2 days ago
Why more Scottish farmers are becoming organic
John Medlock has been growing organic oats for half a century. The Mearns farmer admits the porridge from his crops does not necessarily taste any better but it is, he claims, a lot healthier. 'You might not be able to tell the difference,' he says. 'But your body will, because you are not eating all the chemicals.'
Medlock and his family, who farm near Laurencekirk, Aberdeenshire, may have been among the first in Scotland to produce organic oats, but they are not the last. New figures show the amount of land devoted to the crop north of the border has nearly doubled since 2018, from 1,485 hectares to 2,608 last year.
That is meeting a growing demand for premium oat milks, protein packed bars and on-the-go porridge pots. The increasing adoption of plant-based and vegan diets is another driver of cereal consumption.
