This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Organic farming must grow through demand
06/02/2003
The Executive is committed to organic food and farming
and the environmental, social and economic benefits it can
bring, the Parliament was told today as it discussed the
Organic Farming Tragets (Scotland) Bill.
However, MSPs heard that the continued growth and
increased value of this sector must be driven by market
demand and it would therefore be inappropriate to set
statutory targets for the organic sector.
Environment Minister Ross Finnie said:
"We support the development of a sustainable organic
sector in Scotland. That is why I have published an
ambitious Organic Action Plan this week.
"The Action Plan sets out our belief that the Scottish
organic sector can grow to supply at least 70 percent of
market demand for organic goods which can be sourced here,
and that the area of good-quality organic agricultural land
can double.
"We will do what we can to help this growth, but it must
ultimately be market-led. That is why the Action Plan
includes prioritisation of organic projects for grant
assistance to improve supply chain issues, and support for
the development of Scottish organic branding.
"The Executive does not support the Bill's setting of
statutory targets for the expansion of organic farming. It
makes no sense for Parliament to set targets over areas for
which it has no powers.
"The Executive's Organic Action Plan, which I published
on Tuesday this week, sets out our vision for the organic
sector. We will press ahead with a package of support
measures to help achieve a prosperous and successful
organic sector."