The use of compost in the UK‘‘s organic farming and growing industry could increase by more than 300 per cent over the next three years to around 120,000 tonnes per year and be worth nearly £1 million, according to a report published by WRAP (the Waste & Resources Action Programme).

WRAP commissioned the Organic Resource Agency Ltd, the Soil Association‘‘s Producer Services, Elm Farm Research Centre and the Henry Doubleday Research Association to undertake an assessment of the needs, scale and value of the markets for composted materials and competing products in the UK organic farming and horticulture sector.

The research showed that the main users of compost are currently organic producers of field vegetables, fruit and protected cropping and, to a lesser extent, container plant enterprises.

"Compost is an excellent soil conditioner and has lifted our soil organic matter levels significantly. Crop yields have been consistently good and it is clear there is a high level of biological activity in the soil," said Dr Phil Morley, Company Agronomist at Wight Salads, Europe‘‘s largest independent producer of organic tomatoes, who have been buying in BSI quality assured compost from Island Waste Services and Hampshire Waste Services since 1998.

The underlying aim of the research was to obtain current, accurate and robust information to provide WRAP with better knowledge of market demand so that it can track progress towards increasing the use of recycled composted products in high value markets.

Based on the experience of organic farmers and growers currently using compost and their predictions of future needs, the study revealed that this particular market for compost is set to grow 133 per cent by 2007, which would more than double its current value.

Current users and non-users of compost, however, both share concerns over compost quality and fear contamination from GM materials, heavy metals, weeds, pathogens and pesticides. WRAP is addressing these issues with work to support compost producers to become certified to the British Standard for compost (BSI PAS 100) and a range of R&D projects assessing product variation and the effect of composting on the presence of pathogens.

If these issues are addressed, between 43 and 57 per cent of organic farmers surveyed said they would start to use or increase usage of compost. This could grow the compost market 303 per cent by 2007 - with 309 per cent growth among organic grass and field crop producers and 24 per cent growth within the organic container plant industry. The value of this compost market could reach £965,547 within three years.

The research was carried out between October 2003 and February 2004 using a comprehensive postal survey sent to the vast majority of licensed organic farmers and growers in the UK. The report is based on findings from 405 returned forms (14 per cent). Suppliers of composted products were also contacted for their views on the markets for composted products and competing products in the sector.