologies, brand and product development. “said Mr Landon-Lane.
Professor David McNeil, head of Agriculture Innovation programs at UTAS, summed up: “These businesses embody innovation in value chains. They show how Tasmanians can produce greater market satisfaction as well as economic wealth, that also have value to other businesses and industries – it is great to give them recognition they deserve”.
Chris Landon-Lane, Chairman of Organics Tasmania
