An ambitious new action plan to help organic food and farming build a more sustainable future, regenerate the rural economy and conserve biodiversity and natural resources is being launched for Scotland.
Unveiled today (Wednesday 27 January) “Organic Ambitions: Scotland’s Organic Action Plan 2016 – 2020” will be further celebrated with a parliamentary reception (at 17:30) on 28th January, attended by Richard Lochhead, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Food and the Environment.
Outlining an Organic Vison for 2020, the Action Plan identifies the key challenges facing the development of Scottish organic food and the actions required to address them. Key to the strategy is spreading KNOWLEDGE about the economic, environmental and social value of Scottish organic produce, increasing the STRENGTH of the whole supply chain and boosting SKILLS through knowledge of best practice and training. Building RESILIENCE by strengthening the ability of the sector to conserve and enhance Scotland’s natural capital will also be vital. Work begins early this year on a programme to deliver these desired outcomes.
Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Food and the Environment Richard Lochhead said:
“Scottish food and drink is a phenomenal success story and, as interest in organic produce increases, that sector clearly has an important role to play in continuing that trend. Much has been achieved over the past few years but there is the potential to do so much more.
“I want to see a strong organic sector in Scotland, one that is strategically supported and that can compete with the rest of the UK, EU and, indeed, the world. I also want to see a Scottish organic sector that is making an important contribution to Scotland becoming a Good Food Nation, by being self-sustaining, adding value to our environment as well as the economy. Partnership and positive collaboration are key to achieving these aims and this new action plan will surely assist in realising these ambitions.”
“Organic Ambitions” was funded by Scottish Government and produced by the Scottish Organic Forum following an extensive consultation. SOF members include Scottish Government, Soil Association Scotland, Scottish Organic Producers Association, Organic Growers Alliance, Caledonian Organics, Scottish Organic Milk Producers, the Scottish Agricultural Organisation Society, SRUC and SAC Consulting, part of SRUC, which also provides the secretariat.
Two of the leading UK education and research organisations in the organic sector have announced they will formally join together to deliver one of the country’s few postgraduate courses in organic farming.
Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) has been running the distance learning Organic Farming MSc since 2002, and for the last 9 years the Organic Research Centre (ORC) has been involved in its delivery. The two organisations will now deliver the course in partnership, a development that will enhance the educational experience for the organic farming students.
SRUC Programme Leader, Lou Ralph, says: “Now that the Organic Research Centre has a more formal role in course delivery, students have direct access to even more organic research, thus gaining increased and significant benefits”.
As well as working together on organic farming research projects, SRUC and ORC have also collaborated in a variety of knowledge exchange events including training courses, conferences and the new online information hub, Agricology.
Launched at the same time as Scotland’s new Organic Action Plan, Organic Ambitions, which highlights the importance of spreading knowledge and boosting skills across the organic sector, this educational partnership between SRUC and ORC serves to reinforce the importance of partnership and collaboration to create a strong organic presence across Scotland and the UK.
Lou says: “Our organic farming course is unique as there are no other study programmes which offer part time online distance learning for postgraduate level organic farming studies. We attract a diverse range of students since we welcome those with industry experience as well as those with previous qualifications. Students are able to study almost entirely online, only attending the Aberdeen campus for 3 weekends a year, and they can study for between one and three years to gain a Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma or their MSc. Our new partnership with ORC will enable us to further strengthen this already excellent provision.”
Soil Association Scotland comment on launch of new Organic Action Plan for Scotland
Regarding the launch of Organic Ambitions: 2016 – 2020, the new Organic Action Plan for Scotland, Angela Mitchell, Acting Director of Soil Association Scotland said:
“We welcome the new action plan and the Scottish Government’s continuing support for organics as a national priority. The actions it sets out have the potential to make real change in how Scotland farms and eats; as well as increasing sales of organic produce, and the amount of land in Scotland being farmed organically. This will be good for consumers, for farmers and producers, and for the environment.
“The plan is very ambitious. The challenge now will be to find ways to ensure that, even in the face of difficult economic times, the vision it sets out becomes a reality. It was created with input from a wide range of organisations interested in food, farming and the environment, and it is critical that we all continue to work together to implement it. Here at Soil Association Scotland we look forward to contributing to the success of the plan by building on our existing work through programmes like Food for Life to work with schools, public sector organisations, caterers and retailers to raise awareness about good food and organic produce. We also look forward to continuing to work with farmers, growers, processors and key partner organisations in order to support the organic sector in Scotland.”
