Let us bend the rules, say organic farmers
Valerie Elliott, Countryside Editor
Organic farmers have asked the Government for permission to take
a "holiday" from strict organic standards in an attempt to survive
the recession.
The drastic move by organisations including the Soil Association
follows a dip in sales of organic produce and fears for the future of
Britain's 5,000 organic farmers.
Sales of organic food slumped 10 per cent in the 12 weeks up to the
end of November, according to the latest figures from the consumer
researchers TNS. Overall food sales over the same period were up 6
per cent.
Organic certification bodies, including the Soil Association, the
country's biggest campaigner for organic food and farming, asked
Hilary Benn, the Rural Affairs Secretary, last week for approval to
relax the rules for an indefinite period. They want their members to
be able to use conventional animal feed instead of organic food
concentrate, which costs double. Average organic feed prices are £320
a tonne compared with £160 a tonne for conventional feed.
The plan, which is also supported by Organic Farmers & Growers and
the Organic Food Federation, would still oblige farmers to follow
other organic tenets such as low stocking densities, minimum use of
antibiotic treatments on animals and no use of fertilisers. But they
would give up the right to label their food "organic". The aim is to
give farmers some leeway during the harsh economic climate.
They want to establish new organic ground rules before the market
becomes even more depressed next year.
A new generation of organic producers is also preparing to enter the
market. There are currently 400 extra farmers converting their land
to organic production and many will be offering organic produce for
the first time next year. The concern is that, if the rules on feed
are not eased, they will be left disenchanted and out of pocket if
sales flounder over the next couple of years.
The move has been condemned by the Organic Research Centre, which
fears that organic "holidays" will confuse shoppers and lead to a
further sales slump. The centre, based at Elm Farm near Newbury,
Berkshire, which champions small producers, rails against the plan in
its latest bulletin. An editorial declares: "Not a trip to Lanzarote
or even the sun-kissed Seychelles - oh, no - this is a production
holiday from the crippling travails of being a 'proper' organic
farmer. You know, that minor inconvenience of rearing your stock on
feed that has not been soaked in pesticides or rendered down from
decaying livestock."
Richard Sanders, a centre spokesman, said: "Has UK organic
agriculture descended from high principle to flip-flop market
tracking? Any proper organic farmer should not be exposed anyway to
the vagaries of the feed market because they are supposed to be
growing their own on the farm."
Even though the Soil Association, of which the Prince of Wales is
patron, opened the issue for debate, it has provoked division within
its ranks.
Liz Finlay, an egg and vegetable producer, who farms at Llanilar,
near Aberystwyth, said: "I feel there are already procedures laid
down in the rules for producers to change practices if they are in
any difficulty - provided they discuss it with their certifying body.
But to stand up and announce an organic holiday gives out the wrong
message, especially to people who are farming organically for the
public good."
Phil Stocker, director of farmer and grower relations at the
association, said: "We have seen a dip in organic sales and
opportunistic buyers have drifted away, especially from beef, lamb,
pork, eggs and poultry. We are also getting close to a point where
there is not much difference in prices for organic and conventional
produce.
Many businesses are struggling and suffering, and we are
trying to find a solution acceptable to everyone."
A spokeswoman at Clarence House confirmed that there were no plans
for Home Farm, part of the Prince's Highgrove estate in
Gloucestershire, to move away from organic feed.
A spokesman for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural
Affairs said that it was willing to consider the plan if it complied
with EU rules.
