Data revealing Scottish organic land in growth described as encouraging

A new report revealing organic land area in Scotland has grown 28 per cent since last year has been described by Government as encouraging evidence of the growing confidence in organic farming.

Minister for Agriculture, Jim Fairlie, was commenting on publication of the Organic Farming In Scotland 2025 report, which has shown that in Scotland, the total organic land area (in-conversion and fully organic) was 168,200 hectares, a 28 per cent increase compared with 2024, and a 62 per cent increase compared with 2021.

Fairlie commented: “These new statistics show that the amount of land being farmed as organic in Scotland has seen a 62 per cent increase since 2021. This represents 3.3 per cent of Scotland’s total agricultural area. This is encouraging evidence of the growing confidence in organic farming across Scotland, and we are seeing strong progress in a sector that delivers benefits for our environment, biodiversity, animal welfare, and rural economy.

“Particularly significant is the sharp rise in land entering conversion, around double the area compared with 2024. This demonstrates that more farmers and crofters are recognising the opportunities organic production can offer and are investing in a sustainable future for their businesses. Scotland has a strong reputation for producing high-quality food and drink, and our organic sector plays an important role in strengthening that reputation at home and abroad. These figures highlight the commitment of Scotland’s producers to meeting growing consumer demand while supporting our wider climate and nature ambitions.”

The statistics covers organic land area, land use, livestock and operators in Scotland. The results are produced from data compiled by approved organic certification bodies and provides an overview of the results of the organic farming data for Scotland based on data compiled by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).

Sustainability praise as Salt of the Earth receives King’s Award

Salt of the Earth has been awarded a King’s Award for Enterprise in recognition of its sustainability efforts.

The Hampshire based manufacturer of natural deodorants has been awarded the King’s Award for Enterprise in Sustainable Development 2026, a prestigious honour recognising companies at the forefront of sustainable product innovation and manufacturing. The award marks the brand’s second King’s Award in two years, following its 2025 recognition for International Trade, which celebrated the company’s strong export growth.

Thomas Laird, MD and co-owner of Salt of the Earth, commented: “We’re incredibly proud to receive the King’s Award for Enterprise in Sustainable Development. It’s a real honour and a testament to the hard work of our team and our long-standing commitment to doing business in a more sustainable way. Driving greater sustainability across our factory and brand isn’t just central to our ethos – it’s also a commercially sound decision. One example is our recent investment in 126 solar panels, which are designed to generate more electricity annually than our factory consumes, with the surplus exported to the grid. In a volatile energy market, this strengthens our resilience and helps us manage costs more effectively – benefits we can ultimately pass on to our customers.”

Salt of the Earth has been at the forefront of sustainable product innovation since launching the UK’s first refillable spray deodorant system in 2013, six years ahead of major competitors. Today, the company offers one of the widest ranges of refillable natural deodorants globally, spanning sprays, roll-ons and sticks. Its refill systems use up to 85 per cent less plastic than single use alternatives and have replaced the equivalent of over 2.3 million plastic bottles since launch. Since 2021 alone, these refill innovations have prevented 23.66 tonnes of plastic waste, demonstrating how circular design can deliver both environmental and commercial success.

Furthermore, most products are manufactured in-house at the company’s Hampshire facility, where operations have run on renewable electricity since 2020. The business has recently invested in 126 solar panels, alongside air source heat pump technology to further reduce its environmental impact. These initiatives support the company’s ambition to become electricity-positive by 2027, generating more electricity than it uses. All UK manufactured products are certified 100 per cent COSMOS Natural by the Soil Association and approved by the Vegan Society and Cruelty Free International, ensuring natural origin ingredients, no animal derived materials and responsible sourcing. Alongside this, its partnership with Ecologi has funded the planting of over 13,447 trees since 2020.

Rep tape cut to support organic food export to Japan

Government has announced it has cut red tape to help the UK’s food producers access Asia’s fastest-growing organic markets in Japan.

Food Security Minister, Dame Angela Eagle, has announced British organic food producers will see red tape slashed and the doors opened to Asia’s second largest organic market, worth £1.4 billion and growing fast.

Coming into effect last week, the UK and Japan have formally recognised the equivalency of each other’s organic livestock standards. This will create significant market access for British exporters to meet growing consumer demand for organic products in Japan, from organic bacon and sausages to cheese and butter. This means British businesses will need only a single UK organic certification to sell their organic livestock products in both countries, cutting costs and bureaucracy and breaking down a major trade barrier. The Government says it has identified removal of this trade barrier as one of its market access priorities, with the potential to boost British export sales and generate millions in additional trade each year according to industry estimates.

Eagle commented: “From Welsh organic cheese to world-class organic British beef, our farmers and producers set the gold standard for quality. This arrangement tears down barriers and gives them access to Japanese consumers who are increasingly seeking out the very best organic products the world has to offer.”

Stuart McNally, Business Development and Sales Manager for Welsh organic dairy producer, Calon Wen, which is now looking to establish a foothold in Japan, described it as a “very welcome breakthrough”.

“This equivalency with Japan allows us to pursue opportunities previously out of reach. This includes organic business tenders worth substantial trade annually. It’s a positive step that supports our family farms and strengthens the reputation of Welsh organic dairy in premium export markets such as Japan,” he added.

In a statement, Defra explained that the UK-Japan organics market already enjoys a thriving trade partnership, where British organic produce including tea, fruit and vegetable juices, cereals, sauces, and syrups are already winning over Japanese consumers, who in return export popular staples like organic soy sauce, noodles, and green tea enjoyed by British consumers.