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Organic Annual Report
Research and Publications
4.1 The Scottish Executive already funds 0.5m per annum or about 25% of the government research effort on organic food and farming in the UK. Recent and current SEERAD-funded research has included investigating key factors in sustainable ley-arable farming systems and in the conversion from ley to arable; modelling weed population dynamics in organic agriculture; genetic resistance to disease in pesticide-free systems; and research on maintaining a competitive position in the Scottish organic fresh food market.
4.2 Obtaining a better and clearer picture of the issues involved in organic farming, including the peculiarities of the organic market and the organic supply chain, is an essential element in the development of the Scottish Organic Sector.
4.3 For this reason the Organic Stakeholders Group identified various topics for possible further research, so as to ensure a sound knowledge base about how organic farming methods in Scotland can best deliver biodiversity and environmental benefits; about the development of organic systems appropriate to Scottish circumstances (in particular to support the expansion of arable and mixed organic farming and the expansion of fruit and horticultural production); and information to help producers, processors and retailers to identify, influence and respond to market trends.
4.4 Acting on this advice the Scottish Executive commissioned a study to evaluate organic farming research needs for Scotland. The study consists of a combination of desk-based reviews, with visits to relevant UK organisations, interviews with key personnel and also includes consultation meetings with producers, which the organic private inspection bodies have assisted in organising. The study will have due regard to ongoing research activities elsewhere in the UK and Europe where these may have an impact on Scottish organic farming production.
4.5 The main aims of the study are to:
Examine relevant market information and identify likely opportunities for growth of the organics sector.
Assess existing peer-reviewed, research knowledge of relevance to Scottish organic farming systems.
From this analysis, identify Scottish organic farming systems that are either beneficial or harmful to the environment or natural biodiversity and where possible, quantify any environmental benefits or disbenefits arising from organic farming production in Scotland.
Identify constraints to Scottish organic farming where further research may help.
Identify gaps in existing organic farming system research of relevance to Scotland.
Include a consultation with stakeholders in the organic sector, to identify research that will assist in the development of strategies to improve environmental standards and biodiversity in Scottish organic production.
Give consideration to the areas for future research suggested by the Scottish Organic Stakeholders Group.
4.6 Finally, from all this information, the report will be presented to the Organic Stakeholders Group who will identify the key areas where further research is needed to help Scottish organic producers to use practices which show clear environmental benefit, to produce organic goods that the market wants.
Food Standards Agency
4.7 The Food Standards Agency (FSA) hosted a workshop in November 2002 to encourage debate about research which could help inform consumer choice in relation to organically produced food. The Agency then launched a consultation that set out their proposed way forward following the workshop.
4.8 The consultation explained that the Agency is proposing to carry out new research to compare the nutrient and pesticide residue content of key organically and non- organically produced fruit and vegetables, as consumed. The objective is to inform consumer choice, and there would not necessarily be any implications for human health. FSA sought views on this proposal and are now considering the next stage of development.
Advisory Publications
4.9 SAC continues to maintain and update regularly its "
Organic Conversion Information Pack" which contains a range of useful information for farmers considering converting to organic production.
4.10 The main SAC advisory publication series for organic farmers is the
"Organic Farming Technical Summary" (OFTS) series. They can be accessed on the SAC organic farming website and printed off as pdf files as required. This series now contains over 40 titles, 10 of which were added during 2003.
4.11 In addition to the above, SAC staff contribute a major technical article in each (quarterly) issue of the Scottish Supplement of the main specialist magazine for organic farmers, "
Organic Farming", published by the Soil Association. Occasional articles on organic farming are also published by SAC staff in the technical press (e.g. "
Scottish Farmer") and in the "
SAC Advisory Newsletter".
Organic Farming Scotland Magazine
4.12 A quarterly 8-page Scottish magazine produced by the Soil Association in parallel with the "
UK Organic Farming" magazine. The magazine receives regular contributions from SAC staff who have provided a series of focussed articles which disseminate their research results. The general aim of the publication is to engage farmers and crofters with processing issues via case studies of organic food processing operations, and there are news items and an events diary.
Soil Association Scotland Public Information Service
4.13 Soil Association Scotland is now able to handle enquiries from Scottish members of the public rather than such queries being referred to HQ, as was previously the case. A range of leaflets and information packs are available, many of which are free of charge. The Soil Association is also working to increase its Scottish consumer membership as a way of building a committed long-term market for organic food in Scotland.
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