Scotland: Good prospects for organic farmers

During the launch of the Scottish Organic Forum’s updated organic action plan for 2013-15 at Pitgaveny Farm, Elgin, the cabinet secretary for rural affairs Richard Lochhead has stated that organic food production offers a real opportunity for Scottish farmers. Demand for organic beef, lamb, milk, oats, potatoes, carrots and other vegetables is outstripping available supplies: “We consume more organic food in Scotland than we produce so there is a real window of opportunity for producers,” Mr. Lochhead explained. “The most recent market research indicates that the market in Scotland has grown in the first quarter of this year by 3.2% a year to £12.4 million which compares with a decline of 0.5% in the rest of the UK."

He pledged continued Scottish Government support to encourage organic production and would ensure that the relevant instruments were included in the new Scotland rural development programme currently under discussion, the Scotsman reports. “The premium for organic produce is there and margins are good,” said forum chairman Richard Huxtable, organic specialist with Scotland’s Rural College.

Pitgaveny Farm hosted an open day for 2,000 visitors in May as part of the national Open Farm Sunday programme, and 200 secondary school children visited the farm to learn about organic farming. About 320 hectares on the farm are dedicated to organic production - including carrots, potatoes, oats, beef and lamb.

The Scotsman