The $2.1 million Organic Advisory Programme was set up in 2007.

The programme's central initiative is the 'Smart Start' service, providing growers a subsidised on-farm consultancy when considering conversion to organics.

Smart Start's personalised focus means that for $200, producers can access a one-on-one consultancy on their own property, looking at the property's potential for conversion to certified organic production.

Smart Start program will be available to most producers, with the current criteria requiring the producer to have commercial organic aims in excess of $20,000.   

NZ Soil & Health has said it also sees the need for a future even more affordable program, extending to the smaller and part-time producers that may supply only a roadside or Farmers Market stall. 

"For consumer protection it is important to get all market stall-holders, who claim organic status, to become certified," said Soil and Health spokesperson, Steffan Browning.

0800-Organic Helpline            
Other Organic Advisory Programme initiatives are the 0800-Organic Helpline, a website and various regional and sector projects.

Soil and Health would like to see a target of 5% of land area in organic primary production reached by 2012, but this would require further Goverment support said Mr Browning.

Targets in several other countries have allowed significant growth in organics and sustainability benefits, while benefiting huge growth in international and domestic consumer demand for organic products. 

Mr Browning can be contacted at steffan@buyorganic.co.nz

The Organic Advisory Programme's Southern Co-ordinator is Holger Kahl Kahl.stoppel@xtra.co.nz