Organic Farming Targets (Scotland) Bill

# Organic Farming Targets (Scotland) Bill Scotland's agricultural sector has faced growing pressure to transition towards more sustainable farming practices, particularly in response to environmental concerns and climate change commitments. The Organic Farming Targets (Scotland) Bill was introduced to establish a clear framework for expanding organic farming across the country. Organic farming—which avoids synthetic pesticides and fertilisers—is recognised as delivering environmental benefits including improved soil health, enhanced biodiversity, and reduced chemical pollution. However, Scotland's organic farming sector has remained relatively modest in scale, and the bill sought to address this by setting binding targets that would drive meaningful expansion of organically managed land. The bill's primary mechanism was to require the Scottish Government to establish and meet specific targets for the proportion of Scotland's agricultural land under organic management. It placed a duty on the Scottish Ministers to set these targets and report regularly on progress towards achieving them, creating accountability for delivery. The bill also aimed to support farmers transitioning to organic production through various support mechanisms and to integrate organic farming targets into the broader agricultural policy framework. As a Member's Bill rather than Government legislation, its passage and implementation would depend on securing sufficient support from the Scottish Parliament. The bill represents an example of private member legislative initiatives aimed at embedding environmental sustainability into Scotland's farming practices.

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