Today sees the launch of the report Organic Action plan to develop organic food and farming in England - Two Years On.

The plan picks up on the work of the original Plan launched on 29 July 2002. It looks at the considerable amount of progress made and makes further recommendations for priority actions.

Launching the Action Plan - Two Years On at RN & SA Balsdon's Sorley Farm, Kingsbridge, Devon, Organic Farming Minister Ben Bradshaw said:

"At the beginning of this year 696,000 hectares, 4% of UK farmland, was under organic production, up from 30,000 hectares in 1993. The market is projected to grow by 9% a year to 2007.

"The original Action Plan was an excellent example of the whole Food supply chain working together to develop a long term sustainable action plan for the sector.

"The Two Years On report shows that much has been achieved - for instance there has been a big rise in the amount of organic produce provided by UK farms from only 30% when the Plan was written to 44% today. This is a great achievement for all in the industry and for the retailers. But of course there is still much more that can and must be done to meet the demand of consumers for British grown organic products and I commend this plan to all those involved in the production, preparation, distribution and sale of organic food."

Commenting on one of the main initiatives in the Two Years On report
- linking the expansion of organic production with the Defra Strategy for Sustainable Food and Farming Sir Don Curry said:

"I am delighted with progress made since the release of the Organic Action Plan two years ago. In the Policy Commission report we recognised the environmental contribution organic farming can provide and the organic strand within the Entry Level Stewardship scheme is confirmation of that recognition."

The Organic Action Plan reinforces other areas of the Sustainable Farming and Food Strategy, including the public procurement initiative. Sir Don Curry said:

"Small and medium sized businesses have an opportunity to access new markets through the Government's public procurement initiative. I applaud the progress that has been made in persuading purchasers with public procurement responsibilities in schools and hospitals to source organic food. There is still a long way to go but progress to date is very encouraging."

The main areas of progress since 2002 are:

* Market for Organic Food - the aim is to increase UK sourcing for indigenous crops to 70% by 2010. UK sourcing rose to 44% in 2002/3, having started at 30% when the report was written, which is on course for achieving the target. The Action Plan Group and multiple retailers have worked together to achieve this;
* Support for Organic Farming - the Organic Farming Scheme, introduced in June 2003, provides new maintenance payments for organic farmers and much higher payments for top fruit growers (apples, pears, plums etc.). It is intended to introduce ongoing payments for organic farming under the Environmental Stewardship Scheme at £60 per hectare, this is twice the rate paid to non-organic farmers;
* Public procurement of Organic Food - Defra have worked closely with a number of bodies through the Food Procurement Implementation Group to promote organic produce in public procurement. The range of organic food is becoming more widely available in Defra restaurants;
* Setting and Control of UK Standards - The Advisory Committee on Organic Standards has been set up to advise on approval of certification bodies in the UK. The new Compendium of UK Organic Standards has now been published as the baseline standards in the UK and is closely based on the EC organic farming regulation 2092/91.

The six priorities identified for further action are:

1. The Sustainable Food and Farming Strategy - Defra working with the Organic Action Plan Group to ensure that organic production is making a full contribution to Defra's Sustainable Food and Farming Strategy and vice versa. 2. Public procurement of food - Action Plan Group to make recommendations to ensure that the sustainable food procurement initiative delivers increased purchasing of organic food. 3. UK sourcing - to take forward progress made by retailers and extend the work to the food service and manufacturing sectors, including identifying obstacles. 4. Local supply networks - Action Plan Group to advise on capitalising on the strengths of local organic supply and identifying how obstacles to further development can be overcome. 5. Action Plan Group to advise on how organic produce can contribute to the Government's health agenda. 6. Action Plan Group to examine and advise on issues of social exclusion, i.e. the inability of some people to purchase organic food either because of lack of supply in particular areas or because of price.

BACKGROUND

1. Sir Don Curry's report 'Farming and Food: A Sustainable Future' recommended the development of a strategy for organic food production addressing all parts of the food chain. The original Action plan to develop organic food and farming in England was launched on 27 July 2002.

It looked at ways of :
- Identifying ways of achieving sustainable growth in organic farming and food processing
- Increasing our share of the market for organic produce
- Identifying measures required in the distribution, processing and retailing sectors to promote growth in the organic sector overall."

2. This Two Years On report looks at the areas of progress in achieving the objectives set out in the Plan, as well as setting further priorities.

3. Mintel have projected continued market growth to 2007 of around 9% a year.

4. In January 2004 the UK organic area stood at 696,000 hectares, up from 30,000 in 1993. 4% of UK farmland is now under organic production.

5. The 'European Action Plan for Organic Food and Farming' was published in June 2004. This reflects issues raised by the England Action Plan.

6. The report has been prepared in cooperation with the Organic Action Plan Group. The Group Reports to Ben Bradshaw, Parliamentary Secretary (Commons) - Minister for Nature Conservation and Fisheries, whose portfolio includes organic farming. Its members are:

Richard Ali - British Retail Consortium
David Barling - Centre for Food Policy
Lucy Bjorck - Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
Dominic Dyer - Food and Drink Federation
Chizom Ekeh - National Consumer Council
Renee Elliott - Planet Organic
Catherine Fookes - Sustain
Sue Fowler - Organic Centre Wales
Peter Hall - National Farmers' Union
Colin Hedley - Country Land and Business Association
Richard Jacobs - Organic Farmers and Growers
Peter Melchett - Soil Association (Charity)
Peter Whitehead - Institute of Grocery Distribution
Lawrence Woodward - Elm Farm Research Centre