Following the incorporation of the Organic Coalition of Tasmania (OCT) as a peak body to represent the interests of Tasmanian organic industry, the need for an industry strategic plan was identified during 2002. Utilising money remaining from the Tasmania Organic Farming Advisory Service (TOFAS) project, OCT contracted ConFac (Consultants Facilitators Pty Ltd) to assist in the formulation of the plan.

Initially three regional forums were conducted during early April 2003 at Burnie, Launceston and Kingston at which approximately 60 people participated representing all sectors of the organic industry. These forums identified 59 key strategic issues. A unifying workshop was held at Ross on 23rd April to consolidate the output from the first three workshops and turn this into a strategic plan. Participants at this workshop were representatives from each of the three regions.

The consolidation process identified ten (10) key issues which form the framework of the strategic plan, and then used a relationship process which identified drivers and outcomes from the ten key issues. The drivers are those issues which need to be addressed before the other issues. Outcomes are issues that tend to be addressed as a consequence of addressing the drivers. The ten key issues are shown in order below with the drivers towards the top and outcomes towards the bottom:

1. Provide Information
2. Improve Industry Structure
3. Clarify Certification
4. Provide Mentoring
5. Partner with Government
6. Maintain Integrity
7. Educate the Supply Chain
8. Protect Organic Systems
9. Educate the Demand Chain
10. Market Tasmanian Organics

The principle is that attention to the key drivers will eventually achieve the outcomes.

It was agreed that in the first year only the top two drivers - “Provide Information” and “Improve Industry Structure” - would be expanded and addressed.

An Overview, consisting of a broad description of the Strategic Plan, is outlined here. Detailed descriptions of the work required in addressing the two key drivers are then outlined.

Overview

Key Drivers

1. Provide Information
2. Improve industry Structure
3. Clarify Certification
4. Provide Mentoring
5. Partner with Government
6. Maintain Integrity
7. Educate the Supply Chain
8. Protect Organic Systems
9. Educate the Demand Chain
10. Market Tasmanian Organics

1. Provide Information
   (Arrange good information in an accessible form)
   We seek to ensure that any person interested in or involved in the organic industry can readily obtain relevant and useful information.
   Much information is available but scattered and of variable reliability and usefulness. Part of our requirement is to gather useful and verifiably reliable information into easily accessible locations or to make it easy for information users to locate. Considerable original research is also needed to fill information gaps and assess anecdotal experiences.
2. Improve industry structure.
   (Continuously work to improve the structure of the industry)

   The creation of the Organic Coalition of Tasmania (OCT) is a significant step towards creating a robust structure to support the organic industry in Tasmania.

   Further development of the structure of the Tasmanian industry would create:
   • Greater unity of purpose among industry participants
   • Increased co-operation
   • Commercial strengthening of the industry
   • Greater support for new industry entrants.
   
   Other Key Issues
   While the other key issues identified were seen on as important for the development of the industry, it was agreed that they should not be addressed specifically until the key drivers had been addressed, and that in many ways addressing the key drivers would automatically flow on to achieve outcomes for these other key issues.
3. Clarify certification
   We want to support the certifying organisations in their ongoing provision of organic certification that is:
   • Recognised within Australia and throughout the world
   • Robust – able to withstand scrutiny
   • Consistent
   • Available to all industry participants
   • Affordable.
   • Well understood by industry members and the general public.
4. Provide Mentoring
   Mentoring has been a very powerful way of providing practical assistance to industry participants. Our intention is to strengthen the mentoring service so that any person or organisation entering into or further developing their involvement in the organic industry can call on a mentor for support.
   
5. Partner with Government In the development of the organic industry we look to entering into partnerships with Government and so achieve benefits for the whole Tasmanian community. OCT will develop close links with the Ministerial Organics Advisory Group in order to represent the industry and to work effectively with Government.
6. Maintain Integrity
   We want to make sure that the organic industry maintains its integrity and credibility. This means robust quality systems are in place and the industry upholds an ethic of honesty, reliability and responsibility.
7. Educate the supply chain
   The provision of information and the availability of industry mentors are two steps towards this. Further steps being considered are:
   • Establishment of national standards in organic agricultural and horticultural courses through the Rural Training Council of Australia
   • Encouragement of accredited University and TAFE programs in organics and bio-dynamics
   • Encouragement of Adult Education courses
   • Conducting regular industry forums and field days
   • Arranging displays
   • Publishing newsletters.
8. Protect organic systems
   We have concerns about potential adverse impacts from external sources. Of particular concern are:
   • Threats from GE products
   • Contamination from other land use activities.
   
   We need to establish working relationships with other industries and governments to address these concerns.
9. Educate the demand chain
   This means educating the community and users of organic products about the value and benefits of organics. It is a step towards marketing that involves a general awareness program achieved through education, government support and general promotional advertising.
10. Market Tasmanian organics
    The result of all our efforts will be a vibrant industry that markets its products at home, interstate and overseas.
    Eventually this plan may require specific actions to enhance our marketing capability such as advertising, co-ordination of marketing effort, labelling, identifying markets etc. However, at this stage we believe the best results will come from attending to the industry drivers already mentioned.