EXTRA SUPPORT FOR ORGANIC FOOD AND FARMING (January 2005)

There was a good turnout last month for the launch of the North East Organic Programme (NEOP), held at the Falcons Rugby Club, Kingston Park, Newcastle.
Northumbria Larder was represented at the event by Sandy Duncan and Sue Cresswell as evidence of the organisation's continuing support for all sections of the region's food and drink industry. Northumbria Larder already has organic producers among its membership and more are expected to join.

The project has been established by the Soil Association, the UK'S leading charity promoting organic food and farming, and is supported under the England Rural Development Programme by Defra and the European Agriculture Guidance and Guarantee Fund. Its aim is to help the development of the organic sector in Tees Valley, County Durham. Northumberland and Tyne
and Wear. Technical and marketing information services will be provided to organic producers, processors, retailers and to those considering organic conversion. Consumer and trade directories will also be published which should help strengthen the organic food movement in the region.

Adrian Vass, rural development adviser at Defra's Rural Development Service North East, says the new partnership with help to deliver one of the key elements of the Sustainable Fanning and Food Strategy (SFFS) and Defra was delighted to be working with the Soil Association. The programme will be run by a full-time organic development officer, yet to be announced, and a producer group facilitator, Mary Almond. To contact the North East Organic
Programme, phone 08451217645 or 07717 802183, e-mail neop@northeastorganic.org or log onto the website at www.northeastorganic.org.

Another new regional post has recently been established. Susie Craddock has taken on the role of SFFS delivery plan coordinator for the North East The post has been jointly Hinged by Defra's Rural Development Service North East and the regional development agency. One NorthEast. Susie, whose parents five in Belford, Northumberland, is a graduate of Newcastle University, where she gained a B-Sc in Agricultural and Environmental Science with honours in
Animal Science. In her new role she will responsible for the North East Detivety Plan for the SFFS. Her work will cover various key areas such as regional food, red meat, organics, biomass and biodiets; on handing the environment, skills and learning, rural communities and diversification, each covered by a regional task group.

Susie says: " There are many organisations, stakeholders and partners involved and my role is to coordinate our efforts and encourage each of them to work together to achieve a common goal - to deliver benefits to the region through farming and food and to enable this sector to become more sustainable, thus securing a long-term future. "

To find out more about SFFS and the North East Delivery Plan contact Susie by e-mail:susie.craddock@defra.gsi.gov.uk