Should the rules on organic farming be relaxed a little during the recession?
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Question by The Patriot: Should the rules on organic farming be relaxed a little during the recession?
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/food_and_drink/article5380546.ece
‘Organic farmers have asked the Government for permission to take a “holiday” from strict organic standards in an attempt to survive the recession.
The drastic move by organisations including the Soil Association follows a dip in sales of organic produce and fears for the future of Britain’s 5,000 organic farmers.’
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10 Responses to Should the rules on organic farming be relaxed a little during the recession?
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No – I don’t think they should take a ‘holiday’. If the standards are relaxed then the meaning of organic will just become another sticker on a box that nobody pays attention to. When people buy organic food in a store, they want to have genuine organic food.
Gizzo
January 16, 2012 at 4:22 am
Drop the standards and the food ceases to be Organic. In which case they can sell it like any other non organic food at the lower price. It might help in the short term but they will then have to bring their soil standards etc up to the level to qualify for organic status once again and that will take at least another 2 years. If they want to drop the standard and still call it Organic then this is not really an acceptable option to the Organic food buying public.
ANF
January 16, 2012 at 5:16 am
They can take a break.
Althought who is going taking the flocks.
Chickens.
That we can feed on.
They can take a break and some people can be hired to work.
So resident’s that are farming don’t even mind to take a break.
It’s of there lives.
I just think it’s there choice.
They gave there time to take care of our food.
Humane F
January 16, 2012 at 5:21 am
No, of course not. You can’t change the definition of something to suit whatever is happening at the time.
That’s what makes it a definition.
Dubya's legacy
January 16, 2012 at 5:22 am
sure, organic farmers do good for the world, health is more important than money. though in this world they appear toweigh equally.
-liz a.
Liz A
January 16, 2012 at 6:10 am
Not to put a spanner in the works of these farmers who claim the moral high ground with the label organic, whilst pocketing the higher price difference.
However, should they bend the rules all free range chickens are instantly going to be labelled organic, shortly followed by beef, lamb and pork.
There’s Prince Charlie, saying he will abide by the current rules. Does he get a rebate on his Soil Association membership or can he label his goods organic plus?
Bend the rules and the closely protected organic kite mark enters the free market and is lost forever.
These 5,000 farmers can always convert to organics again after the recession or bite the bullet and deliver the product to spec. Bending the rules to suit themselves makes them out to be two bit hustlers who were exploiting public fears as they quite sincerely believe conventional livestock feed was always perfectly safe and a cheaper consumer alternative.
Marcus
January 16, 2012 at 6:53 am
Why should they drop the standards it just changes the whole concept of organic, but then i don’t know how strict the rules are… and im to lazy to look at the link 😛
i see organic farming as basically old school farming before chemicals and all that lot, how hard is that? not very okay yes you have the added bonus of you might loose allot of your crops but its better for you and the land.
suniclouds
January 16, 2012 at 7:34 am
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Jamydefix
January 16, 2012 at 7:42 am
I will continue to buy organic – but NOT if they drop the standards. I want to know what I am buying. I want to be sure it is free from pesticides, and GMO ingredients; If I cant be sure then I wont pay the extra!!! Keep the standards otherwise everything will go.
Nicki P
January 16, 2012 at 8:23 am
Definitely Not. These farmers get subsidies for being in organic farming schemes and a premium price for their produce. Everyone is feeling the pinch at the moment but farmers continue to get big subsidies regardless. They should have to weather the storm like all every other businesses at the moment.
johnfarrell696
January 16, 2012 at 9:02 am