JUNE 5, 2003 – The Falkland Islands stand at this year’s Royal Show (June 29 – July 2) will convey advancements in agricultural diversification, display new machine-washable Falklands wool and, more generally, promote life in the Islands today and its attractions as a specialist holiday destination.

Joining Falkland Islands Government Representative Sukey Cameron on the Falklands stand (Block 23 Stand IV) will be Charlene Rowland, the Islands’ Organic Inspector. Charlene is attending for the first time to promote organic advancement in the Islands and also to make contact with various organisations present at the show, as part of the ongoing process of updating and developing the Organic sector within the Islands. Since the initiative was launched two years ago, eight farms have converted to EU-approved organic farming methods with a further six in the pipeline.

The Islands average annual wool clip is 2,500 tonnes (greasy) with an average fibre diameter of 27 µm. There is high demand from around the world, but the wool is largely sold through wholesalers in the UK. Sheep breeds are predominantly .Polwarth and Corriedale.

While wool remains the agricultural mainstay, more farms are developing meat lines following the EU approval of the Sand Bay abattoir in January 2003, permitting exports for the first time. The vast majority of the first season’s total production has been sold to the UK, with a proportion of the meat also being sold into the domestic market for the local population and also to supply fishing vessels.

As a direct result of the EU licence, some supplies of meat were also sold, for the first time, to visiting cruise liners – with fresh Falkland Islands’ lamb appearing on the menus in a number of cruise ship restaurants as they sailed away from Stanley to their next destination.

The Falkland Islands Development Corporation, Department of Agriculture and the Rural Business Association are working together to improve returns from wool production and assist farmers in diversification initiatives.

One year since its launch, the Department of Agriculture reports improvements in farm returns following its initiative, ‘The Way Forward’, which provides training opportunities and shares best practice, both in farm administration and accounts as well as practice.

The Department works in partnership with Queen’s University Belfast too, supported by United Kingdom Falkland Islands Trust (UKFIT), on projects to improve pasture and restore tussac grass, develop shelter belts, natural fertilisers and to explore feasibility of an indigenous seaweed industry.

Some £22million revenue is generated from the Falkland Islands fisheries industry each year, of which £6m is spent on catch and conservation monitoring, research and administration. Plans are ongoing to develop fisheries on shore through creation of a new deep-water port, cold stores and on-shore processing plant. Explorations to establish an independent Port Authority are currently underway too.

Most of the 88 farms in the Falkland Islands are ‘free range’, employing extensive farming methods over an area of 11,408 km² / 1,140,500 hectares, with a total of 610,000 sheep and 4,600 adult cattle (average farm size 10,000 hectares with 6,400 sheep).

The Islands population has risen from 1,800 in 1982 to nearly 2,400 in 2001 (Census).

Photographs are available on request.

Media Contact pre-show: Sam Allanson-Bailey, Falkland Islands Government Office, tel: 020 72222542 / fax: 020 72222375 OR

mobile (during Show): 07967 287064 (Sukey Cameron)

June 5, 2003