Safe Food

Safe food

The public should demand that our politicians:

Treble investment in environmentally friendly agriculture, pay organic farmers beyond the current five year support limit and introduce a new payment scheme for conversion to organic fruit and vegetables.

Why?
Requiring farmers to safeguard the environment and develop sustainable, healthier production methods in return for public money will deliver benefits for rural communities, wildlife, landscapes, animal welfare and reduce pollution. It will create more jobs compared to conventional farming.

Background
In the last half century, agriculture in Scotland has become highly intensified. This has resulted in declines and loss of wildlife and habitats, loss of hedgerows, damage to wild and cultural landscapes and loss of recreation opportunities. Farmers and crofters have responded to incentives provided by politicians in the public’s name. However, almost all the taxpayers money for rural support, around £500m, goes towards paying for maximising agricultural production, with little regard to the health of local rural communities or the environment. The time has come to redirect more of the money earmarked for ‘production’ towards land management that contributes a wider benefit to society and care for the environment.

Consumers want food they can trust, that safeguards the environment and creates jobs. The increase in demand for organic food and public concern over GMOs for example, underline this view. Doing so would lead to a Scotland rich with wildlife, valued landscapes, cultural heritage and recreation opportunities for all. It would also lead to a countryside where there are well paid jobs in growing, processing and marketing high quality food that is distinctly Scottish. It would be a major boost to local markets and local economies.

Such a plan would lead to the expansion of organic agriculture; the maintenance and enhancement of wildlife; the conservation of cultural landscapes and archaeological features; and promote public access.

Although agriculture policy, in Scotland and the UK as a whole, is set mainly by the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), it allows significant discretion to Member States. Scotland uses only 3 of the 23 EU flexibility mechanisms available. One key area for such discretion is expenditure on the so-called agri-environment, Rural Stewardship and Organic Aid Schemes. However, these have been seriously underfunded for many years and take no account of public access needs or the requirements of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003.

The recently published Executive Organic Action Plan is a significant step forward – but will need changes to the funding of agriculture to make it work. The Executive proposes to consult on funding mechanisms – the action proposed by everyone needs your support.

Farming and the economy

We have one of the fastest growing organic markets in Europe, with demand growing at 15% per year. Yet, up to two-thirds of UK organic produce is imported.
The UK organic market is predicted to be worth more than £1billion this year.
80% of organic fruit and vegetables and 85% of cereals are imported. Even with staple vegetables which can be produced in the UK (potatoes, carrots, cauliflower, cabbage, broccoli and lettuce) 45% is imported
Farmers want to change the rural economy, but are being held back. Demand from farmers to participate in environmentally friendly agriculture and diversification schemes is growing fast yet many are getting disillusioned. Two-thirds were knocked back in 2002. (196 out of 600 applications)
In the last 20 years full time employment in agriculture has dropped from 44,000 to 29,000.
Studies show that labour use can be 10% to 30% higher on organic farms than conventional farming with great potential for local knock on benefits for the local economy, local employment and less pollution from transporting food half way round the world.
Each year £136 million is spent removing pesticides and nitrates from drinking water in the UK.

Farming and the health

Industrial agriculture created the BSE crisis and compounded the Foot and Mouth crisis – the direct health impacts on people and the devastation caused to rural communities is evident for all to see.
In 1988, 20% of groundwater sites sampled exceeded drinking water standards for pesticides.
Good quality food, produced without excessive use of chemicals means less pesticides and other chemicals in the food chain and the human body.
Scotland has one of the highest rates of heart disease in Europe. Scots need to be more active. Getting people walking will result in real health gains and huge long term savings for the NHS. Provision for access, especially near towns and villages, encourages walking and other recreation activities – a healthy pursuit.
Scottish agriculture is a major contributor to climate change, as it is grossly fossil fuel dependent. Climate change and the burning of fossil fuels are among the biggest long term threats to health and the economy. Organic farming and local markets are more fuel-efficient.

Farming facts…
Scotland has one of the lowest levels of expenditure on agri-environment schemes in the EU, putting only £20million into it compared to around £500m per year into intensive agriculture.

45% of shoppers at farmers markets wish to be able to purchase locally produced organic food.
Farmers in the UK spray around one billion gallons of chemicals on the land each year.
Currently 8% of Scotland's farm area is managed organically but most of this is in upland grazing areas.
Most EU member states have set targets for conversion, including Sweden, France, Denmark, the Netherlands, Ireland, Germany, Austria and Finland.
The Welsh Assembly approved an Organic Action Plan in 1999 with a target of 10% conversion of farmland by 2005.
An English action plan to develop organic food and farming includes a commitment to long term support for organic farmers. Initial payment rates have been set at £30 per hectare for arable land, £23/ha for other improved land, £5/ha for unimproved grassland. There is also a special payment category for organic top fruit production (apples, pears etc) of £600/ha for the first three years of conversion.

New Executive action plan on organic farming.

The Scottish Executive Organic Action Plan was published in February 2003. The Plan includes two targets: to increase the level of Scottish produce supplying the Scottish organic market, from the current level of c 35% to 70% of the demand for produce which can be grown in Scotland, and to double the amount of organic land in arable areas and improved grassland. The Scottish Executive will now consult on a variety of measures to achieve these targets including support for organic producers beyond the initial conversion period and a new payment for vegetable and fruit production. They will also look at the place of organic food in public procurement (such as organic food in schools) and in the promotion of healthy eating. (Figures from Scottish Executive Organic Action Plan).

Sources: DEFRA, SERA ‘Sustainable jobs’, 2002, WWF, Scottish Executive, Soil Association Scotland.