Beekeeper and former grazier Peter Hastie has joined the National Association for Sustainable Agriculture, Australia (NASAA) as industry liaison officer.
Hastie’s role at NASAA will see him charged with developing the organic, biodynamic and sustainable agricultural industries across Australia.
Formerly managing livestock grazing operations in NSW and the Northern Territory, Hastie established and ran a small localised food hub out of New England and ran his own property valuation business. He is now an organic beekeeper and an artisan produce enthusiast.
He is also a member of Biodynamic Agriculture Australia and is an ex-vice president and founding member of the not for profit Mano River Sustainability and Development Association (MRSDA).
Hastie’s role will be to work with all sectors of Australia’s organic industry, to educate industry and consumers on organic, biodynamic and sustainable agricultural practices, and to assist operators to gain organic certification. He replaces Alex Mitchell who resigned in 2013.
“I’m passionate about the development of sustainable agricultural production and natural resource management,” Hastie said.
“I look forward to learning a lot and to developing opportunities that strengthen and grow Australia’s organic and biodynamic industry.”
The appointment comes after 12 months of internal restructuring to refocus NASAA on growing domestic and export opportunities for Australian organic produce, particularly in Asia.
In August 2014, NASAA made history with one of its inspectors approved to inspect to Chinese regulations, the first person outside of China to receive this level of accreditation.