This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Organic farming must grow through demand
06/02/2003
The Executive is committed to organic food and farming and the environmental, social and economic benefits it can bring, the Parliament was told today as it discussed the Organic Farming Tragets (Scotland) Bill.
However, MSPs heard that the continued growth and increased value of this sector must be driven by market demand and it would therefore be inappropriate to set statutory targets for the organic sector.
Environment Minister Ross Finnie said:
"We support the development of a sustainable organic sector in Scotland. That is why I have published an ambitious Organic Action Plan this week.
"The Action Plan sets out our belief that the Scottish organic sector can grow to supply at least 70 percent of market demand for organic goods which can be sourced here, and that the area of good-quality organic agricultural land can double.
"We will do what we can to help this growth, but it must ultimately be market-led. That is why the Action Plan includes prioritisation of organic projects for grant assistance to improve supply chain issues, and support for the development of Scottish organic branding.
"The Executive does not support the Bill's setting of statutory targets for the expansion of organic farming. It makes no sense for Parliament to set targets over areas for which it has no powers.
"The Executive's Organic Action Plan, which I published on Tuesday this week, sets out our vision for the organic sector. We will press ahead with a package of support measures to help achieve a prosperous and successful organic sector."