Wales Organic Conversion Scheme now open for applications
The Welsh funding window for organic farm conversion is now open until 26th August 2022
The Organic Conversion Scheme is an area-based support scheme available to existing agriculture producers across Wales who wish to convert from conventional to organic production.
Organic farming seeks to work with natural processes using methods that are designed to achieve a sustainable production system with limited use of external inputs.
Rural Payments Wales (RPW) have outlined a set of overarching criteria that the Organic Conversion Scheme will aim to address:
- Reducing Carbon and Green House Gas emissions.
- Building greater resilience into farm businesses by adapting to climate change.
- Managing water resources to improve water quality and reduce flood risks.
- Contributing to economic sustainability of farms and the rural community.
- Protecting and improving the natural landscape and the historic environment.
- Developing and improving Wales’ native biodiversity.
By supporting farmers during a two-year conversion period, the scheme aims to provide support to deliver positive environmental land management benefits.
If you are a farmer or grower and you want to sell products as organic you must hold a legal certificate of registration from an approved Organic Control Body (OCB) like Soil Association Certification. As part of the application process, producers must register their land with an OCB, before submitting their application.