Scottish farmers can now apply for funding to help them shift to organic, as the government pushes to double organic farmland in Scotland by 2026.
The application window for Scotland’s Agri–Environment Climate Scheme (AECS) opened yesterday and will be open until Friday 29 April 2022.
The scheme provides financial support to allow farmers, crofters and land managers in Scotland to increase their sustainability credentials by converting to organic.
Payments are available to support farmers through the two-year conversion period, in which the farm must be farmed organically but products cannot be sold as organic, as well as ongoing support once converted.
David McKay, Soil Association Scotland’s head of policy, 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”.
Shoppers, as well as politicians, are recognising the benefits of organic. Data supplied by Kantar suggests that the organic food and drink market is currently worth £79million in Scotland – with sales increasing by 6.2% last year.
That is reflected in the wider UK market – now worth £2.79bn with record growth in 2020 of 12.6%, partly caused by a surge in sales of organic veg boxes during the pandemic.
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.
Organic Conversion and Management Rates (payments per hectare, per year)
Land type | Conversion rates (first two years) | Management rate (subsequent three years) |
Arable | £280 | £65 |
Improved grassland | £140 | £55 |
Unimproved grassland/rough grazing | £12.50 | £8.50 |
Fruit and Vegetables | £400 | £200 |