Falklands to go all organic?

The Falkland Islands are exploring the marketing potential of committing completely to organic agriculture. The idea has been mooted in the past for Wales, and for one of the Caribbean banana producing countries in the Windward Islands. For the Falklands it’s basically all about sheep, and the aim is to get all the sheep farmers certified within two years. Both meat and wool sales could benefit. Agriculture director Bob Reid points out that in any case the islanders already use very little synthetic fertiliser, and that the remoteness and cold climate of the Falklands offer livestock pretty extensive protection without the kind of pesticides commonplace elsewhere.

Falkland Islands agriculture department, +500 27355

23 May 2001