Bill targets organic expansion

No targets have been set north of the border

A bill which aims to set a target for the expansion of organic farming north of the border has been lodged at the Scottish Parliament.

The move by Green Party MSP Robin Harper has the support of more than 80 organisations.

His bill aims to convert 20% of agricultural land to organic production within eight years.

At present only 7% of that land qualifies as organic in Scotland.

Robin Harper: "Huge opportunity"

Mr Harper said targets were needed to give farmers "security and equity" to develop organic production.

He added: "We need it because of the huge opportunity we're missing in Scotland.

"It's an opportunity to replace the food that we are importing and to engage in a competitive market in Scotland.

"If you add "organic" to the Scottish label - which is already respected throughout Europe in terms of quality of food - I believe that would be an unbeatable marketing opportunity for Scottish farming."

Targets to increase organic production have already been set in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

There is tremendous scope to develop our organic sector

Carey Coombs
Soil Association

But so far the Scottish Executive has only set up an advisory stakeholder group.

Mr Harper said it is now time to set a target of converting 20% of Scotland's agricultural land to organic production by 2010.

His bill would also require ministers to draw up an organic " field to plate" strategy.

This would include long-term financial support for organic farmers as well as local marketing.

Carey Coombs, of the Soil Association Scotland, which certifies organic food, said a plan for developing further farming was urgently needed.

She said: "There is tremendous scope to develop our organic sector. We need to promote the Scottish origin of our organic lamb and beef and open up the current bottlenecks in the supply chain."

The Organic Targets bill has the support of 24 MSPs and 83 organisations, including the supermarkets Waitrose and Asda.

Initially the bill is expected to be initially considered by Holyrood's Rural Development Committee in November.