SCOTTISH FARMERS can now apply for government funding to help them shift to organic production methods, following the official opening of Scotland’s Agri–Environment Climate Scheme.

From this week until April 29, farmers and crofters have the opportunity to apply for financial support to see them through the two-year conversion period, during which the farm must be farmed organically but its products cannot be sold as organic. But with the Scottish government pushing to double organic farmland in Scotland by 2026, there is also ongoing support on offer for those farmers who have successfully converted.

Soil Association Scotland’s head of policy, David McKay, said: “With growing concern for climate change and the catastrophic declines in wildlife and habitats, there has never been a better time for farmers and crofters to think about going organic.

“Governments across Scotland, the UK and Europe have big environmental targets to meet in the next decade, and we know that shoppers are increasingly looking for reassurance that their products have been made with care for the natural world," said Mr McKay.

“Ministers have committed to continuing funding for organic and to double organic farmland in Scotland, so we know that farmers, crofters and landowners can be confident in entering the agri-environment scheme. Starting the journey now and securing funding for it is a no-brainer – the time is now for organic in Scotland.”

The latest data on consumers behaviour suggests that shoppers, as well as politicians, are recognising the benefits of organic. Sales of organic food and drink are currently worth £79million in Scotland, with sales increasing by 6.2% last year. That trend is reflected in the wider UK market, which is now worth £2.79billion, with record growth in 2020 of 12.6%, partly caused by a surge in sales of organic vegetable boxes during the pandemic, when the home delivery of perishables suddenly surged back into fashion.

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But the Soil Association is keen to stress that organic farming is also increasingly profitable, with a recent study finding that net farm income is higher on organic arable and livestock farms compared to non-organic – while yields may be lower due to the organic system's avoidance of agrichemicals, the premium prices at the consumer end justify the effort to go chemical-free.

Hugh and Andrew Stewart farm dairy and beef cattle across 700 acres at Marshill Farm in Lanarkshire, and have been certified organic with the Soil Association since 2020, following a two-year conversion period.

They said: “Getting financial support through the agri-environment scheme made a big difference, it was a big help. Over time we have been able to get more money for our products, but for that initial transition period the financial help was really important, because our costs did go up a bit but initially we couldn’t sell our products as organic. It gave us the confidence to make the change – we wouldn’t have liked to have gone through conversion without it.

“We think with sustainability and climate change concerns growing, this is the way the world is going. It’s good that the government is incentivising farmers to make these changes through financial schemes rather than just leaving them to cope alone.”

Scottish Ministers have agreed to deliver future rounds of the organic conversion funding up to and including 2024. AECS agreements are over five years and conversion payments will normally be paid for up to two years, except for permanent crops such as fruit trees where a three-year conversion period applies. Subsequent years are paid at the management rate. Five-year maintenance agreements are also available for farmers who have already completed organic conversion and will be paid at the maintenance rate for the full five years.