APPENDIX 9
Memorandum submitted by the RSPB (F 12)
SUMMARY AND
RECOMMENDATIONS
The RSPB welcomes the opportunity to submit
evidence to the House of Commons Agriculture Committee inquiry
into "Organic Farming in the UK". We believe organic
farming produces environmental benefits and therefore support
its expansion, although recognise that its expansion will inevitably
be limited. The expansion of organic farming would act as a counter
measure to the on-going trend of increased intensification and
specialisation of farming, which has had such a devastating effect
on our countryside wildlife.
The Committee is seeking comments on a number
of issues outside of the Society's remit and expertise; however,
we provide comments where appropriate. Our primary interest in
organic farming is the benefits for farmland birds and other wildlife.
This is not a topic the Committee has specifically listed within
the remit of this inquiry; however we feel it is, for reasons
that we explain, an important dimension to the debate. We offer
comments on the expansion of organic farming; the role of organic
certification organisations; the setting of organic standards;
the role of farm assurance schemes; the availability and suitability
of public assistance for organic conversion; and the likely future
developments in these areas.
Our recommendations to the Committee are as
follows:
— The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries
and Food (MAFF) in England, the Northern Ireland Assembly and
the National Assembly of Wales should set a target of 30 per cent
of farmland, and in Scotland the Scottish Executive should set
a target of 20 per cent of farmland, to be farmed organically
by 2010 and introduce measures which would enable this target
to be met (Paragraph 3.3).
— Achieving these targets for organic
farming must not affect funding available for other agri-environment
schemes such as Environmentally Sensitive Areas, the Rural Stewardship
Scheme (Scotland), the Countryside Stewardship Scheme (England),
Tir Gofal (Wales) and the Countryside Management Scheme (Northern
Ireland) (Paragraph 3.3).
— In order to support further growth
in funding for agri-environment schemes (including organic farming)
under the auspices of the new Rural Development Regulation, the
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF) in England,
the Northern Ireland Assembly, the National Assembly of Wales
and the Scottish Executive should set a target of 20 per cent
modulation by 2005 (Paragraph 11.2).
— The Scottish Executive should introduce
modulation now, and offer farmers in Scotland significantly greater
opportunities to farm in wildlife-friendly ways (Paragraph 11.2)
— The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries
and Food (MAFF) in England, the Northern Ireland Assembly and
the National Assembly of Wales should set a target of 20 per cent
by volume of food consumed is certified as organic by 2010, and
introduce measures which would enable this target to be met (Paragraph
3.3).
— The UK Government should restructure
the charging regime for Meat Hygiene Service inspections to a
fair and equitable system that does not threaten the future of
smaller, craft abattoirs (Paragraph 6.4).
— All UK (and EU) accreditation bodies
should adopt, apply and police rigorous conservation standards
within their organic farming standards (Paragraph 7.2).
— UK agriculture departments, the farming
industry and conservation bodies should work together to identify
those environmentally beneficial practices within organic farming
systems which could be applied more widely to conventional farming
systems as a matter of good farming practice (Paragraph 8.1).
— The Agriculture Committee should
consider conducting an inquiry into Farm Assurance Schemes and
those operated by the multiple retailers, to evaluate any environmental
claims being made and the implication of these schemes for international
suppliers (Paragraph 9.2).
— All farmers should have equal access
to support for converting to organic farming (Paragraph 10.1).
— The agriculture departments should
undertake research to examine the biodiversity effects of organic
upland farming systems (Paragraph 10.3).
— The agriculture departments should
undertake research to determine the environmental benefits and
any dis-benefits of organic farming systems and define those practices
which could be isolated and applied to conventional farming systems
(Paragraph 10.4).
— The agriculture departments should
undertake research into a comparative investigation of biodiversity
benefits on organic blocks of different sizes (Paragraph 10.5).
— MAFF should support environmentally
friendly farming (including organic) and simplification of regulations
and schemes for farmers by integrating organic stewardship into
other land stewardship schemes. Other agriculture departments
should follow suit (Paragraph 10.10).
— UK agriculture departments should
utilise the support for training under the terms of the Rural
Development Regulation to introduce and promote training courses
for farmers wishing to convert to organic farming (Paragraph 10.13).
— UK agriculture departments and their
advisory agencies should develop training courses for organic
farming and conservation advisers to facilitate understanding
of organic farming systems and nature conservation (Paragraph
10.13).
1. INTRODUCTION
1.1 The RSPB welcomes the opportunity to
submit evidence to the House of Commons Agriculture Committee
inquiry into "Organic Farming in the UK".
1.2 The RSPB works for the conservation
of wild birds and their environment. We are Europe's largest wildlife
conservation charity with over one million members and rely almost
entirely on the support of our membership to finance conservation
work. We manage one of the largest conservation estates in the
UK with over 150 nature reserves totalling more than 100,000 hectares.
1.3 The Society is also a farmer in its
own right. Cattle and sheep grazing is an important feature of
the management regime on many of our reserves. We graze some 5,200
beef cattle, 4,500 sheep and a smaller number of dairy followers
on 22,000 hectares, or about 20 per cent of our total land holding.
We also own 400 cattle at our Loch Gruinart reserve on Islay and
400 Blackface sheep at Geltsdale in Cumbria. In April 2000 we
took possession of a 180 hectare arable farm in Cambridgeshire,
where we intend to investigate ways—both organic and non-organic—of
integrating wildlife requirements into farming practices.
1.4 We have begun the process of converting
a number of our farmed reserves to meet organic standards. Considerable
progress has been made at two large reserves, Geltsdale (569 ha)
and Lake Vyrnwy in Powys (4,500) ha; also Ynys Hir (60 ha) and
parts of some reserves (228 ha) that are used by organic graziers.
This area totals some 5,400 ha, five per cent of the RSPB's total
land holdings and 24 per cent of our grazed area. Once converted,
Lake Vyrnwy alone will annually produce 1,800 finished organic
lambs and 30 organic calves; Geltsdale around 300 finished organic
lambs.
2. FARMLAND BIRD
DECLINES
2.1 Over the past 30 years, populations
of common farmland birds have declined dramatically, with eight
species declining by more than 50 per cent (see Table 1). There
is growing evidence and acceptance that these declines have been
driven by agricultural intensification, for example increases
in the use of pesticides and chemical fertilisers, removal of
hedgerows and changes in the timing and methods of cultivation.
Farmers have also specialised, reducing the diversity of the agricultural
products they produce. The visible results of this are a dominance
of arable farming in the east and pasture systems in the west
and an overall reduction in mixed farming, with a decline in the
diversity of habitat as a result.
2.2 The loss of birds is not just a conservation
problem. Birds are good indicators of the health of the environment
as a whole, and among the most visible and audible. The rapid
declines in farmland birds should be a cause for concern for everyone.
The Government has adopted the status of bird populations as an
official "Quality of Life" indicator (for England, Wales
and Northern Ireland); all of the species listed below are also
included in the UK Biodiversity Action Plan through which the
Government is committed to "conserve and enhance biological
diversity".
Table 1
DECLINING BIRD POPULATIONS ON UK FARMLAND,
1972-96 (BTO/JNCC, 1997)
| Tree sparrow | -76%
|
| Spotted flycatcher | -78%
|
| Grey partridge | -78%
|
| Corn bunting | -74%
|
| Turtle dove | -85%
|
| Skylark | -75%
|
| Song thrush | -66%
|
| Bullfinch | -62%
|
3. CAN ORGANIC
FARMING SOLVE
THE PROBLEM?
3.1 The serious declines in farmland birds and other
wildlife associated with farmland must be halted. Mechanisms are
needed to protect vulnerable systems of farming which, by their
nature, support important biodiversity, and to provide a counter
to the incentives to intensify output and specialise production.
The RSPB believes these mechanisms must:
— stem the declines of species and habitats of conservation
concern and prevent further loss;
— maintain and, where apropriate, enhance the populations
of such species and enhance habitat quality and quantity;
— encourage sensitive farming, extensification and
diversification.
3.2 Organic farming is often singled out as an example
of a more tried and tested sustainable farming system. While not
qualified to comment on the food quality aspects of organic produce,
the RSPB believes there is sufficient evidence to show that organic
farming can deliver environmental benefits for birds and other
wildlife. The area of land farmed organically in the UK—420,000
ha, or 2.3 per cent of the total land area (March 2000[1])—remains
low, and 75 per cent of that is in conversion. The RSPB would
like to see an expansion in organic farming as one way of improving
the conservation status of farmland birds. We therefore support
the target set out in the Organic Targets Bill (see Annex 1) of
30 per cent of England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and 20 per
cent of Scotland in the Scottish Parliament Organic Targets Bill,
to be certified or in conversion by 2010.
3.3 The UK imports around 70 per cent of organic food
sold in this country compared to Denmark which imports only 25
per cent. An increase in organic production in the UK would ensure
that a greater proportion of organic sales comes from domestic
produce as well as opening up export markets for UK farmers. We
suggest setting a target for organic food production would contribute
significantly towards reducing this production deficit.
Recommendations:
— The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
(MAFF) in England, the Northern Ireland Assembly and the National
Assembly of Wales should set a target of 30 per cent of farmland,
and in Scotland the Scottish Executive should set a target of
20 per cent of farmland, to be farmed organically by 2010 and
introduce measures which would enable this target to be met.
— Achieving these targets for organic farming must
not affect funding available for other agri-environment schemes
such as Environmentally Sensitive Areas, the Rural Stewardship
Scheme (Scotland), the Countryside Stewardship Scheme (England),
Tir Gofal (Wales) and the Countryside Management Scheme (Northern
Ireland).
— the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
(MAFF) in England, the Northern Ireland Assembly and the National
Assembly of Wales should set a target of 20 per cent by volume
of food consumed is certified as organic by 2010, and introduced
measures which would enable this target to be met.
3.4 The present mix of regulations (organic standards),
the market (price premiums), organic conversion schemes and advice
will all contribute to achieving such a target. Organic farming,
however, cannot solve the farmland bird problem on its own. We
also recognise that not all farmers will be able, or would want
to convert to organic production, and it remains important that
every farmer is able to take direct action through agri-environment
schemes and other measures, to maintain and encourage wildlife
on their farms.
4. THE ENVIRONMENTAL
BENEFITS OF
ORGANIC FARMING
4.1 The RSPB believes there is sufficient evidence to
demonstrate the benefits of organic farming to birds and biodiversity
and, on this basis, to seek an expansion of organic farming in
the UK. Many farms which could convert to organic farming methods
in future are currently farming relatively extensively. With support,
it would be a natural progression for them to convert to organic
farming methods. If organic farming is not supported, there is
a danger that these farms may move towards more intensive systems
of farming in order to remain viable.
4.2 However, while we support organic farming, not all
organic farming practices are beneficial to birds and biodiversity.
A good example is found in an organic arable system, where one
of the methods of controlling weeds is through mechanical weeding.
This cleans a crop of weed plants and therefore removes a valuable
source of food for birds and insects. Further research could help
to assess the economic impacts of yield loss as a result of broad-leaved
weeds in order to determine what levels of weed infestation might
be tolerated in economically viable stockless organic systems
(primarily found in East Anglia). The application of conservation
standards also helps to reduce or remove any negative environmental
impacts of organic farming practices.
4.3 Supporting evidence:
— Research carried out by the British Trust for
Ornithology (BTO) compared organic and conventional farms in lowland
Britain[2]. This showed,
that for most of the farmland bird species studied, population
densities were consistently higher on organic than conventional
farms. In particular, the research drew attention to the fact
that densities of breeding skylarks were significantly greater
on organic fields, suggesting that such fields offer better habitat
for these birds than conventional fields.
— This was supported by Wilson et al (1997)[3].
It also found that hedges tended to be higher and wider, field
boundaries tended to have more trees and field sizes tended to
be smaller on organic farms.
— More recently a review of the comparative effects
of organic farming on biodiversity[4]
on arable farmland found that: "Organic regimes were shown
to have an overall benefit for biodiversity at the farm level,
both in terms of the agricultural practices adopted and in the
occurrence and management of uncropped areas." Organic farming
offers several features which have become rare in modern, intensive
farming including: rotations incorporating grass leys and legumes,
reliance on animal and green manures rather than synthetic fertilisers,
and little or no use of chemical pesticides.
— English Nature has recently completed a comprehensive
review of the available published evidence of the biodiversity
benefits of organic farming. This is summarised with their evidence
to this Committee, and we would direct the Committee's attention
towards this. The Soil Association has also recently published
a new report "The biodiversity benefits of organic farming"
(May 2000).
5. THE ADVANTAGES
OF ORGANIC
FARMING FOR
THE RURAL
ECONOMY
5.1 As well as benefits to biodiversity, organic farming
is making a significant contribution to the economy and providing
jobs in rural areas. The demand for organic food is growing: sales
of organic food have risen from £100 million in 1993 to £350
million in 1999 and are expected to rise to over £1 billion
by 2002[5].
5.2 Studies[6][7][8]
demonstrate that organic farming supports 10-20 per cent more
labour than conventional agriculture, after allowing for differences
in farm structure and cropping patterns. There are currently 593,000
people engaged in UK agriculture, equivalent to approximately
430,000 FTE (full-time equivalent) jobs. Increasing the area of
land farmed organically from the current 2.3 per cent to 30 per
cent, as proposed by the Organic Targets Bill for England, Wales
and Northern Ireland (see Annex 1), would generate net income
for farmers and farm-workers totalling 12,000-24,000 FTE jobs.
As well as supporting higher levels of farming employment, organic
conversion tends to support higher levels of employment in on-farm
processing and marketing, creating additional local jobs.
6. CONSTRAINTS TO
EXPANSION IN
ORGANIC PRODUCTION
6.1 There is evidence that growth of markets for organic
produce is still being constrained by processing and distribution
difficulties; that economies of scale have yet to be reached for
transport, distribution and processing costs. Geographical differences
in the uptake of organic farming further exacerbates this problem.
It is also likely that limits in organic seed production will
constrain the development of the sector.
6.2 Processing capacity for livestock is particularly
inadequate. Numbers of small abattoirs are still declining as
a result of current legislation: half of the remaining 350 small
abattoirs in the country expect to have ceased trading by the
end of the year. At present the Meat Hygiene Service recovers
the costs of veterinary inspection on a time basis. This interpretation
imposes higher costs on small abattoirs than when charges are
based on a throughput basis. The loss of these smaller abattoirs
will fundamentally change the rural environment because:
— animal welfare will suffer as a result of longer
journeys (and increases the costs for farmers);
— consumer choice will be affected as independent
butchers, farm shops, farmers markets and many other speciality
outlets lose the battle to survive;
— local countryside economies will be undermined,
contradicting Government policy on farm diversification.
6.3 Unless the current charging structure for Meat Hygiene
Service inspections is changed, only the largest factory abattoirs
will survive and they are tailored to the needs of supermarkets
and mass caterers. They are less able to meet the needs of smaller,
specialist producers and retail outlets.
6.4 It is essential that smaller abattoirs are treated
fairly. Charging on a per head basis is fair and equitable and
would both preserve smaller abattoirs and protect the countryside.
It is the system adopted by every other EU country. Since it is
entirely within the remit of the British government how these
charges are levied, the present system should be changed.
Recommendation
— the UK Government should restructure the charging
regime for Meat Hygiene Service inspections to a fair and equitable
system that does not threaten the future of smaller, craft abattoirs.
7. THE ROLE
OF ORGANIC
CERTIFICATION ORGANISATIONS
7.1 The RSPB has been working with the Soil Association
to help develop and improve their conservation standards, which
we believe will lead to more environmental benefits from organic
farming systems. A new set of conservation standards is due to
be published by the SA at the end of 2000.
7.2 Organic farming standards need to be high to maintain
the intrinsic environmental benefits of organic farming (standards
are also essential to retain consumer confidence). We would suggest
that this is best achieved by all the UK accreditation bodies
adopting, applying and policing rigorous conservation standards
within their organic farming standards. With the predicted continued
growth in organic farming, we also have concerns that organic
farming will become increasingly intensive. Without conservation
standards, the environmental benefits of organic farming systems
may be threatened, along with its environmentally friendly image.
Recommendation
— all UK (and EU) accreditation bodies should adopt,
apply and police rigorous conservation standards within their
organic farming standards.
8. THE SETTING
OF ORGANIC
STANDARDS
8.1 We welcome the organic farming standards because
of the positive example they set to the farming industry in general.
No other system of farming in the UK has such a clear and consistent
set of operating procedures or is as environmentally stringent
as organic farming. We suggest there are many lessons which the
conventional farming industry could learn from the organic sector
and apply to conventional farming systems. At the very least,
we believe all farming systems in receipt of public subsidy should
have to adhere to a set of basic environmental conditions which
secure the protection of our soil, air, water and biodiversity
resources.
Recommendation
— UK agriculture departments, the farming industry
and conservation bodies should work together to identify those
environmentally beneficial practices within organic farming systems
which could be applied more widely to conventional farming systems
as a matter of good farming practice.
9. THE ROLE
OF FARM
ASSURANCE SCHEMES
9.1 The RSPB participated in a Department of the Environment,
Transport and the Regions (DETR) sponsored evaluation of the environmental
conditions of the agri-industry's farm assurance schemes (FAS)
in 1999[9]. The review
concluded that the FAS studied primarily addressed environmental
conditions in relation to compliance with the environmental protection
legislation detailed in the Codes of Good Agricultural Practice
and Green Pesticides Code. They did not generally feature compliance
with current wildlife and countryside legislation, even though
farmers are required to comply with these, or any other initiatives
to promote biodiversity conservation on-farm such as a farm conservation
plan or participation in an agri-environment scheme. The National
Farmers Union is now promoting the FAS, through the development
of a British Farm Standard logo. Endorsed by the Government and
the eight major retailers, the logo claims to guarantee that food
labelled with it has been produced to the highest standards in
terms of the environment, animal welfare and safety. It is clear
that from a biodiversity point of view the highest standards have
not been adopted.
9.2 The authors concluded that FAS do offer the potential
for verifying compliance with existing legislation and also have
potential for delivering environmental benefits beyond basic legislative
threshold. The organic market is proof that the market will reward
higher environmental benefits. Like organic farming systems, FAS
are independently verified and they could deliver further environmental
benefits if for example they included compulsory conservation
standards like the Soil Association organic certification scheme.
However, such additional benefits depend on the consumer/supply
chain being able to recognise that these benefits are being delivered,
and then being prepared to pay extra to them.
Recommendation
— The Agriculture Committee should consider conducting
an inquiry into Farm Assurance Schemes and those operated by the
multiple retailers, to evaluate any environmental claims being
made and the implications of these schemes for international suppliers.
10. THE AVAILABILITY
AND SUITABILITY
OF PUBLIC
ASSISTANCE FOR
ORGANIC CONVERSION
10.1 We welcome the practical support the UK Government
has given so far to organic farming including: funds for research
and development, incentives for conversion through organic conversion
schemes and funding for advice. We believe the combination of
incentives, advice and market premiums for organic produce are
the key factors which influence a farmer's decision to convert
or not. However, farmers in Scotland only have access to a free
telephone advice line, compared to a free farm visit in England.
All farmers across the UK should have equal access to support.
Recommendation
— All farmers should have equal access to support
for converting to organic farming.
Research and Development
10.2 MAFF currently spends over £125 million per
annum on agricultural research and development, of which £1.5
million will be spent on organic farming in 2000-01. We believe
the R&D budget for organic should continue to grow in line
with the expansion in conversion to organic farming methods. In
particular, further work is needed to understand which components
of organic farming deliver the greatest environmental benefits;
and to look at ways in which the biodiversity benefits of organic
farming could be improved and determine any dis-benefits of current
practices. We have submitted some of our suggestions for organic
research to MAFF, in our response to their consultation on the
Organic Farming Scheme earlier this year.
10.3 The environmental implications of organic upland
systems are largely unknown, yet almost 45 per cent of organically
managed land (including in conversion) in the UK is classed as
hill or rough grazing. In Scotland this figure is as high as 70
per cent[10].
Recommendation
— The agriculture departments should undertake
research to examine the biodiversity effects of organic upland
farming systems.
10.4 R&D should also look not just at the organic
system itself, but also aim to define those beneficial elements
or practices within organic farming which could be isolated and
applied to conventional farming systems as well.
Recommendation
— The agriculture departments should undertake
research to determine the environmental benefits and dis-benefits
of organic farming systems and define those practices which could
be isolated and applied to conventional farming systems.
10.5 Finally, the potential environmental/biodiversity
benefits may have previously under-estimated because organic farms
were small and isolated in a sea of intensive agriculture. Larger
benefits may become detectable when larger blocks of land are
managed organically.
Recommendation
— The agriculture departments should undertake
research into a comparative investigation of biodiversity benefits
on organic blocks of different sizes.
Incentives for conversion
10.6 The RSPB believes that there is a need to support
organic farmers after the conversion period. This is in line with
the current Government policy of supporting farmers to carry out
environmentally beneficial management on their farms, usually
under an agri-environment scheme.
10.7 Agri-environment schemes have evolved from the special
site protection measures into more widespread support for environmentally
friendly farming, and this trend is likely to continue, for example,
as under the expanded Countryside Stewardship Scheme in England.
At the same time, there is a Government initiative to reduce red
tape and simplify regulations and schemes for farmers.
10.8 There is a need for an agri-environment approach,
which brings all of these actions into a menu which farmers—organic
and conventional—can choose from (Figure 2). The aim would
be to recognise those farmers who farm in such ways that they
benefit wildlife. More targeted, special agri-environment measures
are still needed, for example for habitat recreation, Sites of
Special Scientific Interest and so on. We believe that the review
of English agri-environment schemes, due in 2001, offers an opportunity
to consolidate these trends and incorporate support for organic
farmers. It could also act as a model for the other UK countries.
Figure 2. A structure of support measures for agriculture
10.9 The RSPB sees a new structure for agri-environment
payments, with increasing payments for increasingly demanding
environmental management:
— Tier One would be basic good farming practice,
including adherence to the Codes of Good Agricultural Practice
and other standards, and would receive no payment other than agricultural
subsidies.
— Tier Two would be low-level payments for "greener"
farming systems, such as minimum percentages of land under arable/grass/woodland
(encouraging mixed farming); conservation headlands; wildlife
seed mixtures; winter stubbles and fallows; pesticide restrictions;
field margin improvements and beetle banks.
— Tier Three would incorporate more demanding options
such as habitat recreation (the original vision for Countryside
Stewardship).
— Tier Four would provide targeted tailored management
for special sites. Organic farming maintenance payments would
fit naturally into Tier Two.
10.10 Tier Two would contain a menu of options which
farmers could combine within a compulsory whole farm plan. Options
would be allocated points to weight them according to ease and
cost of implementation. Farmers would receive a single payment
for a plan comprising options which reach an agreed total of points.
It is envisaged that many organic farmers would—as a result
of following organic farming standards—be eligible automatically
for Tier Two payments. They could be required to submit a whole
farm plan to verify that they are eligible for such payments.
Recommendation
— MAFF should support environmentally friendly farming
(including organic) and simplification of regulations and schemes
for farmers by integrating organic stewardship into other land
stewardship schemes. Other agriculture departments should follow
suit.
Advice and Training
10.10 We understand from many organic farmers that a
lack of skills and know-how are a significant constraint to conversion.
MAFF has established the Organic Conversion Information Service
(there are similar services in Wales and Northern Ireland) to
give advice to farmers and take up of this service has far exceeded
expectations, although Scottish farmers and crofters receive less
support. Sufficient funding must be made available to ensure the
service can cope with present and future demand and to ensure
high standards of advice provision are maintained.
10.11 We understand however that there are few training
opportunities for farmers wishing to convert to organic farming
methods. MAFF is currently consulting on proposals for a vocational
training scheme which, subject to European Commission approval,
will be delivered under the England Rural Development Plan. The
ERDP has been developed under the terms of the EU Rural Development
Regulation (1257/99). The consultation document states that "priority
will be given to vocational training that assists with the modernisation
and improvement of agricultural and forestry holdings... this
will contribute to a well-founded diversification of the rural
economy and will promote the adoption of sustainable and environmentally
sensitive practices through the development of new skills".
10.12 We welcome MAFF's support for training, and suggest
that organic farmers are well-placed to deliver this objective.
A number of high priorities for training have been identified,
including "Farm management skills", "Business and
marketing skills" and "Countryside and environmental
skills". Organic farmers would benefit from training in all
of these areas.
10.13 Training is also needed for both organic farming
and conservation advisers. For example, advisers giving advice
to farmers about converting to organic farming methods would benefit
from having been trained in basic farmland ecology and wildlife
conservation. Equally, conservation advisers giving advice to
farmers would benefit from having been trained in the principles
and practices of organic farming.
Recommendations
— UK agriculture departments should utilise the
support for training under the terms of the Rural Development
Regulation to introduce and promote training courses for farmers
wishing to convert to organic farming;
— UK agriculture departments and their advisory agencies
should develop training courses for organic farming and conservation
advisers to facilitate understanding of organic farming systems
and nature conservation.
11. LIKELY FUTURE
DEVELOPMENTS
11.1 The new Rural Development Regulation (RDR) represents
a step in the right direction towards public policies which recognise
and support the economic, social and environmental role of agriculture.
We believe significantly more of the CAP budget should be devoted
to this regulation to benefit farmers, rural communities and the
environment and in order for it to truly become the "second
pillar" of the CAP.
11.2 Agri-environment schemes (which includes support
for organic conversion) are currently the only CAP measures which
support farmers for their role in delivering environmental benefits.
The introduction of modulation in England, Wales and Northern
Ireland—a flat rate of 2.5 per cent rising to 4.5 per cent
by 2006—will mean for example that the budget for English
agri-environment schemes (including organic conversion) will double.
While this rate will deliver significant amounts of money to address
the on-going crisis in the countryside, it is unlikely to be enough
to bring about changes on the scale that is needed. In Scotland,
not only has modulation yet to be introduced, funding for agri-environment
schemes is already significantly lower than the other UK countries.
Further modulation ie up to 20 per cent of the CAP budget would
release significant funds for the RDR, and agri-environment schemes
in particular.
Recommendations
— The Scottish Executive should introduce modulation
now, and offer farmers in Scotland significantly greater opportunities
to farm in wildlife-friendly ways;
— In order to support further growth in funding for
agri-environment schemes (including organic farming) under auspices
of the new Rural Development Regulation, the Ministry of Agriculture,
Fisheries and Food (MAFF) in England, the Northern Ireland Assembly,
the National Assembly of Wales and the Scottish Executive should
set a target of 20 per cent modulation by 2005.
9 June 2000
1
Personal communication with Soil Association. Back
2
Chamberlain D E, Wilson J D & Fuller R J (1999) A comparison
of bird populations on organic and conventional farm systems in
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3
Wilson J D, Evans J, Browne S J & King J R (1997) Territory
distribution and breeding success of skylarks Alaunda arvensis
on organic and intensive farmland in southern England. Journal
of Applied Biology 34, 1462-1478. Back
4
Gardner S M & Brown R W (1998) Review of the comparative
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5
Soil Association (1999) The Organic Food and Farming Report
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6
Lampkin N H & Padel S (Eds) (1994) The economics of organic
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7
Bateman D & Midmore P (1993) Modelling the impacts of policy
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8
Friends of the Earth (1994) Working future? Jobs and the environment.
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