DEFRA ORGANIC ACTION PLAN - A statement from Sally Bagenal, Chief Executive of OMSCo

This press release was posted on : 06th August 2002

OMSCo wholeheartedly welcomes the Organic Action Plan, in that it demonstrates a greater government commitment to the growth of the organic industry and highlights the importance of supporting organic farming initiatives."

However, we are keen to underline that the plan represents only a very small step towards addressing the needs of the UK organic industry and by no means provides an immediate solution to the difficulties faced by organic farmers across the UK. The subsidies offered, for example, amount to only around a tenth of what many European organic farmers currently receive.

More positive elements of the plan include the introduction of Vocational Training Schemes to help support small-scale organic businesses, and the proposed undertaking that grant applications to DEFRA for organic initiatives will be reviewed.

The most crucial aspect of the plan is increasing consumer involvement by providing clear information on the benefits of organic food, organic farming and the and the extra costs incurred to meet the exacting standards that have to be achieved and maintained. For the organic industry to become sustainable in the long term, it is essential that consumers are educated in the critical differences between organic and ordinary farming.

With regard to organic dairy produce in particular, consumers need to understand that organic farmers will not allow their cows to be fed GM feed and will not give routine antibiotics because of their concern about the long term effects on human and animal health. Nor do they graze their cows on pastures sprayed with artificial pesticides."

It is important to stress that the plan will only be effective in England  not across the whole of the UK. Many OMSCo farmers are located in Wales and Scotland and will not benefit from these new initiatives.

Ends

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