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1 Introduction
1.1 This is a report of a study into the organic farming
system in Scotland and its research needs. The study was
commissioned by the Scottish Executive Environment and
Rural Affairs Department (hereafter
SEERAD) and has been undertaken by
SQW Limited and
ADAS Consulting Limited during the
period June 2003 and February, 2004.
Objectives
1.2 The original objectives for the study were:
- to examine relevant market information and identify
likely opportunities for growth of the organics
sector
- to assess existing research knowledge of relevance
to Scottish organic farming systems
- to identify any constraints to organic farming in
Scotland that may be overcome by further research
- to assess any environmental benefits or
dis-benefits arising from organic production in
Scotland, quantifying these where possible
- identifying organic farming systems that are either
beneficial or harmful to the environment or natural
biodiversity in Scotland
- to identify the key areas where further research is
needed to help organic producers in Scotland produce
organic goods that the market wants, using practices
which show clear environmental benefits.
- identifying research that will assist in the
development of strategies to improve environmental
standards and biodiversity through organic production
in Scotland
- reviewing the areas for future research proposed by
the Scottish Organics Stakeholder Group in the light of
findings from this study.
Scope
1.3 In early discussions with
SEERAD, it was agreed that the study
should include scientific and technical issues concerned
with primary production of organic products and their
environmental significance - i.e. issues within the "farm
system" - as well as market and related supply chain issues
- i.e. issues within the "farm to fork system". Only by
adopting this scope could sets of objectives concerned with
the environment
and with sector growth be addressed. Therefore,
"research need" means the need for new knowledge or
know-how in a broad sense, not only in science. As the
study has progressed,
SEERAD emphasised the need for the
research to be "broad and shallow" in order to scope out
issues of importance, rather than "focused and deep".
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