Going Organic: a comparative advantage for the Pacific agritourism sector

Going organic:

a comparative advantage for the Pacific agritourism sector

organic tourism

• Grew from the environmental movement & the food tourism movement

• Italy is the leader – over 1200 organic tourism experiences

• Includes: farms; homestays; food tasting; farm experiences

organic tourism• Activities based on organic farming

• Activities managed in accordance to principles of eco tourism

• Emphasis on environmental protection & conservation

• Respect & promotion of traditional Culture

• Use of natural/traditional building material & architecture.

• Certified by a recognised body

• A tool for sustainable development

sustainable development food & nutritional security• Increasing and stabilizing yields, particularly in marginal lands

• Improving resistance to pests and diseases

• Decreasing erosion and improving water uptake and retention

• Maintaining the genetic crop diversity

• Building on local management skills and resources and so enabling local communities to be food self

sufficient and combat poverty.

sustainable development-climate change

Mitigation: Minimizes energy consumption by 30-70% per unit of land.

Reduces greenhouse gases.

Stores carbon in soil and plant biomass.

Adaptation: Prevents nutrient and water loss.

Preserves seed and crop diversity.

Stable agro-ecosystems provide stable yields, and lower risks

Organic Market Opportunities

Globally Organic sales grew from– 59 Billion USD 2010 to 72 Billion in 2013

India and Chinese markets have both quadrupled in the last 5 years

Organics Brazil reports 40% annual growth

Analysts predict organic sales in Asia will grow by 20% annually over the next 3 years

Within the Pacific Islands there is anecdotal evidence that opportunities are opening in the tourism and hospitality markets

the challenges

Cost of certification & complexity of maintaining certification

Unsubstantiated claims of organic

Lack of coordination

Menus not suiting ingredients that grow well locally

Small supply base

providing a customer guarantee

Pacific Organic Guarantee System Development of Pacific Organic Standard

Partner Certification Bodies

Local Auditors

Participatory Guarantee Systems

Organic Pasifika Marks

Organic Tourism Standard

examples• Wakaya Island- Island certified organic

• Homestay Loyalty Islands New Caledonia – B&B on organic farms, all meals prepared with home grown produce

• Iririki Resort Vanuatu – Market tours followed by “Real Pasifki” tasting dinner

• Women in Business Development Inc Farm to Table

• Aviva Farms – organic farm tours and horseback riding

• Abaiang organic beach resort

Organic tourism? It represents our Values and the values of our people

It represents our Identity

Creates a

market for our

Products

It facilitates sustainable development

It relates to our • Unique qualities

It tells our Story

Organics and ethical trade:

the key contributor to sustaining our cultures and communities; improving farmer livelihoods, people’s

health and the environment in the Pacific.