Innovative farmers working on organic livestock feed

A group of farmers are working with a commercial feed processor to try and grow the UK's first viable organic seed rape crop for the animal feed supply chain.

​The five organic farmers in the North East are being supported by the Rural Innovation Support Service, which is part of the Scottish Rural Network and led by Soil Association Scotland. The group was formed to meet a need for locally-grown organic protein for pigs and poultry.

David McClelland, technical director of Scottish feed manufacturer Norvite:

"At the moment we’re sourcing organic feed materials from as far away as China, but we have a local market for it. If we can get a local supply it represents a huge opportunity for us and the farmers."

Murray Cooper, of mixed organic farm Mains of Thornton near Inverurie said:

"I don’t know of anyone in the UK growing organic oil seed rape on a commercial scale. It’s notoriously difficult to grow.

"But growing it ourselves would give us control, reduce our reliance on imported soya - sometimes of questionable origin - plus it will reduce our fuel footprint. And in Norvite we already have a processor."

Seven group members recently returned from a study trip to Sweden, where they visited several farmers successfully growing organic oil seed rape.

Norvite spotted the need for local supply a couple of years ago and had been talking to organic farmers in the region about it, but it was the facilitation provided by the Rural Innovation Support Service – in the form of Jim Booth, head of co-op development at the Scottish Agricultural Organisation Society (SAOS) – that helped get things off the ground.

Jim said:

"They’d been talking for a while, so it was great to be able to give them a bit of support and direction. This is really innovative stuff, bringing people together from along the whole supply chain for a common objective."

The group has another 10 or so farmers watching with interest and is looking for funding to develop the plantations as rigorous trials that will create a blueprint for growing oil seed rape nationally. But with or without it, they will plant come autumn. 

Go to the Rural Innovation Support Service website to get the full story.

To get involved email ahannah@soilassociation.org.

More about the Rural Innovation Support Service

The Rural Innovation Support Service (RISS) helps farmers, foresters and crofters find practical, sustainable solutions to everyday challenges affecting their business.

If your idea is practical and sustainable RISS, part of the Scottish Rural Network and led by Soil Association Scotland, will provide you with a facilitator from across their partner organisations.

Find out more:

• Visit the RISS website
• Email Analy Hannah ahannah@soilassociation.org 
• Call 0131 666 2474