This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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New farm to help kids grow organically
06/09/2004
Elmwood College Farm in Cupar, Fife, was opened today and will act as an educational resource for schools and members of the public keen to learn about the benefits of organic farming.
Set up with a £6,000 grant from the Executive, the farm will provide demonstrations and workshops on various aspects of organic farming.
Deputy Minister for Environment and Rural Development earlier helped 18 primary four pupils from nearby Springfield Primary School set up signposts on the farm.
He said:
"It's great to see such enthusiasm in a new generation of organic consumers.
"This is the first demonstration organic farm funded by the Executive and underlines our commitment to developing the sector.
"We aim to increase the market share of Scottish organic produce sold in Scotland from approximately 30 per cent to 70 per cent. To achieve this we must develop the infrastructure needed to support organics and increase public awareness.
"Farming plays a crucial role in conserving and enhancing the environment, creating employment and sustaining rural communities. The growing popularity of organic produce with consumers is helping to create new business opportunities for our farming industry."
Mr Wilson will shortly commission a study into organic markets to identify further opportunities for growth in the sector.
Anna Ashmole, Head of Soil Association Scotland, added:
"Children are instinctively interested in where their food comes from and are concerned about the welfare of animals. The Soil Association is developing a network of organic farms where children can learn how looking after the soil, plants and animals produces healthy organic food.
"I am delighted that the Scottish Executive has provided funding to allow us to add Elmwood farm to our network and make our educational materials accessible to Scottish teachers."
The Open Farm Project will be funded by the Executive through SAC's Organic Advisory Activity budget. The SAC will fund the Soil Association to run the project. There will be a start up cost of £6000 with an ongoing cost of £500 every two years.
'Organic Week' takes place from the 4th to 12th September 2004. The week, coordinated by the Soil Association, acts as an umbrella for a range of awareness-raising and marketing activities. The objective of Organic Week is to encourage those new to organic food and drink to try it.
The Executive mark 'Organic Week' by hosting a seminar on Wednesday, September 8, for key representatives of Scottish organic producer groups, processors and retailers to discuss the issues facing the Scottish organic sector.
Elmwood College Farm is a 120 hectare mixed organic farm based in Cupar, Fife. The farm is part of Elmwood College. Education materials will be available on-line free of charge.
The Soil Association has 40 organic open farms UK-wide, welcoming up to 300,000 members of the public each year. There are five in Scotland including Elmwood.
One of the key targets in the Organic Action Plan is to see Scottish organic products grow in market penetration from the current estimated level of approximately 30 per cent to at least 70 per cent by value of overall Scottish consumer demand for organic products which can be sourced in Scotland.