Chamber
Plenary, 28 Feb 2007
28 Feb 2007 · S2 · Plenary
Item of business
Organic Farming
I will finish my point first.
Of course, if we look behind those figures we can see that most sectors meet more than 70 per cent of demand, particularly the beef, lamb, table birds and fish markets. There are, however, other areas where we need to do better, particularly the fruit and dairy product markets, where we still have to reach 70 per cent.
We have significantly increased the amount of finance that is available to enable conversion. Further rate rises were introduced in 2005—as much as fourfold in some cases—and we are now spending significantly more on the organic aid scheme. A record £11.7 million was committed in 2006, which is double what was committed the previous year.
However, we need to do a lot more. I hope that this afternoon's debate will focus on where we should go next, whether that is promoting good- quality and local food, working with and supporting farmers so that they can get to markets and market their goods, or ensuring that we support projects that link our primary producers to processing so that they can access new markets. We also have to think about the food service sector, so that we can help producers to gain access to it, particularly through public procurement and access to markets in schools and hospitals. A lot more can be done on that, and we should look to the East Ayrshire procurement pilot scheme to see how we can do that while staying within European rules.
The agenda is an exciting one. We have made progress by working with the industry. We have a lot to do, and the new Scottish rural development programme will help us to work together to take the organic action plan forward. I am keen to hear members' views on the future and, in moving my motion, I would welcome the Parliament's commitment to continue to support the organic sector to enable it to meet the aspirations of Scottish consumers who want local food that is produced in an environmentally sustainable way.
I move,
That the Parliament acknowledges the progress made to date in implementing the Organic Action Plan; welcomes the increasing consumer demand for Scottish organic produce, the contribution of organic producers in improving the availability of good quality local food at local markets and the contribution of organic producers to sustainable development, and commits to continue to support the organic sector in the future.
Of course, if we look behind those figures we can see that most sectors meet more than 70 per cent of demand, particularly the beef, lamb, table birds and fish markets. There are, however, other areas where we need to do better, particularly the fruit and dairy product markets, where we still have to reach 70 per cent.
We have significantly increased the amount of finance that is available to enable conversion. Further rate rises were introduced in 2005—as much as fourfold in some cases—and we are now spending significantly more on the organic aid scheme. A record £11.7 million was committed in 2006, which is double what was committed the previous year.
However, we need to do a lot more. I hope that this afternoon's debate will focus on where we should go next, whether that is promoting good- quality and local food, working with and supporting farmers so that they can get to markets and market their goods, or ensuring that we support projects that link our primary producers to processing so that they can access new markets. We also have to think about the food service sector, so that we can help producers to gain access to it, particularly through public procurement and access to markets in schools and hospitals. A lot more can be done on that, and we should look to the East Ayrshire procurement pilot scheme to see how we can do that while staying within European rules.
The agenda is an exciting one. We have made progress by working with the industry. We have a lot to do, and the new Scottish rural development programme will help us to work together to take the organic action plan forward. I am keen to hear members' views on the future and, in moving my motion, I would welcome the Parliament's commitment to continue to support the organic sector to enable it to meet the aspirations of Scottish consumers who want local food that is produced in an environmentally sustainable way.
I move,
That the Parliament acknowledges the progress made to date in implementing the Organic Action Plan; welcomes the increasing consumer demand for Scottish organic produce, the contribution of organic producers in improving the availability of good quality local food at local markets and the contribution of organic producers to sustainable development, and commits to continue to support the organic sector in the future.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Murray Tosh):
Con
The next item of business is a debate on motion S2M-5655, in the name of Sarah Boyack, on the future of Scotland's organic farming.
The Deputy Minister for Environment and Rural Development (Sarah Boyack):
Lab
I was keen to secure a parliamentary debate on progress on the organic action plan. The Parliament was keen to support that plan in the first session, and I ...
Christine May (Central Fife) (Lab):
Lab
Will the minister also pay tribute to the many farmers in Scotland who, while they are not certified as organic, nonetheless use responsible farming methods ...
Sarah Boyack:
Lab
Obviously, I pay tribute to them. Environmentally friendly conventional farming can make a strong contribution to our country's biodiversity and landscapes. ...
Mr Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green):
Green
Will the minister give way?
Sarah Boyack:
Lab
I will finish my point first.Of course, if we look behind those figures we can see that most sectors meet more than 70 per cent of demand, particularly the b...
Richard Lochhead (Moray) (SNP):
SNP
The Scottish National Party very much welcomes today's debate. It has been a long time since we debated agriculture in the chamber. It was debated many times...
Mr Andrew Arbuckle (Mid Scotland and Fife) (LD):
LD
Is the member aware that the fact that applicants are not admitted to the organic aid scheme does not prevent them from going organic on their own?
Richard Lochhead:
SNP
I appreciate that, but I wanted to highlight the statistic, because it highlights the wider issue that faces farmers who are seeking financial support.The si...
The Deputy Presiding Officer:
Con
You should be winding up now, Mr Lochhead.
Richard Lochhead:
SNP
It is clear that we have to send out better signals to the organic sector in Scotland. The sector needs to know that it can compete for public procurement co...
The Deputy Presiding Officer:
Con
Thank you.
Richard Lochhead:
SNP
I commend the SNP amendment to the chamber. I move amendment S2M-5655.2, to insert at end:"but believes that, as many of the targets in the current Organic A...
Alex Johnstone (North East Scotland) (Con):
Con
I welcome the publication of the "Third Organic Annual Report", which is a document about which I take rather a more positive view than the previous speaker ...
Mr Ruskell:
Green
The table on page 54 of the Soil Association's "Market research study into the market penetration of Scottish organic produce" shows that only 50 per cent of...
Alex Johnstone:
Con
We are making radical progress. The danger in failing to match supply and demand is a collapse in prices. We have avoided that so far. In fact, the Executive...
Eleanor Scott (Highlands and Islands) (Green):
Green
Our amendment echoes the terms of Sarah Boyack's motion on organic food fortnight, which was debated last September and which called on the Scottish Executiv...
Mr Arbuckle:
LD
By how much would the Greens increase the organic support budget?
Eleanor Scott:
Green
We think that about £23 million would meet the true demand. As for Mr Arbuckle's intervention on an earlier speaker, saying that people can farm organically ...
Mr Andrew Arbuckle (Mid Scotland and Fife) (LD):
LD
I point out to Ms Scott that a fair proportion of the agriculture sector operates on an unsupported basis—the producers of pigs, poultry, potatoes and soft f...
Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP):
SNP
Does the conventional farming that the member talks about use a lot of nitrate fertilisers? Is that a traditional form of Scottish farming? Can the use of su...
Mr Arbuckle:
LD
Conventional farmers do not use a lot of nitrate fertilisers, although they use them. Organic farmers use copper sulphate solution, which is pretty noxious, ...
Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab):
Lab
I welcome the "Third Organic Annual Report". It seems a long time since I last spoke on the subject, when I supported the aims of Robin Harper's Organic Farm...
Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP):
SNP
There has been a fair degree of change in the period of just more than four years since we last had a debate on organic farming—most of it has been for the b...
Mr Arbuckle:
LD
Will the member give way?
Stewart Stevenson:
SNP
I am sorry, I am in the last minute of my speech.I have difficulty with the claim that we are on target. According to the minutes of the 23rd meeting of the ...
Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab):
Lab
Like other members, I welcome the progress that has been made in moving organic produce up the agenda in Scotland and in taking the issue more seriously than...
Mr Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con):
Con
Is that why you are sitting behind him?
Karen Gillon:
Lab
Jamie McGrigor can see that I am far enough away not to be part of his group.Like many members, I recognise the quality of what is produced throughout the fa...
Mr Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green):
Green
I was a bit concerned, at the beginning of the debate, that it would be about motherhood and organic apple pie, albeit laced with finest Benromach malt whisk...