This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
Listen
Scotland's organic success
28/02/2007
Scottish farmers now produce enough to meet 70 per cent of the demand for organic food, a marked increase from the 35 per cent estimated level in 2002, according to a report published today.
Launching the third annual report on progress towards delivering the Executive's Organic Action Plan, published in 2003, Deputy Environment and Rural Development Minister Sarah Boyack said:
"The Organic Action Plan set two challenges for the organic sector. One, to create the conditions so that Scottish farmers can supply 70 per cent of the demand for organic food that can be sourced in Scotland; and two, to work with the sector to achieve its potential to double the area of good quality agricultural land in organic conversion or production by 2007. It also committed the Executive to a number of specific actions to help meet these challenges.
"This report and the Action Plan itself confirm the Executive's commitment to the development of a prosperous organic farming and food sector that contributes to the sustainable development of Scotland's natural resources.
"The opportunities for Scottish organic producers and retailers are clear. The UK organic market now stands at £1.6 billion, an increase of over 30 per cent on last year compared to the annual current growth for all UK food and drink sales of around three per cent. We are committed to working with the industry to develop the Scottish organic sector even further."
The Executive supports organic farming though a wide range of mechanisms and works closely with the organic industry to target support to where it is needed. The report outlines the range of actions being taken to develop Scotland's organic sector by the Executive and by the industry as a whole.
The Organic Action Plan was published in February 2003, with the objective of building a prosperous and sustainable organic sector within the powers and resources available to the Executive. The specific targets are:
- To create the conditions so that Scottish farmers can supply 70 per cent of the demand for organic food that can be sourced in Scotland (from an estimated level in 2002 of 35 per cent)
- To work with the organic sector to achieve its potential to double the area of good quality agricultural land in organic conversion or production by 2007 - to 30 per cent of Scotland's total organic area, against a 2002 level of 15 per cent.
According to today's report, Scotland's farmers now produce enough to meet 70 per cent of the demand for indigenous produce and the area of good quality organic land has increased to 28 per cent.
The Executive's Processing and Marketing Grant Schemes and Marketing Development Schemes have awarded over £10.5 million since 2001 to support projects which help organic producers exploit market opportunities
The Executive's Environment and Rural Affairs Department (SEERAD) continues to give financial support on advisory activities and provided £232,000 in 2005-06 in support of organic farming (helplines, technical support, demonstration and open farms, organic farming website).
The Organic Aid Scheme payment rates were reviewed following the recent CAP reform. The rates were mostly increased to reflect the costs involved in organic farming and improve support available. These increase were as much as fourfold in the maintenance scheme with some rates increasing from £14 per hectare per annum to £60 per hectare per annum. These rates came into force for payments due in 2006 and onwards, for applicants who joined the scheme in 2003 or later.