OF&G Organic

Sustainable Farming Incentive opens for applications

The Sustainable Farming Incentive opened for applications in England 30 June 2022

The scheme is available to all farmers who currently receive Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) payments, designed to be accessible, and will reward sustainable practices which support food production and benefit the environment.

Defra is opening the scheme in a controlled rollout from 30 June to manage the opening in a careful, measured way: for those with no other agri-environment agreements, they’ll be able to apply online straight away; for everyone else, they’ll be asked to let the Rural Payment Agency (RPA) know they want to apply and RPA will get in touch and support them to do so. This is to ensure everyone receives the right level of service and support during this initial phase of rollout.

More details.

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Organic: the benchmark for advanced regenerative farming

There is a new ‘buzz word’ being championed by numerous industry stakeholders and influencers – regenerative agriculture.

Regenerative agriculture seeks to capture atmospheric carbon dioxide by growing plants that move carbon dioxide into the soil mostly through ‘no-till” and/or "reduced till" practices and permanent perennial pastures and grasslands.

There are several individuals, groups, and organizations that have attempted to define the principles of regenerative agriculture. In their review of the existing literature on regenerative agriculture, researchers at Wageningen University created a database of 279 published research articles on regenerative agriculture.

Their analysis of this database found that people using the term regenerative agriculture were using different principles and practises to guide their interpretation.

While there are some excellent regenerative initiatives, the lack of clarity around a regenerative approach is worrying.

It means potentially hazardous synthetic fertilisers, harmful synthetic biocides, and genetically modified or engineered crops with potential risks to ecosystems and to rural economies may all be used. Furthermore, animal welfare may not always be prioritised. In sharp contrast, organic’s legally binding production standards already clearly enshrines the best of regenerative agriculture’s principles.

Over seventy years organic production has focused on strengthening the health of soils; increasing biodiversity; improving the water cycle; and increasing resilience to climate change. Organic farming continues to reconnect humans with nature’s rhythms and ecosystems and has regenerated natural landscapes while providing us with nutritious food.

OF&G believe in the need for a holistic and multi-dimensional approach to soil health and biodiversity enhancement.

Organic focuses not only on the amount of carbon stored in soils, but also on biodiversity protection, which requires a systemic transition of the farming system.

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Organic producers already undertake regenerative practises, day in day out as they implement a clear and legally binding organic production standard. Organic farmers and businesses within the supply chain are annually audited for compliance. OF&G believe that there is no appetite or need to add to the regulatory burden with additional substantiation of so-called regenerative methods.

In the UK, organic farming is advanced regenerative. OF&G believe the organic sector should communicate the already substantiated regenerative nature of organic production more openly and effectively.

This is not simply hubris: organic management shows a proven positive impact on soil-based greenhouse gas emissions and soil health. On average the climate protection performance of organic results in 1082 kg CO2 equivalent per hectare per year, due to lower GHG emissions and increased carbon sequestration in soils.

This is the outcome of the organic ‘regenerative’ principles and practises detailed in organic standards.

Download the full document
for more detail

OF&G Staff Contact Details

In response to current Government advice that everyone who can work from home should do, the majority of our staff are working remotely.

We would like to reiterate however that there should be no disruption in our services, with the team being available as usual Monday-Friday 9am– 5pm.

To help ensure you can contact the relevant person effectively please look at the OF&G staff contact details

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OF&G Manifesto: Championing organic within agricultural policy

OF&G is calling for organic to be more openly recognised within the new agricultural policy.

Organic is a transformative thread in farming policy. Organic farming is an essential element in a wider discourse about how we can alleviate the social and environmental impacts of our farming and food system. We should embed organic in future farming policy.

Our society is reliant on finite resources, we all need to be more careful in how we use these precious assets.

To strike the right balance in the UK’s approach, policy makers and those committed to developing an effective future-oriented policy must take a more consistent open-minded appraisal of the potential for organic.

Our politicians and decision makers must be bold and resolute. They have an enormous responsibility to protect our environment and reduce the use of products derived from fossil fuels. They really must support organic farming, which is tried and tested. Time is running out.

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Equally, the UK organic sector needs to regain its confidence. Those who are exponents of organic principles and practise can be justifiably proud of what they do. We invite government, environmental NGOs and colleagues across the food and farming sector to wholeheartedly embrace organic.

To read the OF&G manifesto and to access a downloadable copy go to -
https://ofgorganic.org/news/of-g-manifesto-championing-organic-within-agricultural-policy

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Online wellbeing support and counselling for farming people

In partnership with RABI, you can access free, safe and anonymous online mental wellbeing support from any device.

Hear what farming people like you have to say about mental health and wellbeing.

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