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UNE experts take organic agriculture to a global audience

October 11, 2006

Organics.thumb.jpgA recently-published book on organic agriculture is testimony to The University of New England’s strong position among the leaders of agricultural developments world-wide.

The book, planned and edited at UNE, will serve as an authoritative text for educational programs in organic agriculture that are emerging throughout the developed world.

Organic Agriculture: A Global Perspective includes contributions from about 50 specialists in 15 countries. The Vice-Chancellor of UNE, Professor Alan Pettigrew, said when officially launching Organic Agriculture that it “covers, in scholarly fashion, the full spectrum from the ground up”. Professor Pettigrew was referring to the book’s comprehensive scope, which includes economic, social, environmental and political issues as well as food production. “To bring all of that together and make a global contribution is a magnificent achievement,” he said.

Organic Agriculture is edited by Paul Kristiansen, Acram Taji and John Reganold, and published by CSIRO. Dr Paul Kristiansen, who has 15 years’ experience in organic farming in Australia, is a lecturer and researcher in agriculture at UNE. Professor Acram Taji has an international reputation as an educator and author in plant sciences. She is Professor of Horticulture at UNE. Professor John Reganold lectures in soil science, organic agriculture and land use at Washington State University in the United States, and has published research papers on organic agriculture in the leading international journals Science and Nature.

During the book launch at UNE, Dr Kristiansen spoke about the growing interest in organic agriculture – particularly in Europe and North America. In Australia, 2.7 per cent of agricultural land was already devoted to organic agriculture, he said. He pointed out that UNE, with its Organic Research Group, was “well placed in terms of the organic scene in Australia”.

One of the members of that group, Dr David Pearson, is a lecturer in UNE’s New England Business School. Dr Pearson is co-author of a chapter of the book titled “Understanding the market for organic food”. With his expert knowledge of marketing practices and principles, he has been able to contribute to what he calls “the whole-of-industry perspective”. Dr Kristiansen and Professor Taji have also contributed to the book as co-authors.

Organic Agriculture includes chapters on soil-fertility management, crop and animal production, breeding strategies, crop protection, standards and certification, environmental impacts, and social responsibility. It will be a unique resource not only for teachers and students but also for farmers, agribusiness and regional planning professionals, and government policy makers. Sales distribution rights for the book have been sold to Cornell University Press in the Americas and CABI Publishing in Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia.

THE PHOTOGRAPH displayed here, taken during the book launch at UNE, shows Professor Alan Pettigrew (centre) with Professor Acram Taji and Dr Paul Kristiansen.

Posted by Jim Scanlan at October 11, 2006 02:16 PM