§ Mr. Ron DaviesTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has any proposals to encourage the replacement of existing intensive farming systems with organic alternatives.
§ Mr. RyderIt is for individual farmers to decide whether to switch from intensive to organic farming systems. However, I am anxious that our own farmers should meet as large a share as possible of the increasing434W demand for organic produce. To this end I encouraged Food From Britain to establish the United Kingdom register of organic food standards which is currently drawing up agreed standards for the production and processing of organic food and is to provide an independent verification system. In addition, our agricultural advisory services now offer specialised advice to organic producers; UKROFS is being consulted on research needs; and the possibility of including an organic option in any extensification scheme that may be adopted under the European Community arrangements is under active consideration.