As sales of organic food in the UK fall for the third year in a row – a 25% drop since 2008 - and organic farmland conversion rates fall by more than two thirds over the same period, the Crop Protection Association (CPA) is calling on politicians and policy-makers to give less weight to the views of the organic sector over the future direction of agriculture and farming policy.
Dominic Dyer, CPA Chief Executive, said: "A decline in organic food sales should also lead to a decline in political influence. As shoppers turn away from the organic brand and farmers stop converting their land for organic production, the organic sector should no longer have such a strong voice in the corridors of power. For too long the anti-science agenda of the organic movement has influenced the direction of agriculture and food production policy."
"From its opposition to food irradiation and the use of pesticides to its fear campaign about the development of GM crops, the organic movement is seeking to close the door on a wide range of scientific innovations and technologies which will be key to meeting the enormous challenge of feeding a growing population, coping with climate change and safeguarding precious land, water and energy reserves."
"Policy-makers in the UK and around the world need to face up to the fact that organic farming systems alone cannot feed the world, indeed the latest research indicates that any attempt to convert world agriculture to organic production would lead to lower crop yields, greater risk of crop loss and a rapid increase in world food prices, which would have a significant impact on the poorer nations of the world."
"The rapid decline in the organic market sends a clear signal to policy makers that we must put science-based decisions back at the heart of our food and farming polices. Once again I call on the leaders of the organic movement to keep an open mind on the contribution of science and technology in addressing the challenge of sustainable and secure food production," said Mr Dyer.
