Poultry News
  • Production
    • Broiler Production
    • Ducks
    • Egg Production
    • Game
    • Hatching
    • Housing
    • Turkeys
  • Processing
  • Business & Politics
    • Business
    • Economics
    • EU & Politics
    • Marketing
    • People
    • Training & Education
  • Welfare
    • Environment
    • Food Safety
    • Vet & Medication
    • Welfare
  • Feed
  • Genetics
  • New Products
  • Magazines
    • July 2025
    • 2025 National Egg and Poultry Awards finalists supplement
    • June 2025
    • 2025 Innovation supplement
    • May 2025
    • April 2025
    • March 2025
    • 2025 Feed and Nutrition supplement
    • February 2025
    • January 2025
    • December 2024
    • November 2024
    • October 2024
    • September 2024
    • 2024 Building for the Future supplement
    • August 2024
    • 2024 Poultry Health supplement
    • July 2024
    • 2024 National Egg and Poultry Awards finalists supplement
    • June 2024
    • 2024 Innovation supplement
    • Pig & Poultry Fair 2024
    • May 2024
    • April 2024
    • March 2024
    • February 2024
    • January 2024
    • December 2023
    • November 2023
    • Processing Equipment Supplement – Nov 2023
    • October 2023
    • Building Supplement – Sept 2023
    • September 2023
  • Jobs
    • Browse Jobs
    • Post a Job
    • Manage Jobs
  • Events
    • National Egg and Poultry Awards
    • Poultry Fair
    • Webinars
Twitter LinkedIn
  • FREE Email Newsletters
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Contact Us
Twitter LinkedIn
Podcast
Poultry News
  • Production
    • Broiler Production
    • Ducks
    • Egg Production
    • Game
    • Hatching
    • Housing
    • Turkeys
  • Processing
  • Business & Politics
    • Business
    • Economics
    • EU & Politics
    • Marketing
    • People
    • Training & Education
  • Welfare
    • Environment
    • Food Safety
    • Vet & Medication
    • Welfare
  • Feed
  • Genetics
  • New Products
  • Magazines
    1. July 2025
    2. 2025 National Egg and Poultry Awards finalists supplement
    3. June 2025
    4. 2025 Innovation supplement
    5. May 2025
    6. April 2025
    7. March 2025
    8. 2025 Feed and Nutrition supplement
    9. February 2025
    10. January 2025
    11. December 2024
    12. November 2024
    13. October 2024
    14. September 2024
    15. 2024 Building for the Future supplement
    16. August 2024
    17. 2024 Poultry Health supplement
    18. July 2024
    19. 2024 National Egg and Poultry Awards finalists supplement
    20. June 2024
    21. 2024 Innovation supplement
    22. Pig & Poultry Fair 2024
    23. May 2024
    24. April 2024
    25. March 2024
    26. February 2024
    27. January 2024
    28. December 2023
    29. November 2023
    30. Processing Equipment Supplement – Nov 2023
    31. October 2023
    32. Building Supplement – Sept 2023
    33. September 2023
    Featured

    Poultry Business – July 2025 issue

    By Chloe RyanJuly 1, 2025
    Recent

    Poultry Business – July 2025 issue

    July 1, 2025

    Poultry Business – 2025 National Egg and Poultry Awards finalists supplement

    July 1, 2025

    Poultry Business – June 2025 issue

    June 9, 2025
  • Jobs
    • Browse Jobs
    • Post a Job
    • Manage Jobs
  • Events
    • National Egg and Poultry Awards
    • Poultry Fair
    • Webinars
Twitter LinkedIn
Poultry News
Production

Organic producers call for more support from government to grow sector

Chloe RyanBy Chloe RyanNovember 23, 20183 Mins Read
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email
Share
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email

British consumers are increasingly moving towards organic food but the industry must work together to capitalise on the full growth potential of organic in the UK, delegates of the UK Organic Congress were told.

Co-organised by several leading organic organisations including the Organic Research Centre (ORC), OF&G (Organic Farmers & Growers), the Soil Association and the Organic Trade Board (OTB), the event held in Rugby on 15 and 16 November, conveyed an overriding sense of opportunity, although the development of our future UK agricultural policy was said to be a ‘seminal moment’. 

Nic Lampkin, CEO of the ORC opened the event. “The UK led the global movement for organic but we’re now well behind our counterparts. As a sector, we’ve been through a difficult period since the recession but we’re now moving in an upward direction, with the domestic market estimated to be worth £2.2 billion and growing.”

He challenged the sector to create a transition to move things forward. “20% of land is organic in some countries and 10% of the food market, this should be the vision for the UK.”

Sue Hayman, Shadow Secretary of State for Food, Environment and Rural Affairs, gave the opening address and said the development of the new Agriculture Bill brings great opportunity for organic.

“The Agriculture Bill provides a huge opportunity to integrate environmental and food benefits. We know they’re compatible, and we must make sure policy supports this,” said Hayman.

She said there are clear benefits to organic methods of farming and questioned why, when organic delivers in so many areas of national policy including food and public health, environmental protection and climate change mitigation, government has failed to recognise the merits of organic, unlike other countries. 

“The development of a post-Brexit UK agricultural policy is a seminal moment and talking proactively is very important. Sustainability must be at the forefront of a thriving British farming, food and drink sector,” said Ms Hayman.

“Shifting public support from land-based payments to the delivery of public and environmental benefits is a welcome move, but there’s a need for a strategy that also safeguards food security.”

The scope for growth in UK organic was reinforced by Paul Holmbeck, Political Director of Organic Denmark, who presented the remarkable progress of the organic sector in Denmark. “Organic food now accounts for 13.3% of the total food market in Denmark and over 30% of the total market for eggs, milk, flour and bananas.

“More than 90% of public procurement of food in Copenhagen is now organic, with 60% an overall target for the country,” said Holmbeck.

Roger Kerr, CEO of OF&G, concluded the closing plenary by calling for more efforts for greater unity in the UK, and for the positive achievements of organic farming to be emphasised without denigrating others.

Share. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email
Previous ArticleEU plans to increase crop production for animal feed, reducing imported soya
Next Article Analysis: Poultry catching business forced to cease trading
Chloe Ryan

Editor of Poultry Business, Chloe has spent the past decade writing about the food industry from farming, through manufacturing, retail and foodservice. When not working, dog walking and reading biographies are her favourite hobbies.

Read Similar Stories

Production

Comment: We need to attract young people to the poultry industry

July 8, 20252 Mins Read
Production

New RSPCA chicken welfare standards now available for RSPCA Assured members

July 7, 20252 Mins Read
Production

The Chicken and the Shed: A Tale of Two Growth Curves

July 7, 20252 Mins Read
Latest News

EFSA warns of bird migration and US imports pathways for AI into Europe

July 11, 2025

Comment: New catching rules are a disaster

July 10, 2025

Comment: Skills for what?

July 10, 2025
Sponsored Content

Navigating Sustainability in Egg Production: Practical Steps for Producers

June 1, 2025

Maintain stable and continuous coccidiosis control amidst stocking density reductions

November 1, 2024
© 2024 MA Agriculture Ltd, a Mark Allen Group company

Privacy Policy | Cookies Policy | Terms & Conditions

  • Farmers Weekly
  • AA Farmer
  • Farm Contractor
  • Pig World

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.