Increase organic aid, urges Holden
16 February 2001
Increase organic aid, urges Holden
By FWi staff
BRITISH farmers will miss opportunities in the growing organic market unless Government support is increased, claims a leading figure in the sector.
Patrick Holden, director of organic certifying body the Soil Association, also called for long-term organic support instead of short-term conversion payments.
Speaking at BioFach, the world organic trade fair, in Nuremberg, Mr Holden said the sector was growing at 40% a year and fast approaching 1 billion a year.
Mr Holden said the UK has the most dynamic organic market in Europe, and farmers must be encouraged to take advantage of this.
“Unless more support is given to organic farmers in the UK, we will continue to lose out on this opportunity to take advantage of this expanding organic market,” he said.
Mr Holden criticised the stop-go nature of funding under the Governments flagship Organic Farming Scheme for conversion for causing uncertainty.
The Soil Association has called for an organic stewardship scheme to provide long-term support for farmers in recognition of environmental benefits.
This has also been recommended by the Agriculture Select Committee, and agriculture minister Nick Brown has reacted favourably to the idea.
Earlier, junior farm minister Elliot Morley said OFS applications have steadied following an early rush in which farmers applied for 3m of 13m available.
He said that under the first round of the OFS, 1270 farmers were allocated 30 million over five years to help their move to organic production.
This is three times more than in the previous five years put together.