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SAC at Organic Action Plan Launch
SAC’s organic specialists Richard Huxtable and Caroline M Shahin attended the recent launch of Organic Futures: an Action Plan for Organic Food and Farming launched by Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment, Richard Lochhead MSP.
SAC have played a full part in the preparation of Scotland’s new plan and will continue to be heavily involved delivering many of the actions which include providing support and knowledge transfer.
The Organic Action Plan was developed over the past 16 months by the Scottish Government in conjunction with the Scottish Organic Forum (SOF) which is led by industry and includes representatives of the Soil Association, Scottish Organic Producers Organisation, Scottish Organic Milk Producers and SAC. They sought views from the wider industry, including NFU Scotland and Scotland Food and Drink.
The new Plan has been welcomed by industry as it provides producers with significant support measures to grow the sector to allow it to meet increasing consumer demands. The introduction of Organics as a National Target under Scotland’s Rural Development Programme (SRDP) should greatly help producers achieve the necessary points for a successful application for both Conversion and Maintenance applications.
In addition, the Scottish Government also recently announced that Organic Maintenance will be part of the Land Managers Options (LMO) for 2011. This non competitive scheme will be of particular benefit to smaller producers who are looking for maintenance funding.
Speaking during a visit to Tio Organics at Forres Richard Lochhead said:
"The organic sector plays an exemplary role in the supply chain, working with the environment, minimising fertiliser and pesticide use. It is already playing its part in our efforts to tackle climate change in agriculture, particularly in the Farming for a Better Climate initiative (co-ordinated by SAC) and the Soil Association’s Climate Change Programme."
"It is crucial that organic businesses enjoy sustainable economic growth. To achieve this buyers have to know the benefits of organic goods and be aware of the innovation, expertise and developments in the sector."
A spokesman for the Scottish Organic Forum, of which SAC is a member, said:
“At a time when sales recovery is well underway with demand for organic produce in the UK and EU showing excellent growth, it is both timely and welcome that the Scottish Government has invested in the production of a new Organic Action Plan."