Current authorities knowledge signifies that Scotland is main the way in which in nature-friendly farming practices, with natural farmland witnessing steady progress for six successive years, a development not mirrored in the remainder of the UK.
The newest statistics from Defra, masking 2023, present England and Wales are failing to fulfill demand for natural food and drinks regardless of gross sales doubling over the previous 12 years and rising by nearly 5% within the final 12 months. The distinction in progress between Scotland and its neighboring areas is stark. Amidst numerous challenges encountered by farmers, together with uncertainties surrounding farming insurance policies and the prevailing cost-of-living disaster, Scotland stands out with a notable 11.8% improve in totally natural land, increasing from 92,500 hectares to 103.5 hectares.
Moreover, the Soil Affiliation has famous a surge in functions for natural conversion help from the Scottish Authorities in 2024, indicating a optimistic response from farmers bolstered by bold targets. In distinction, solely 3% of all farmland in England is cultivated below natural requirements, with a 2% decline to 4.3% noticed in Wales.
Commenting on the most recent Defra natural land statistics, Soil Affiliation Certification Industrial Director Alex Cullen mentioned: Defra’s newest natural land stats reveal that whereas Scotland is trailblazing in nature-friendly farming, broadly there’s a missed alternative for British farmers. We’re seeing progress in natural gross sales however this has largely been fuelled by imports not home-grown produce – with progress flatlining in English and Welsh natural farmland.
“Final 12 months threw so many challenges at our farmers and natural as no exception to that. Nature-friendly meals manufacturing has not been simple however the tide is beginning to flip with each politicians and buyers investing on this method of farming. We now need extra farmers to affix us and the farmers who’re already working onerous to scale up natural at tempo.”
The Soil Affiliation calls upon all political events to include natural farming into their environmental agendas, drawing inspiration from Scotland and different European nations akin to Austria and Germany, which have surpassed EU targets for natural farmland. Italy’s initiatives, together with these pushed by discounters Eurospin and Lidl, have been instrumental in driving 12% progress in whole natural market gross sales.
Natural alternatives
With rising enterprise prospects, favorable market circumstances, and steps from Westminster, the incentives for farmers to undertake natural practices are compelling. The natural farming motion goals to establish key sectors the place new natural farmers can faucet right into a prepared and sustainable marketplace for their produce. Soil Affiliation Senior Farm Advisor Jerry Alford burdened the urgency for motion from the Welsh Authorities to help natural farming in alignment with sustainable farming goals.
Soil Affiliation Senior Farm Advisor Jerry Alford mentioned: “The newest Sustainable Farming Incentives for England stack as much as a superb deal for a lot of farmers who’re looking for to undertake nature-friendly and natural practices.
“There’s concern that Wales is falling even additional behind and farmers lack clear help, regardless of natural ticking their sustainable farming goals. Welsh Authorities should act quick to introduce the proposed help for natural farming within the Sustainable Farming Scheme.”
Natural dairy sees wholesome progress
The current progress in worth and quantity is especially notable in natural dairy. Within the 12 weeks to 9 April 2024 worth progress in natural dairy considerably outperformed non-organic at 4.1% versus 1.4% and it skilled double the quantity progress reported for non-organic at 6% versus 3%**.
Natural Herd Director of Membership and Communication Sara Ogborne mentioned: “It has been a difficult few years within the natural dairy sector as prices have soared. Nonetheless, the natural market has skilled vital progress in each worth and quantity. We’re seeing a considerable upturn in shopper confidence as the price of vitality and inflation have began to fall again, on the similar time customers are looking for merchandise that handle their dietary, environmental and social values, values that are on the coronary heart of natural dairy.”
