We can support you on your journey to becoming a certified organic farmer by working alongside you and your chosen certification body. Initially you will register with one of the two organic certification bodies in New Zealand that work with our farmers: AsureQuality or BioGro. Your certification body will guide and support you on your whole conversion and certification journey through annual audits, online tools and technical services.
The basis of organic certification is completing and maintaining an organic management plan which aligns the organic rules and how you farm under these rules. Your OMP (Organic Management Plan) also lists your pre-approved inputs for your land applications, animal treatments and any products you wish to use supporting your farming operation whilst maintaining your organic compliance
A few of the markets we require certification for, can be certified under the MPI Official Organic Assurance Programme (OOAP) undertaken through your chosen certification body (AsureQuality or BioGro) at your annual audit. On top of these markets, Fonterra requires certification to Korean organic requirements, the United States Department of Agriculture National Organic Programme (USDA NOP) and Canadian Organic Regulations (COR). This suite of certifications gives your milk the best access to markets around most of the world.
The time it takes to gain certification will depend on the farm system’s starting point and what inputs (fertiliser, chemicals) have been used in recent times. Generally, it takes three years to certify the land from last use of a non-certified input and 18 months for stock which can be achieved alongside your land conversion, meaning your farm could achieve full certification of land and animals within a 3-year period.
To understand where your farming system fits within a conversion timeline it is advised that you reach out to either AsureQuality or BioGro to request an on-farm assessment, this would provide you with a clear understanding and pathway to becoming a certified organic farm supplying your milk to the Fonterra organic program.