Thrill of the Hill - Happening Organically: Supporting Organic Farming in Scotland

Thrill of the Hill is back for season 6! Armed with a new team, new ideas and a range of new speakers, Alex takes on the hot topics impacting the farmed upland environment.   Organic farming is woven through Scotland’s landscapes, from the rolling fields of Aberdeenshire to the upland pastures of Argyll. Rooted in principles of soil health, biodiversity and local resilience, organic systems work with nature rather than against it—building fertility through crop rotations, clover leys and composts, and managing pests with balance instead of chemicals. The result is more than just food without synthetic inputs; it’s a way of farming that supports wildlife, protects water and strengthens rural communities. From certified producers under the Scottish Organic Producers Association (SOPA) to advisory work led by the Soil Association, organic farming in Scotland continues to evolve, combining tradition, innovation and environmental stewardship to meet the challenges of modern agriculture.   In this episode, we sit down with two special guest speakers, Debs Roberts joins us from SOPA and David MacKay joins us from the Soil Association to walk us through the benefits of going organic, the process and how the market is developing in Scotland and further afield - in a conversation that is more collaboration than clash of the titans. We also talk about the announced return of the Agri-Environment Climate Scheme (AECS) and David reflects on his time at Scotland's first Nature Friendly Farming Summit.    Want to get in touch with Debs or David? Contact SOPA via telephone at 0300 7729795 or email at [email protected]. Contact Soil Association via telephone at 0131 3708150 or email at [email protected]. Related FAS ResourcesOrganics Discussion Group from the Farm Advisory ServiceRelated Other ResourcesScottish Organic Producers Association (SOPA)Soil Association