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3 Approach and methodology
3.1 Our approach to this study included the following
key elements:
- characterisation of the "farm" and "farm to fork"
systems within their market context
- review of peer reviewed and other relevant research
to provide an analysis of the status of scientific
knowledge relevant to Scottish organic farming and
growing systems
- identification of needs and opportunities facing
the organics sector in two main areas:
- likely opportunities for growth in the sector,
and
- areas of opportunity or constraint where additional
research may be valuable.
3.2 A conceptual framework for the study was introduced
which was borrowed from studies into industry clusters and
supply chains, as utilised previously by the Scottish
Enterprise Food and Drink Team and others. Figure 3.1
illustrates the factors which are likely to influence the
successful functioning of the organics sector in Scotland.
An outline framework of the supply chain for the sector is
illustrated in Figure 3.2.
3.3 During this study, we have adopted a "systems"
approach based on these two complementary frameworks. We
examine from different supply chain perspectives the key
enabling factors, opportunities and constraints acting on
the Scottish organics sector.
Methodology
3.4 The study was conducted using a mix of primary and
secondary research methods:
- desk research on contextual documents provided by
SEERAD; relevant scientific
literature (see below); information on current research
projects; and web-based research on the functioning of
the market for organic food and drink in Scotland, the
UK and Europe
- consultations, either face-to-face or by telephone,
with a wide range of businesses and stakeholders in the
organics sector (listed in Appendix A)
- three workshops convened with the assistance of the
Scottish Organic Producers Association (
SOPA) - in Dumfries, Elgin and Perth
(see para 3.15).
3.5 In addition, the Study Team benefited from
discussions with
SEERAD at three meetings throughout the
study and from discussions with
SOSG following three presentations to
the Group in the course of the study.
Figure 3.1 Components of an organic sector and
its market system
3.6 The preliminary market "system" and supply chain
characterisation was presented to
SEERAD in September, 2003 and to
SOSG in October, 2003. Our approach was
endorsed and feedback was incorporated into subsequent
research activities. An interim report was presented to
SEERAD on 4 December and to
SOSG on 11 December, 2003. The draft
final report was presented to
SEERAD on 27 February 2004 and a
presentation made on its findings to
SOSG on 4 March. Comments have been
incorporated in the final report.
Review of current and recent organic farming
research
3.7 The following methods were adopted to review the
scientific research literature. A spreadsheet of current
projects in the
UK was compiled based on a list collated
for
Defra project
OF0338 in 2003. Only projects
dealing specifically with organic food and farming were
included. Errors and omissions in the
OF0338 list were corrected and more
recent projects added to the list. The updates were
compiled from information available on funder and research
contractor websites, as well as from tacit knowledge and
personal contacts. For wider European research, the data
collected in
Defra project
OF0171 were used. (Note: scientific
and technical publications of relevance to this study are
listed in Appendix B. All other references are given in
footnotes throughout the report.)
3.8 Scientific research relevant to Scottish organic
farming systems was identified. The objective as far as
possible was to consider research findings from refereed
scientific papers. However, the scope was extended to
include edited conference papers and similar publications,
in addition to those in refereed journals. As discussed
earlier with
SEERAD, this proved to be essential as
the number of
refereed publications on organic farming system
research is limited. This is a recognised characteristic of
organic research (
FAO, 2000) and is due to one or more of
the following reasons:
- near market research: most research conducted in organic agriculture
tends to be near market, applied research. This is
driven by industry requirements to overcome specific
issues which constrain profitability and technical
performance
- problem solving, applied research: in addition, Government policy in the
UK has been directed towards
research which removes constraints which are limiting
the expansion of organic farming practice. For the end
users, mainly farmers and growers, refereed papers are
of little practical use
- practical purpose for the dissemination of
results: the priority requirement is for more practical
outputs such as leaflets, booklets, web sites or
CDs. Such work is often not suitable
for peer reviewed scientific publication
- attitudes to whole-systems
research: work on whole systems often does not fit easily
into the normal expectations of the scientific
community for replicated experiments with limited
boundaries and clear end points
- institutional resistance: there has also been a strong anti-organic
sentiment among some established scientists, limiting
the acceptance of organic farming research by
'mainstream' science. These views were voiced from
within Scotland by MacKerron
et al. (1999). Some of these views may be a
response to anti-conventional comments from the organic
lobby groups.
3.9 The
CABI on-line database of organic farming
publications
6 was also used in this study. This is the most
comprehensive current source of information on
publications, including in excess of 120,000 references
over 30 years. We have cross-checked this database with
publications lists from the leading
UK organic farming research contractors.
Given the number and breadth of the publications available,
it has not been feasible in this study to review
individually every publication of some possible relevance
to Scotland. This would need to be done on a more
selective, subject specific basis.
3.10 Instead, we have taken an overview of the most
relevant and important studies, using and building from
previous reviews where these are available. We have
included non-refereed publications on the basis that their
exclusion would severely limit the scope of the information
available and would exclude, in our view, many good and
relevant studies.
3.11 One difficulty we have encountered has been that
some projects funded by
Defra,
SEERAD and others do not result in
accessible publications. Some of these studies will have
been commissioned for policy guidance and may have been
regarded by the funders as unsuitable for publication.
However, useful information is almost certainly contained
in many of the project reports. These are rarely easily
available, apart from a sub-set of
Defra commissioned reports that can be
downloaded from the Internet.
3.12 It is important to note that the current study has
not considered research on non-organic agriculture which
may be relevant to organic farming systems in Scotland.
There is almost certainly much that would be of relevance,
but to review fully would be a major task and beyond the
scope of this study. Once again, we would recommend that
extending the literature review should be done on a more
selective, subject- specific basis.
Review of environmental impact issues
3.13 Several comprehensive reviews on the environmental
impact of organic farming have been completed recently, the
most recent by Shepherd
et al. (2003). One of the Study Team for the
present research (Cormack,
ADAS) was involved in the latter work
and brings in-depth tacit knowledge of the information and
scientific arguments involved. These recent reviews have,
however, not interpreted environmental impact for each
distinctive organic farming system. For this report, we
have made an interpretation of their conclusions for
Scotland, taking account of prevailing farming systems and
allowing for climatic and soil differences etc.
Consultation programme
3.14 To complement the review of the scientific and
technical literature, consultations with key researchers
and advisers were held in person - with Dr Christine Watson
and Dr. David Younie of the Scottish Agricultural College (
SAC), Aberdeen and with Dr Jamie
Robertson, University of Aberdeen. Consultations by
telephone were held with Dr Ian Wright, Macaulay Land Use
Research Institute and with Dr Ken Davies,
SAC, Edinburgh. These consultations
cover the leading organic farming research contractors in
Scotland with experience stretching back to the beginnings
of organic research in Scotland during the 1980's.
3.15 In addition, all organic producers who are members
of
SOPA and the Soil Association in
Scotland were invited to attend one of three meetings held
in Elgin (Moray College, 22 October 2003), Dumfries (Barony
College, 17 November 2003) and Perth (McDiarmid Park, 18
November 2003). The format of the meetings was a structured
discussion led by
ADAS staff. The meetings were organised
by
SOPA and were attended by members of the
Study Team - Cormack (Elgin and Perth) and Keatinge
(Dumfries).
3.16 A questionnaire was sent to all invitees to help
prepare for and structure in advance discussions. Invitees
were invited to return this with their comments if they
could not attend one of the meetings. At the meetings, the
objectives of the current study were presented, followed by
structured discussion for up to 2 hours. The aim was to
facilitate an open and frank exchange of views amongst
producers, ensuring that all main subject areas were
covered in the time available, without undue intervention
and without being seen to direct the discussion.
3.17 Table 3.1 gives statistics on participation in
these meetings. The total number of responses obtained
equates to approximately 7% of the registered organic
producers in Scotland. In Table 3.1, 'others' includes
SAC advisers, organic inspectors, and
Soil Association and
SOPA staff.
Table 3.1: Attendees at the
producer consultation meetings |
|---|
| Elgin | Dumfries | Perth | Total |
|---|
Producers | 11 | 14 | 11 | 36 |
|---|
Others | 5 | 5 | 1 | 11 |
|---|
Total attendees | 16 | 19 | 12 | 47 |
|---|
Mailed responses | 6 | 2 | 1 | 9 |
|---|
Total responses | 22 | 21 | 13 | 56 |
|---|
3.18 Our consultation programme also included
face-to-face consultations and telephone interviews with a
wide range of businesses and other stakeholders with an
interest in the organic sector. A list of all consultees is
provided in Appendix A. This provided a good coverage of
perspectives from different parts of the supply chain for
organic products - producers, processors, independent and
multiple retailers, as well as consumer interests, Scottish
Enterprise, the organic certification bodies in Scotland,
and the National Farmers Union in Scotland.
Recommendations
- SEERAD should review the
dissemination and knowledge transfer practices
associated with its research portfolio to ensure that
research findings are readily accessible.
- as there is likely to be much of relevance to the
organics sector in the non-organics scientific and
technical literature, further literature reviews are
merited, but on a more selective, subject-specific
basis.
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