Australian Organic (formerly Biological Farmers of Australia or BFA) has always been a major force in ensuring that organic standards in Australia remain in the hands of the supply chain.
Initially formed to progress the interests of farmers and processors who wanted to promote and protect the message of organic, including the setting of organic standards, the BFA moved on to develop an organic certification program to independently verify that farmers and processors were producing in accord with those standards.
Australian Organic represents both organic and biodynamic (a specific form of organic production) farmers, and hence the broader term ‘biological farmers’ was chosen as the group’s name to promote a simple message that such farmers were using natural methods, not synthetic or unnatural methods, to produce their foods for consumers. BFA was registered as a co-operative in 1988, following key community and industry meetings across the country.
In 2009 BFA changed its corporate structure to that of a company limited by guarantee. This allows Australian Organic to be recognised as an entity which is conducting its business nationally, with other benefits including reduced administration costs and greater assistance in operating on a not-for-profit basis.
BFA changed its name to Australian Organic in 2012 to better reflect its activities.
The head office of Australian Organic is in Brisbane and it has a regional office in South Australia.