« Previous | Contents | Next »
Listen
Organic Action Plan
Background: organic farming in Scotland
2.1 Organic farming is based on enhancing the natural biological cycles in soil (e.g. nutrient cycling in the soil),
crops (e.g. encouraging natural predators of crop pests) and
livestock (e.g. development of natural immunity in young animals); on building up soil fertility through the use of nitrogen fixation by legume crops such as clover and enhancing soil organic matter; and on avoiding pollution. The declared aim of organic farming is to work
with natural processes and to minimise the use of non-renewable natural resources. Organic farming principles set specific requirements in relation to animal health and welfare.
2.2 EC Regulations 2092/91 and 1804/99 define minimum standards for organic production. These include:
restriction on the use of fertilisers to organic and specified mineral products;
a prohibition on the use of most artificial pesticides, herbicides and insecticides;
the use of multi-annual rotations to maintain the fertility of the soil;
the use, from 2004, only of organically-produced seeds and seed tubers;
prohibition on the use of genetically modified organisms in any way;
use of positive management strategies for disease avoidance in livestock;
requirements for the composition of animal feeding stuff, including a requirement from 2005 that this should be sourced entirely organically; and
requirements for animal husbandry that meets high standards of animal welfare.
2.3 Comparisons between organic and non-organic farming methods are not straightforward, and non-organic farming supports important biodiversity and landscape benefits when it is practised with appropriate care for the environment. However, there is good evidence that organic farming has a strong contribution to make to environmental sustainability. A study of current scientific evidence commissioned as part of development of DEFRA's organic action plan showed that typically there were significant biodiversity, pollution control, energy efficiency and soil protection benefits associated with organic farming methods. The delivery of these benefits is a core reason for supporting organic farming.
2.4 EC regulations require that organic farmers must be registered with an approved sector body which itself must be approved by a 'national certifying authority'. In the UK, this authority is the UK Register of Organic Food Standards (UKROFS), which will be replaced by a new body in the course of 2003. The three main approved organic certification schemes operating in Scotland are the Bio-dynamic Agricultural Association, the Scottish Organic Producers' Association, and the Soil Association. These organisations can set organic standards which exceed those specified in the EC Regulations, for instance in relation to higher animal welfare standards and the conservation of landscape features, although the policy intention of the UK Government is that in future certification should be available to farmers who wish to apply the EU standards without any additions, without prejudice to the sector bodies' ability to offer certification to their own higher standards.
2.5 The Scottish Executive's policy is to support the organic sector, on an equitable basis with support for conventional farming, where organic production can help protect or enhance the environment or can help ensure that market demand is, as far as possible, met by Scottish produce. The Executive recognises that organic farming, done well, can have important biodiversity, landscape and pollution control benefits which merit support, and that there is potential for increased market penetration by Scottish organic products.
2.6 Within that overall policy, the Forward Strategy for Scottish Agriculture, developed in conjunction with experts from the farming, food, consumer and environmental sectors and published in July 2001, identified priorities for the organic sector. Action 18 of the Forward Strategy emphasised the importance to the Scottish organic sector of identifying and tailoring production to consumer demand and market outlets; developing the supply chain so that organic producers are matched by sufficient processing capacity; identifying finishers to whom producers of store lambs can sell their produce; ensuring the availability of the right business and technical advice; and ensuring that the operation of organic standards reflects Scottish conditions.
2.7 Organic farming has been practised in Scotland for many years - organic smallholders at Damhead near Penicuik were supplying local markets as early as the 1950s. The Scottish organic sector has, however, seen considerable growth in recent years, supported by financial incentives from the Scottish Executive.
2.8 Scotland makes a strong contribution to organic farming, building on our tradition of extensive farming. Over 425,000 hectares of land (8% of Scotland's agricultural land area) are in organic production or conversion. Out of this amount, 304,000 hectares is currently supported by the Executive's Organic Aid Scheme, which offers financial assistance during the first five years of organic conversion and production, and most of the remaining area was converted with the assistance of this scheme. Scotland currently accounts for 57% of the UK's land in organic production or conversion.
2.9 Scottish entrepreneurs have had some success in developing organic products which succeed in the marketplace. For instance,
Simply Organic's range of organic foods has secured UK-wide supermarket distribution, and other success stories include market penetration of organic ice-creams produced by
Cream O'Galloway and others.
2.10 There are, however, problems with the way the organic sector has developed in Scotland. A very high proportion of the land converted to organic status is upland rough grazing. Although there has been little research so far on the environmental benefits of upland organic farming, this high percentage of upland conversion has not delivered the wider range of environmental benefits across Scotland that would be delivered by additional organic conversion of land on mixed and arable farms. Store lambs produced on upland rough grazing are often not be sold on to organic finishers. Production and demand have not always been in line with each other, leading to gluts of some organic products on the market while demand for other products has principally been filled by imports. Some organic standards have been applied in a way which has been a barrier to farmers who want to convert to organic status. Consumers have sometimes found it difficult to identify Scottish organic produce clearly from the range of labelling on food.
2.11 Ultimately, the success of the Scottish organic sector will be determined simply by its ability to produce organic goods which consumers believe are worth paying for, because they enjoy the taste and believe in environmental and nutritional benefits which result from organic production. The Scottish Executive can, however, help the development of the Scottish organic sector through its agri-environment programme, its support for capital investment in the processing sector, in marketing initiatives, its role with other UK administrations in setting appropriate standards, and its research effort. In doing so, the Executive aims to support a range of environmental, social and economic benefits.
« Previous | Contents | Next »