Organic Advances

 I was deeply impressed with the size of the building and the excellence of design. The entrance leads into a large shop – the main retail outlet with shelves and counters ready to receive appropriate goods. 

Beyond the shop the tables and chairs of a fine restaurant await diners who will enjoy the majestic view of fertile farmlands stretching to where the river Earn joins the Tay estuary, with the Angus hills beyond. High quality hardwood fittings and furnishings give a pleasing finish. The adjoining kitchens and food preparation areas include walk–in freezer storerooms, which are linked to a well- equipped butcher’s workshop soon to supply the shop and restaurant with cuts of organic meats. The upstairs area gives scope for projects yet to be decided – perhaps functions, meetings, (organic wedding receptions?).

Why organic? 

Ian has never regretted his decision to go organic. The success of his farm contradicts the claim of the chemical lobby that only the use of soluble chemicals will save the world from starvation. Jamesfield farm can make the remarkable claim that, since going organic, not once has there been the need to call a vet for livestock disease. If organically grown food can bring such a measure of health to farm animals, can we argue that the same protection would hold for human beings? Yes, was the answer to that question, given long ago in the published researches* of the late Sir Albert Howard, pioneer of organic growing. A few years ago I was amazed at the reply given to me when I asked a member of the Scottish Agricultural College what he thought of Howard’s work – he had never heard of Howard!

I hope that the example of Jamesfield will lead to further “advance” of the organic movement and will counter the attacks by critics, many of whom are supported by the chemical industry and by certain academics. One of the latter, an Edinburgh University professor stated in 2001: Cancer rates have dropped 15 percent during the era of pesticide use. This is a monumental lie! Official statistics reveal an alarming over-all increase in the incidence of cancer in the last 50 years. (The only exception is cancer of the stomach).

In the US, in certain rural areas, the mounting use of agri-chemicals has been followed by a marked increase in cancer incidence, especially in genital cancers and lymphomas which are thought to be caused by exposure to the huge tonnage of pesticides now being used. These results may be controversial; but surely common sense will, in the end prevail.

Dr W. Yellowlees. Aberfeldy, June 2005