May 25/00 / PA News / By Amanda Brown, Environment Correspondent, PA News
A report by the UK Soil Association based on the results of nine major biodiversity research studies carried out over the last 13 years in the UK and Denmark has concluded that chemical-free farming systems support substantially higher levels of wildlife than are found on equivalent conventionally-managed farms.
The Soil Association added that the surveys had produced the first comprehensive evidence that wildlife benefited from chemical-free farming.
The results will be announced officially by Environment Minister Michael Meacher at a news conference at the Groucho Club, central London, hosted by Soil Association president Jonathan Dimbleby.
The story adds that the results are certain to fuel calls for a much wider uptake of organic farming methods to help reverse the drastic reductions in populations of once common farmland birds like the skylark and the lapwing.
Chairman of English Nature, Baroness Young of Old Scone, was quoted as saying, "We know that in the past intensive farming practices have dramatically reduced the wildlife in our countryside. We also know that organic farming is one of the farming systems that has great potential to increase both the distribution and number of farmland plants and animals like the corn buttercup and the skylark that should be common in our countryside. UK consumers have demonstrated that they wish to buy organic food but at present most organic food is imported. Imported organic food does not help either British wildlife or British farmers. By increasing our organic production we can benefit both our own wildlife and our beleaguered farming community. We must have the political will and government support to enable farmers who wish to convert to do so. Organic farming still only occupies about 3% of the UK agricultural area and we want to see that increased. However, English Nature will also continue to support conventional farmers whose commitment to the wildlife on their farms is also important. Not all farmers will be able, or would want, to convert to organic production and it remains important for every farmer to be taking direct action, through agri-environment schemes and other measures to encourage wildlife back on to their arms."
(posted without permission)
