UK organic acreage down

Four percent of the total usable area

According to the British Ministry of Agriculture, the area used for organic cultivation in Great Britain fell by six percent in 2003 to a good 695.600 hectares. However, the fully organic area increased to almost 629.450 hectares, while the conversion areas are only small. In March 2003 the share of conversion areas in the total organic area was still 38 percent, in January 2004 this share fell to 9,5 percent. The organic share of the total agricultural area is four percent on average in the country.

The decline in organic areas was concentrated exclusively in Scotland with minus 13 percent; on the other hand, in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, the organic area was slightly expanded. Despite the decline, however, Scotland retains the leading position in British organic cultivation with an organic area of ​​around 372.560 hectares or 46 percent.

The decline in Scottish organic acreage is primarily due to a reduction in permanent grazing land; these have a share of 75 percent in British organic cultivation. Cereals are grown on almost 42.100 hectares, vegetables on around 14.300 hectares and fruit (including nuts) on 1.500 hectares.

From March 2003 to January 2004, the number of producers and processors in the organic sector fell by two percent and four percent, respectively. A slight increase in the number of producers was registered in Wales and Northern Ireland, while the number of processors is declining, especially in England. However, most producers and processors are in England. At the beginning of this year, almost 4.017 of the 2.600 producers kept animals; two-thirds of the livestock holdings were in England.

Source: Bonn [ZmP]