Defra has relaunched a free national information and advice service for farmers thinking of converting to organic production methods.

The advisory service, which will be delivered by Natural England (NE) and the Organic Research Centre on Defra’s behalf, will provide conventional farmers with free and impartial information and advice on the principles and mechanics of organic production, to help them decide whether conversion is appropriate for them.

The Organic Conversion Information Scheme (OCIS) will comprise a national helpline, which will provide initial advice and a comprehensive information pack, a dedicated website and a free on-farm advisory visits service that will supplement the initial advice provided, where appropriate.

The plans were approved by the European Commission in January, and funding made available to re-introduce the service. The original scheme ran from 1999 to 2006, and was operated by the Soil Association and Elm Farm Research Centre on behalf of Defra.

Welcoming the announcement, Lord Rooker, minister for sustainable food and farming, said: “As a government, we are keen to encourage English farmers to convert and adopt more sustainable production practices, and take advantage of the wide range of opportunities offered by rising demand for organic food.

“The Organic Research Centre has an established record of providing the agriculture sector with high-quality impartial conversion information and advice, and we are delighted to be collaborating with them and NE in the delivery of this new service.”

Sir Martin Doughty, chair of NE, said: “This is good news for farmers wishing to convert to organic production, and subsequently good news for wildlife. One of the potential barriers to conversion is a lack of knowledge by non-organic producers about organic principles and production methods - a barrier which OCIS, delivered by the Organic Research Centre, will help to remove.”