Organic Targets: Campaign Diary

2004

• August: Second Organic Action Plan launched by Defra

2002

• July : Action Plan to develop organic food and farming in England published
• January 23 - Westminster Central Hall. Rally and lobby of Parliament

2001

• Aug 28 - Organic Action Plan launched
• Aug 13 - Sustain and Soil Association release 'Organic food and farming: myth and reality' report
• July 2 - Co-op releases "Green and pleasant land" report which pledges the Co-op's full backing for the Organic Food and Farming Targets Bill.
• May - Labour Party releases its manifesto, which despite the present farming crisis fails to support organic farmers.
• March 26 - Soil Association Organic Food and Farming Report Launch at International Food Exhibition
• Jan 24 - Agriculture Committee report released which backs an action plan for the organic farming sector

2000

• Dec - Ballot for Private members bills likely to take place. Campaign supporters to write to MPs in the top 10, asking them to take up the Bill in the ballot.
• 29 Nov - 3 Dec - BBC Good Food Show (0870 264 5555)
• Oct - Nov - Oral evidence sessions on inquiry into organic farming by Agriculture Select Committee
• Sept 24 – Labour Party Conference.
• Sept 20 – Scottish National Party & Plaid Cymru Party Conference.
• Sept 17 – Liberal Democrat Party Conference.
• July 28 –30 – Organic Food and Wine Festival.
• July 21 - Bill fails its Second Reading as it runs out of time
• July 5 - Adjournment debate on organic food and farming in the House of Commons discusses Organic Targets Bill
• July 3 – Royal Agricultural Show.
• June 17-24 - Friends of the Earth Real Food Week.
• May 26 – June 5 – Whitsun Parliamentary recess.
• May 20 - Elm Farm Research Centre Open Day.
• May onwards - postcard campaign targeting MPs.
• May 5 – The Bill's Second Reading fails due to lack of time, but a new date is set.
• April continuing – Over 60 organisations sign up to the Bill, including environmental and health charities, trades unions, research organisations and supermarkets.
• March 3 – The Bill is put forward for its Second Reading, backed by over 200 MPs. It does not take place as time runs out, but a new date is set.
• Feb 1 – Tony Blair, speaking at the National Farmers Union AGM, calls for a trebling of organic production by 2006 – the first sign of a Government commitment to targets.
• Jan – Presentations by Steering Group and Robin Harper MSP to Scottish MSPs leads to formation of Scottish Campaign.

1999

• Dec– Steering Group of the Organic Targets Bill campaign contact MPs to encourage them to sign the EDM.
• Nov – Joan Ruddock MP tables Early Day Motion (EDM) in support of the Bill.
• Nov – Paul Tyler MP adopts Bill after he is drawn in the ballot.
• Oct 19th 1999– Organic Food & Farming Targets Bill launched.
• Oct 26 – Bill presented to House of Commons.
• Oct 23 - MPs back from recess, re-table Early Day Motion. The number of the EDM will change
• Oct 21 - Apple Day, Targets Bill Days of Action (http://www.commonground.org.uk/)
• Oct 19-20 - Food Safety in Europe Conference (http://www.foodsafetyeurope.com/)
• Oct 16 – UN World Food Day
• Oct 7/8 - Potato Day at HDRA.
• Oct 6 – 8 - Pesticides Action Network European Conference, including workshop on organic targets, Bonn
• Oct 3 - Fringe Question Time event 'Organics: the future of farming?' 6-7.45pm, De Vere Suite, Royal Bath Hotel, Bournemouth
• Oct 2 – Conservative Party Conference
• Oct 1999 - Soil Association Organic Harvest Month