ORGANIC FOOD AND FARMING TARGETS

Early day motion 366, tabled 6 November 2001 by Joan Ruddock (Labour). Signed by 218 members.

That this House believes that increasing organic farming has major benefits for consumers, farmers, the environment, employment and animal welfare and so must form an important part of the Government's review of farming; notes that demand for organic food is increasing by around 40 per cent; each year, but that around 75 per cent. of organic produce is currently imported; notes that almost every European country with more organically farmed land than the UK has a strategy and target for promoting organic farming; further notes the far-sighted move by the current Minister of State for Rural Affairs who, when First Secretary for Wales, adopted such a strategy and target for Wales; and so calls on the Government to set a target that 30 per cent. of farmland be farmed organically by 2010 and to develop an action plan to achieve this target.

Signatures by party: Labour 137, Liberal Democrat 43, Labour/Co-operative 14, Conservative 9, UUP 5, Plaid Cymru 4, Scottish National Party 3, DUP 2, Social Democratic and Labour Party 1.