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

The Actions

1 - KNOWLEDGE - Increase awareness of the economic, environmental and social value created by Scottish organic produce

Many purchase decisions are driven by price and convenience, but the value of produce is more complex than these factors alone. Organic produce delivers high value for the environment, society and the economy. There needs to be more effective communication to buyers about the real value of Scottish organic produce because lack of clarity on this matter is currently a barrier to the growth of organic food and farming in Scotland. This challenge can be addressed by actions that increase public knowledge and understanding of organic production systems.

Outcomes for Scotland:

✓ A strong Scottish organic sector recognised for the value of its produce, and which makes a contribution to Scotland through developing and strengthening connections between Scottish consumers, their food supply and food choices and personal wellbeing
Scottish Government policies 1, 2, 3, 4, 7 ( appendix iii)

✓ An organic sector that increasingly supports and strengthens Scotland's worldwide reputation as a source of high value, environmentally sustainable produce
Scottish Government policies 1, 2, 3 ( appendix iii)

Outcomes for the Scottish organic sector:

✓ National sales growth supported by increased consumer awareness of and confidence in the value of Scottish organic produce

✓ UK, EU and international sales growth supported by increased consumer awareness of and confidence in the value of Scottish organic produce

Action 1.1) Promote awareness of and increase understanding of the value provided by organic produce across the whole of Scottish society

The focus of this action will be:

• Working to raise awareness, understanding and recognition of the economic, social and environmental value of organic food and farming among consumers, procurement and catering teams, businesses, public, private, voluntary and third sector organisations, and with local and national policymakers
• Identifying and supporting opportunities to increase awareness and understanding of the benefits of Scottish organic food and farming across the whole of the 3-18 Curriculum for Excellence, particularly through alignment with core educational strategies such as Getting it Right for Every Child, Learning for Sustainability and Developing the Young Workforce
• Ensuring that opportunities to increase awareness and understanding of the benefits of Scottish organic food and farming are identified and supported in the tertiary, community, and life-long learning sectors
• Developing awareness, understanding and increased recognition of the economic, social and environmental benefits of Scottish organic food and farming through dialogue with non-governmental organisations and community food initiatives

Action 1.2) Conduct a feasibility study for a Scottish Organic brand designed to strengthen understanding and economic value of Scottish organic produce

The focus of this action will be:

• Undertaking a feasibility study into the merits of a Scottish organic brand, to explore costings, timescales and the factors that will determine the success of the brand and the extent to which it might strengthen both understanding and economic value of Scottish organic produce

2 - STRENGTH - Strengthen the Scottish organic supply chain

To function effectively, to supply customers with produce reliably, and to deliver profits to producers consistently, a supply chain must be strong. The Scottish organic supply chain currently suffers from lack of market intelligence, less than optimal levels of cooperation, geographical isolation, under-developed infrastructure, relatively high barriers to entry and relatively few strong routes to market. These challenges all need to be addressed in order to create a strong Scottish organic supply chain that delivers real value to Scotland.

Outcomes for Scotland:

✓ A Scottish organic supply chain that is strong, innovative and resilient, making an economic contribution to Scotland through sustainable business growth driven by increased market orientation, competitiveness, cooperation, economies of scale and resource-use efficiency
Scottish Government policies 1, 2, 3, 5, 7 ( appendix iii)

✓ A Scottish organic sector that increasingly supports and strengthens Scotland's worldwide reputation as a source of high value, environmentally sustainable produce
Scottish Government policies 1, 2, 3 ( appendix iii)

Outcomes for the Scottish organic sector:

✓ A stronger, more resilient Scottish organic supply chain with a greater potential to supply a growing market

✓ Better business decision making throughout the Scottish organic supply chain based on high quality market intelligence

✓ Enhanced economies of scale and resource-use efficiencies throughout the Scottish organic supply chain

✓ Increased return on investment, profitability and reduced risk of loss within the organic sector

✓ A greater number of strong routes to market for Scottish organic produce

✓ Increased Scottish farm income opportunities via diversification

Action 2.1) Improve the collection and dissemination of market intelligence on Scottish organic food and drink throughout the Scottish supply chain

The focus of this action will be:

• Exploring means by which market data of practical use to Scottish organic suppliers, producers and buyers can be gathered and shared on a regular basis

Action 2.2) Conduct a feasibility study for a cooperative Scottish organic marketing strategy linking both vertically and horizontally within the whole Scottish supply chain

The focus of this action will be:

• Identifying the benefits that would be provided by a joint marketing strategy for Scottish organic produce
• Assessing potential delivery options for a Scottish organic marketing strategy

Action 2.3) Strengthen the infrastructure throughout the Scottish organic supply chain

The focus of this action will be:

• Exploring solutions for critical gaps in infrastructure, particularly organically certified abattoirs, grain mills and other processing facilities
• Identifying how difficulties regarding access to Scottish organic land and organic certification of rented land can be resolved
• Investigating the need for, and cost of, re-commissioning public sector kitchen infrastructure and associated staffing to enable greater public-sector catering use of Scottish organic produce
• Exploring the benefits and costs of establishing and operating a Scottish organic sales-hub network

Action 2.4) Reduce the barriers to entry into and expansion within the Scottish organic sector

The focus of this action will be:

• Exploring options that might lead to reduced input costs relative to income
• Exploring the merits of modifying aspects of the organic certification process and its fees to ease the financial, administrative and learning burdens for small businesses and new entrants to the organic sector

Action 2.5) Develop new, and strengthen existing routes to the domestic market

The focus of this action will be:

• Encouraging public bodies to make further commitments to purchasing Scottish organic produce
• Engaging effectively with multiple retailers through regional contacts to secure Scottish organic product listings
• Engaging more closely with independent retailers, tourism and hospitality sectors to secure organic product listings
• Developing new routes to market through developing new products, lines or ranges
• Developing new routes to market by encouraging Scottish organic businesses to enter food or innovation awards
• Promoting training opportunities for business development to the Scottish organic sector

Action 2.6) Increase support for Scottish organic exports

The focus of this action will be:

• Collecting and disseminating market intelligence about Scottish organic exports
• Supporting the Scottish organic sector in finding and fulfilling export markets
• Encouraging an annual Scottish Government and Scottish organic business presence at Biofach, the annual international organic trade fair, and other key international trade fairs

3 - SKILLS - Support and develop the Scottish organic sector through exchange of knowledge, information, best practice and training opportunities

A vibrant economy and society result from a skilled population who are highly educated and who benefit from world class advice, innovative research and timely development opportunities. At present, Scottish organic food and farming has no dedicated one-to-one organic advisory service, and the availability of organic advice within the new Scottish Farming Advisory Service ( FAS) is currently unclear. Historically there have been low levels of interaction between the organic sector and Scotland's main research providers, limiting development and uptake of innovative new techniques. Optimisation of organic-related knowledge and skill development courses has challenges related to the remoteness of many Scottish organic businesses in relation to the location of some courses, and difficulties in relation to leaving farms unattended during a training course. These challenges all need to be addressed in order for the organic sector to realise its potential.

Outcome for Scotland:

✓ A world class, innovative Scottish organic sector that makes a contribution to Scotland by being profitable, sustainable, resource-use efficient and resilient through high levels of training, education and skills development, and through engagement with world class research
Scottish Government policies 1, 2, 7 ( appendix iii)

Outcomes for the Scottish organic sector:

✓ Improved production and resource-use efficiencies, greater profitability and sustainability throughout the Scottish organic supply chain

✓ Increased resilience of Scottish organic production systems and the wider agri-food supply chain buffering against an increasingly variable climate, input and output price volatility, and future changes resulting from CAP reform

✓ Reduced skills shortages throughout the Scottish organic supply chain

Action 3.1) Provide dedicated, specialist advice for everyone interested in the Scottish organic sector

The focus of this action will be:

• Exploring the potential to establish an accessible, specialist, effective one-to-one organic advisory service that can provide expertise for those with interests in all Scottish organic supply chain sectors
• Furthering development of one-to-many advisory opportunities for Scottish organic businesses, both within the FAS and in events provided by independent suppliers
• Ensuring that those giving organic advice are sufficiently trained and knowledgeable to provide clients with robust information that complies with EU organic regulations and which will be effective in producing positive change

Action 3.2) Develop an accessible online hub for Scottish organic farming and agroecological research and advice for Scottish organic producers, processors and researchers

The focus of this action will be:

• Participating in the creation of an online knowledge hub, and ensuring the available information is pertinent to the Scottish organic sector

Action 3.3) Work alongside universities and research institutes to identify and address the key technical and practical challenges of Scottish organic production and distribution

The focus of this action will be:

• Advocating inclusion of organic sector issues in Scotland's strategic research programme
• Developing relationships between the Scottish organic sector and research groups in order to develop projects that address key challenges identified by the Scottish organic sector
• Developing ways to better engage and involve Scottish organic producers in on-farm research programmes

Action 3.4) Provide a range of training and employment schemes for those working in, or wanting to enter, the Scottish organic supply chain

The focus of this action will be:

• Promoting existing training programmes that are of relevance to the Scottish organic supply chain
• Determining the critical areas in which further skills training is required in order to develop the whole Scottish organic supply chain, and exploring means by which this can be delivered in a way that overcomes the particular challenges of remote locations and time-bound producers

4 - RESILIENCE- Strengthen the ability of Scottish organic farming to conserve and enhance the natural capital of Scotland

Sustainable, resilient, production of food depends entirely on natural capital (biodiversity, soil, air and water). Food production systems can have a deleterious effect on natural capital and contribute to climate change, leading to a progressive decline in sustainability. Organic food production is based on ecological principles and has the potential to help conserve and enhance the natural capital of Scotland and moderate climate change. There is, however, a need to improve understanding of what natural capital exists on farms, and how rural development programme scheme options and organic farm management choices can be optimised to protect it while at the same time increasing farm output. These issues need to be addressed in order to strengthen the ability of Scottish organic farming to conserve and enhance the natural capital of Scotland, reduce climate change challenges, and in turn to build greater resilience into our food system.

Outcome for Scotland:

✓ A Scottish organic sector that maximises its contribution to the conservation and enrichment of the natural environment, which underpins rural development and contributes to the sustainable growth of Scotland
Scottish Government policies 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 ( appendix iii)

Outcomes for the Scottish organic sector:

✓ Increased natural capital and more resilient farm ecosystems leading to increased farm productivity and profitability for organic producers

✓ Recognition and financial reward for enhanced environmental stewardship by Scottish organic producers

Action 4.1) Strengthen working relationships between the Scottish organic farming sector and organisations that protect and enhance Scotland's natural capital

The focus of this action will be:

• Maximising the exchange of relevant knowledge, and optimising research, development and funding opportunities by strengthening established relationships, and making new connections between Scotland's organic farming sector and organisations with interests in conservation of natural capital and climate change mitigation

Action 4.2) Develop understanding, and promote implementation of those organic farming practices which make a positive contribution to Scotland's natural capital, address climate change challenges, and add resilience to Scottish food production systems

The focus of this action will be:

• Improving the understanding of how organic farm management practices impact on Scotland's natural capital, climate and food production, and how they may be further developed to achieve the multiple goals of productivity, profitability, resilience and environmental sustainability
• Ensuring that Scottish organic farmers are rewarded for any additional contribution that organic farm management makes to the conservation and enhancement of Scotland's natural capital and climate change mitigation above conventional greening measures, or which entail a yield penalty

Action 4.3) Ensure that organic farming and Agri-Environment Climate Scheme ( AECS) options can be undertaken together in a way that ensures maximum environmental benefit

The focus this action will be:

• Ensuring that AECS can be used to deliver maximum environmental benefit on organic farms and remain compliant with EU organic regulations

Action 4.4) Provide base level financial support for organic production and for conversion to organic farming

The focus of this action will be:

• Exploring ways to ensure that base level support for Scottish organic farmers, in terms of conversion and maintenance payments, is in line with the national priority status of organic farming