Five Scottish farmers, with the help and participation of the Norvite commercial feed mill, have launched a project to grow Britain's first viable organic oilseed rape for the animal feed chain.

The project is funded by the Scottish Agricultural Support Association (RISS), created to meet the needs for locally grown organic protein for pigs and poultry.

“We are currently purchasing organic feed even from China, but if we can get local supplies, this will be a huge opportunity for us and for farmers,” said David McClelland, Technical Director of Norvite.

And Murray Cooper from the Mains of Thornton mixed organic farm near Inveruri said growing organic oilseed rape is “notoriously difficult.”

“I don't know anyone in the UK who grows organic rapeseed on an industrial scale. But growing it alone would give us control, reduce our dependence on imported soybeans — sometimes of dubious origin — plus it would reduce our fuel footprint. And we already have a processor in Norvite, ”added Murray Cooper.

Along with other farmers in northeastern Scotland, Cooper will plant rapeseed on a trial field in September. “I will plant it with spring beans and winter barley - this is how I will get the crop,” the farmer is convinced.