In a bullish review of the UK market for organic food, the Government today said that three-quarters of UK households buy some organic food. The UK market is expected to grow at around 9% in the next few years. The Government will aim to get more organic food into schools and hospitals, and will also encourage local organic food sales through farmers' markets and box schemes.
In view of the mounting concern about the rapid growth in obesity and other diet-related illnesses, the report identifies as a priority exploring "how organic produce can contribute to the Government's public health agenda".
Peter Melchett, Policy Director of the Soil Association, the UK’s main charity promoting organic food, said, "The proportion of UK-produced organic food is up, and UK demand and supply continues to grow. This report is further proof of the Government’s commitment to supporting the organic sector.
"Local food outlets such as box schemes and farmers’ markets have been recognised as viable alternatives to supermarkets. There is a clear message that farmers can capitalise on supplying local markets. The report notes the work the Soil Association has done to grow local markets, and particularly to improve access to organic food in disadvantaged communities."
The report, "The action plan to develop organic food and farming in England", highlights that the UK is one of only three countries in the world (with Germany and the USA) where sales of organic food exceed £1 billion. Since 2002, the proportion of UK organic food in the shops has increased significantly and is now 44% of total organic sales. This rate of increase is on course to reach the Government's target of 70% by 2010.
The action plan is produced by Defra (the Department for Food and Rural Affairs) and the Organic Action Plan Group, which includes representatives of the major supermarkets, food manufacturers, consumers, farmers, scientists, organic retailers and the Soil Association. It identifies what is required to ensure stable growth for the organic sector and sets out practical measures which the Government and the food and farming industry can take. This document builds on the first organic action plan which was published in July 2002
Key aspects of the report are as follows:
Organic food in schools and hospitals
The action plan group will look at how more organic food can be served in public institutions such as schools and hospitals. Current obstacles, or perceived obstacles, to further uptake of organic food such as price and availability will be addressed. The report notes the work of the Soil Association in this area: the charity has secured funding for a School Meals Policy Advisor who has worked with almost 100 local schools and some local education authorities this year to look at local and organic sourcing of ingredients. Some organic farmers, marketing groups and wholesalers are starting to see new markets develop as a result of this activity.
Local food outlets
The report acknowledges that organic food has a strong role to play in the development of local food outlets such as box schemes and farmers’ markets and that more needs to be done to capitalise on these successes. The organic action plan group will advise on how developments in the organic sector can serve as a pattern for the development of truly local food markets generally.
Health
The action plan group will explore further the role that organic food can play in contributing to the Government’s health agenda, for instance in encouraging the increased consumption of fruit and vegetables. The action plan group will also explore whether processed organic food, which is often more lightly processed than conventional, can contribute to government targets which aim to reduce the amount of salt, added sugars and fat that is eaten, and increase the amount of fibre.
Organic farming benefits the environment
Defra Ministers are keen to see continued growth of the organic sector because of its inherent environmental benefits. Organic farming can help deliver many of the objectives of the Government's new Sustainable Food and Farming Strategy
Processing facilities
Further growth in the sector will depend in part on the further development of the infrastructure for the processing and distribution of organic products. There has for example been a sharp reduction in the number of smaller local abattoirs from 781 in 1987/08 to 251 in 2000/01. Although this is also an issue for conventional farmers, the report notes that it is particularly acute for organic producers because of the need to use an organically-certified abattoir and the presumption in organic production that unnecessary stress in transport will be avoided.
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