MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Falklands to start exporting organic meat

The Falkland Islands' first organic meat exports are poised to leave for the UK in an attempt by the islanders to take a leading role in the premium food sector.

In a modest first move, a ship containing organic mutton will leave Port Stanley in March with the consignment destined to be sold in Britain's kebab shops.

The islanders' more ambitious plan is to follow this up next year by supplying organic lamb to be sold in leading supermarkets under a "Falklands Finest" label.

Some 10,000 lambs will be slaughtered this year. The Falkland Islands Meat Marketing Board expects this to rise significantly by 2010, allowing the islanders to become big players in the British organic meat market.

They face stiff competition. The organic food sector is still growing but at a slower rate than in the mid-1990s, and British farmers face strong competition from other European organic producers. Richard Baker, general manager of the Falkland Islands Development Corporation, said: "We don't use pesticides or inorganic fertilisers and due to the lack of disease in the islands, the sheep don't have to be dipped, so we really do have a naturally organic product."

The first shipment follows the European Union approving exports from the islands' abattoir, specially constructed to help the islanders diversify from wool production.

The collapse of the world wool market in 1990 prompted a series of attempts to diversify the islands' agricultural base, including seafood processing and fish farming.

Nine of the islands' 90-odd farms have been certified organic since last August and others are following. There are some 720,000 sheep on the islands.

Source: Financial Times By John Mason