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Organic Action Plan
Foreword
I am delighted today to publish the Scottish Executive Action Plan for Organic Farming.
I believe organic farming has an important contribution to make to the protection and enhancement of our rural environment, and to the provision of good food which customers want. I congratulate the Organics Stakeholder Group on their quick and constructive work to help the Executive develop this Action Plan.
The publication of this Action Plan marks a very important step forward in the Scottish Executive's support for organic food and farming. It commits the Scottish Executive to helping the Scottish organic sector to achieve its potential to supply at least 70% of Scottish demand for organic products which can be grown or produced here. It also commits us to working with the organic sector to achieve its potential to double the area of good quality agricultural land in organic conversion or production.
We are proposing important action to help the Scottish organic sector meet these ambitions. For instance, we will consult
now on changes for early implementation, including improved payments for organic conversion, new payments for conversion of land for fruit and vegetable production, better advisory support for organic converters and options for continuing payments beyond the conversion period to secure environmental benefits which might otherwise be lost. We will also prioritise
now assistance for the organic sector through our Processing and Marketing Grants Schemes, to promote a joined-up organic food chain and increased success for Scottish organic products in the marketplace.
The publication of this Action Plan is one stage in the development of our support for the organic sector. The Organics Stakeholder Group will continue its work to look at further possibilities for the development of the sector. The Scottish Executive will report annually to the Scottish Parliament on the progress of its support for the organic sector and in doing so will take the opportunity to consider what further policy development is desirable.
Ross Finnie, MSP
Minister for Environment and Rural Development
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