A growing number of UK farmers are converting their land to organic, data from Defra confirms.
The amount of farmland going through the two-year conversion period required to switch to organic rose by 34% in 2021 compared to the previous year; overall UK organic land also rose by 3.6% in the same period.
Sophie Kirk, business development manager for Soil Association Certification sees the data as an ‘encouraging’ sign that UK organic farming is gaining significant ground. “The latest statistics show confidence in organic farming. Our farming sector has dealt with many shocks over the last few years but opportunities for sustainable farming remain strong with rising consumer demand and Government support for organic.
“It is clear both Government and shoppers are waking up to the benefits organic can deliver for nature and the environment, and these latest figures show that, with the right incentives, nature and climate friendly farming can grow rapidly.”
We need robust UK supply chains to support more organic production at home, particularly as our research shows consumers want to buy British
Earlier this year the Government announced it would pay up to double the previous rates to farmers who convert to organic, leading to projections that 2021’s increase in land conversion will continue throughout 2022. For those entering a new scheme with the Countryside Stewardship, payments for organic farming are rising by 50-500%, with applications open until July.
Now that UK sales of organic are ‘significantly outperforming non-organic sales’, Kirk says there is a need for UK farmers to ‘rise to the challenge’ and meet demand. “Currently more ingredients and products are imported to support the increased demand for organic food. We need robust UK supply chains to support more organic production at home, particularly as our research shows consumers want to buy British.
“The long-term goals that Government has set out for agriculture, with a new focus on protecting soils, wildlife and the environment, are in harmony with the principles of organic farming. Alongside continued growth in the organic market, this should give any farmer greater confidence to switch to or maintain organic farming practices, despite the short-term uncertainty facing every farm.”
