2004 Activities
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March 2004
The 1st Organic
Annual
Report was published on 30th March 2004. The Report
charts the progress made in implementing the commitments
made in the Organic Action Plan of 2003.
12 May 2004
The Deputy Minister for Environment and Rural
Development updated the
ERDC on the progress we have made towards acheiving the
targets in the Organic Action plan.
The above link will take you to a detailed
manuscript.
8-9 June
Shetland Organic Seminar
A well attended seminar was held in Trondra Hall in
Tusday 8 June. The seminar, orgnised by the Shetland
Organic Producers Group and the Crofters Commission, was
adressed by officials from SEERAD, SOPA, Soil Association
and HIE.
The next day was spent visiting organic crofts and
discussing organic standards relevant to crofters.
24-27 June 2004
Royal Highland Show:Organic Trail.
Organised by Scottish Food and Drink, in co-operation
with other Organic stakeholders, the Organic Trail provided
a link between organic exhibits at the RHS.
As part of its contribution to the Trail, SEERAD, for
the first time, had an Organic Information point in the
SEERAD Pavilion.
After discussion with the Scottish Organic Milk
Producers, Mr Ross Finnie (Minister for Rural and
Environmental Development), is pictured above with Stewart
Jamieson (SOMPA Marketing Manager) and Stuart Martin (SOMPA
Chair).
6 September 2004
Demonstration Farm
Deputy Minister launches a new Organic open
demonstration farm at Elmwood College, Fife. This is the
first open demonstration farm that SEERAD has funded.
Speaking at the event the Deputy Minister stated that
SEERAD's funding underlined our commitment to devloping the
organci sector.
Present at the launch were children from Springfield
Primary School
8 September 2004
Organic Food and Farming Policy Forum
SEERAD hosted an Organic Food and Policy Forum in
Pentland House Edinburgh for Organic Producers. This was
the first time that that SEERAD had organised such and
event. The seminar was attended by over 40 delegates from
throughout Scotland representing various sector bodies,
producer groups, and other key stakeholders. Feedback
provided by attendees suggest that the Forum was very
successful and provided an useful and much sought after
opportunity for a positive exchange of views.
Our future approach to such events will be discussed
with Stakeholders at the next meeting of the OSG on 29
September 2004.
7 October
ACOS Certification Body Forum
SEERAD will be attending this forum in London for the
first time. Amongst the many relevant isues to be discussed
is the recommendation to incorporate the EU standard on
tethering of cattle on Crofts and other small holdings,
into the UK Organic Compendium of Standards.
29 October
SEERAD attended the Soil Association's Borders Organic
Farm Gathering. The morning visit was to Oakwood Mill an
upland farm located in the Etterick Valley and the
afternoon visit was to Over Langshaw farm, a mixed dairy
unit.
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