§ Mr. TylerTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what recent representations he has received from commercial organisations about the percentage of food consumed in the UK which is(a) organically produced and (b) produced by (i) genetic
201Wmodification and (ii) biotechnology; and what estimates commercial organisations have given him of the amount that will be so produced in 2010. [127015]
§ Mr. Morley[holding answer 20 June 2000]: I have received no recent representations from commercial organisations about the percentage of food, provided by any of the above methods, that is currently consumed in the United Kingdom, or estimated for production in the year 2010.
§ Joan RuddockTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 10 April 2000,Official Report, column 57W, on organic farming, what have been the major conclusions of the organic research programme on (a) constraints on production, (b) costs of the conversion period and (c) the environmental impact. [126475]
§ Mr. Morley[holding answer 27 June 2000]: The majority of the projects funded under the Ministry's organic R&D programme address issues relating to constraints on production and the cost of conversion. These projects have considered a considerable number of issues both specifically and in the context of ongoing studies of agricultural systems. Research on the environmental impact of organic farming has concluded that organic regimes can benefit biodiversity at the farm-level although, the impact is farm-specific and dependent on the management of the farm both before and after conversion to the organic system. Lists of projects funded from 1997–98 are posted on the Ministry's website. Reports containing the conclusions of completed projects are available from the Ministry on request.