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Organic Annual Report
Foreword
I am pleased today to publish the 1
st report on the developments that have taken place since the publication of the Scottish Executive Action Plan for Organic Farming. I am particularly pleased that the Organic Stakeholders Group has worked so well together throughout the year and that the spirit of co-operation that was evident in the publication of the Action Plan has been further developed and that this has resulted in a collaborative approach being adopted in the production of this report.
The Organic Action Plan affirmed the Scottish Executive's support for organic food and farming's important contribution to the protection and enhancement of our rural environment, the enhancement of animal welfare, to the provision of good food that the consumer wants and to providing rural employment.
The Scottish Executive's Partnership Agreement, the Programme for Government agreed by the two parties that in coalition form the Scottish Executive government, affirmed this commitment to organic food and farming.
Specifically the Partnership Agreement commits the Scottish Executive to:
Implement the Organic Action Plan published early in 2003.
Develop the infrastructure to increase Scotland's share of the organic food market and increase the proportion of organic food available in Scotland.
Increase the finance available for farmers wishing to convert to organic farming.
Working with partners, we have already delivered substantially on our Organic Action Plan commitments by developing the Organic Aid Scheme and working to develop market links. I would therefore like to take this opportunity to thank all members of the Organic Stakeholders Group for their ongoing support, co-operation and input, in the task of implementing the plan's ambitious objectives.
This report marks an important step on the road to helping the Scottish Organic Sector fully achieve its potential in delivering quality organic products both environmentally and economically, to the Scottish consumer. It also reflects the Organic Sector's understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing them, and their determination to make the best of these to develop the sector to its maximum. I commend this report to you.
Allan Wilson, MSP
Deputy Minister for Environment and Rural Development
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