Executive Summary

Why support organic farming?  Organic farming seeks to deliver quality food, fibre and other products in an environmentally, socially and economically sustainable manner. Management practices are based on ecological principles, avoiding growth promoters, GMOs, and dependence on pesticides, thereby offering environmental, animal health and welfare, food safety and quality and social benefits.

Why a second Action Plan?  Many of the aims of the first Welsh Organic Action Plan have been fully or at least partly achieved, although production issues such as training and supply chain anomalies need further work. However, it is generally recognized that priority should now be given to supporting the hard work of the organic sector stakeholders; this should aim to raise awareness of the benefits to society in general, and to individuals in particular, of growing and eating a greater proportion of food as organic.

Recommendations

1.  Environmental Payments. In recognition of the environmental benefits provided by organic agriculture, the Welsh Assembly Government should continue to provide organic farmers with conversion aid and maintenance payments in order to support the growth of land under organic management to 10–15% by 2010. It is recognized that the market needs to be developed in line with production (see 2.)

2.  Developing the market: The Welsh Assembly Government and the Welsh Development Agency (WDA) should support the work of Organic sector businesses and work with them, Meat Promotion Wales / Hybu Cig Cymru (HCC) and key multiple and independent retailers to help promote and develop the market for Welsh organic products. The Welsh Assembly Government and the WDA should also encourage the sustainable procurement of organic food, locally produced where possible, by schools, hospitals, universities and other public authorities, starting with pilot projects in 2004.

3. Develop new marketing and processing opportunities by focusing on the quality of our food offer and building on WDA and Welsh Tourist Board activities to establish and market a quality food culture in Wales. This includes tourism, the hospitality sector and the food service sector.

4.  Public education: Develop a targeted public education campaign to increase awareness of organic farming, including schools and health related work, promotional information and factual information for consumers, drawing on best practice from other member states. 

5.  Public Health: Increase awareness of the links between diet, nutrition and health through working with young people and those having contact with the health services such as pregnant mothers and the sick and elderly. The Organic Strategy Group will engage with the agencies involved in health education in Wales in order to stress commonality of message and interests.

6. Research, market intelligence:  The Welsh Assembly Government, through liaison with DEFRA, should ensure that account is taken of specific Welsh needs in funding and the focus of research. Through Organic Centre Wales (OCW) and other stakeholders, identify statistics and market intelligence needs and develop projects to meet these needs, ensuring disaggregation to a Welsh level when appropriate.

7.  Minimize the administrative load:  Producers are increasingly burdened with proving their compliance with assurance and agri-environment schemes and ever-increasing legislative requirements. Through liaison with the Welsh Assembly Government, OCW should work to ensure streamlining of schemes and verification inspections.

8.  GM free Wales. The Organic Strategy Group wishes to see Wales’ GM-free status maintained.