Organic Ambitions: Scotland's organic action plan 2016-2020

• Rural Land use: Reduce GhG emissions from agriculture by 1.3 MtCO2e by 2020

REDUCING GHG EMISSIONS

There is a growing body of scientific evidence which shows that organic farming releases less greenhouse gases per hectare than non-organic farming. ^[5]

The agriculture and related land use sector in Scotland accounts for 23.4% of total greenhouse gas (GhG) emissions and is the third largest emitting source after energy supply (30.2%) and transport (24.4%). ^[5] Over one third of Scottish agriculture's total emissions come from nitrous oxide N ₂O - 298 times more damaging than CO ₂ in terms of its global warming potential. ^[6]

The main cause of N ₂O emissions is from the application of synthetic nitrogen-based fertiliser to arable soils and leaching. ^[7] Organic systems prohibit their use and instead use alternative techniques including nitrogen-fixing clovers and legumes, green manures and crop rotation. As a consequence, organic agriculture has lower N ₂O emissions from nitrogen application, due to lower overall nitrogen input per ha than in conventional agriculture. ^[8]

Organic systems also tend to use less fossil energy than non-organic systems, on a per hectare and, in most cases, on a per unit of food produced basis, because energy inputs for industrial manufacture of fertilisers and pesticides are avoided and there is less use of imported animal feeds. ^[9]

SEQUESTERING CARBON

Organic farming practices increase soil organic matter ( SOM) which removes CO ₂ from the atmosphere and stores the carbon as biomass and soil organic carbon in the soil, reducing its release back into the atmosphere. ^[10] It has been estimated that widespread adoption of organic farming practices in the UK would offset 23% of UK agricultural emissions through soil carbon sequestration alone. ^[11]

• Priority 1 Investment - Natural capital, resource efficiency and low carbon: Reduce GhG emissions by 80% by 2050

• N2.22: Support projects that aim to prepare agricultural businesses for the impacts, opportunities and risks that both climate and economic change present

• Ecosystem health: Improve resilience to climate change through increased habitat diversity on farms

• National Outcome 12: Value and enjoy our built and natural environment and protect it and enhance it for future generations
• National Outcome 14: We reduce the local and global environmental impact of our consumption and production

• Objective 2: Reducing greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture and securing carbon stores in peatlands and other organic soils

Land & Freshwater Management:

• Ensure measures taken forward under CAP encourage land managers to develop and retain the diversity of wildlife habitats and landscape features
• Promote (High Value Nature Farming
• Promote an ecosystem approach to land management that fosters sustainable use of natural resources

SUPPORTING BIODIVERSITY

Within enclosed farmland habitats in Scotland, wild species diversity, water supply, soil quality and regulation of climate, hazards, pests and diseases have shown deterioration over the last 20 years, and the abundance of wild and domestic pollinators has also declined. ^[12]

There is overwhelming scientific evidence that organic farming significantly benefits biodiversity. The most up to date scientific review - a meta-analysis of 94 studies conducted by University of Oxford researchers - confirms 30 years of research that organic farms have on average around a third more species of wildlife than non-organic farms. The report concludes that organic farming is a reliable method for increasing biodiversity on farmland and may help to reverse the declines of formerly common species.

By prohibiting artificial feritilisers, severely restricting the use of pesticides and encouraging the management of wildlife habitats such as ponds, hedgerows and banks, organic farms support a far greater abundance and diversity of flora and fauna than non-organic farms: 34% more wild plant and animal species; 50% higher numbers of wildlife; higher numbers and species of pollinators; more different pollinator species including wild bees. ^[14]

PROTECTING SOIL & WATER QUALITY

18% of Scotland's water bodies are considered to be in less than 'good status' as a result of diffuse pollution from agriculture. Soil quality has declined with erosion and climate change posing the biggest threats. ^[15]

Higher levels of Soil organic matter associated with organic farming techniques can help to minimise soil erosion and reduce the risk of flooding and diffuse pollution, leading to better water retention and drainage, and reducing run-off into freshwater and marine bodies.

• Protect and enhance our natural capital

Objective 1: Deliver the 2020 Challenge for Scotland's Biodiversity

Objective 3: Meet obligations to improve water quality under the EU Water Framework Directive by reducing diffuse pollution

Objective 4: Control flooding through natural flood risk management

Objective 5: Support organic farming

• SO1 - Soil organic matter stock protected and enhanced where appropriate
• SO2 - Soil erosion reduced and where possible remediated
• SO3 - Soil structure maintained
• SO4 - Greenhouse gas emission from soils reduced to optimum balance
• SO5 - Soil biodiversity, as well as above ground biodiversity, protected
• SO6 - Soils making a positive contribution to sustainable flood management
• SO7 - Water quality enhanced through improved soil management
• SO8 - Soil's productive capacity to produce food, timber and other biomass maintained and enhanced

• Land based businesses working with nature to contribute more to Scotland's prosperity

• Responsible stewardship of Scotland's natural resources delivering more benefits to Scotland's people

Preventing further deterioration of, and protecting and enhancing, the status of aquatic ecosystems and, with regard to their water needs, terrestrial ecosystems and wetlands directly depending on those aquatic ecosystems

Promoting sustainable water use based on the long-term protection of available water resources

Aiming at enhancing protection and improvement of the aquatic environment through, amongst other things, specific measures for the progressive reduction of discharges, emissions and losses of priority substances and the cessation or phasing out of discharges, emissions and losses of the priority hazardous substances

Ensuring the progressive reduction of pollution of groundwater and preventing further pollution of it

Contributing to mitigating the effects of floods and droughts

Becoming a Good Food Nation has five key policy areas:

• Having Scotland's public sector lead by example with the NHS, local authorities and Scottish Government signing up to offer fresh, seasonal, local and sustainable produce
• Developing specific children's food policy in recognition of the impact of food on the health of young people and their ability to influence society's behaviour for generations to come
• Working with communities to encourage the production and sale of more locally grown food
• Promoting good food choices to consumers, enlisting the support of retailers, food producers and public bodies
• Realising the economic benefits of a better domestic food culture for Scotland's food and drink sector

Organic food and farming supports the Scotland's National Food and Drink across its key policy areas.

Organic food and farming contributes to reinforcing Scotland's reputation for 'cleaner and greener' food and drink.

There is growing interest by public bodies in procuring more local, healthy and sustainable food including organic. Catering for Change provides guidance to public sector food buyers on how to procure sustainable food including organic. Food for Life Scotland provides practical support to help public catering services make step-wise changes for procuring healthy and sustainable food.

The independent new economic foundation ( NEF) report The Benefits of Procuring School Meals through the Food for Life Partnership found that over £3 in social, economic and environmental value can be created for every £1 spent on Food for Life silver and gold menus (which must include organic produce), mostly in the form of new jobs in the local economy. ^[16]

Paragraph 70 of the Bill: "public expenditure which demonstrates the potential of public procurement is sustainable food procurement, which the Scottish Government would expect to see covered in any procurement strategies."

• Enhancing the rural economy
• Supporting rural communities

Organic farms in the UK provides around 30% more jobs per farm than equivalent non-organic farms, and are more likely to have undergone diversification and be involved in on-farm processing and direct marketing and retailing, which supports the creation of additional local jobs. ^[17]

Evidence suggests that organic production has the potential to be a profitable way forward for many farmers. Financial comparisons show that organic farm businesses were slightly more profitable and less exposed to volatility than their comparable non-organic counterparts between 2006 and 2012. ^[18]