Casablanca Organics

The Organic Research Centre is urging people to contact their local MP to get behind an amendment in the new Agricultural Bill to include financial support for organic farming.

The Bill, launched by Defra secretary Michael Gove earlier this month, is currently being considered in parliament at the committee stages with oral evidence sessions.

But a proposed change to the Bill, called Amendment 41, seeks to enshrine financial assistance for agro-ecological and organic farming systems. The amendment was proposed by Conservative MP Zac Goldsmith, former Green Party leader Caroline Lucas, and Bristol MP Kerry McCarthy.

They claim the amendment would ensure that new schemes support also support agroecological farming systems, alongside public goods and environmentally friendly farming outlined in Clause 1.

The ORC said: “We urge you to contact your local MP to back Amendment 41 to theAgriculture Bill, which is currently making its way through the Bill Committee stages.

“This is vital to ensure that these public goods are delivered in a way which is environmentally, economically and socially sustainable long term.”