The Soil Association

Written By Live Naturally
Dated: January 26, 2007

View More Articles

Print Friendly Page

The Soil Association is an independent non-profit making body that sets organic standards, supports and advises organic farmers and works to change the way the UK farms.

As the Soil Association is a charity they rely on your support to carry out much of their work. So if you want an end to disasters like BSE and are against the planting of GM crops, want organic food and a living countryside, sign up and lend them your support.

Food and drink can only be labelled as organic if the farm or food manufacturer producing it has been verified and licensed by an independent organic certification company and then passes its annual inspection.

The Soil Association certifies over 70% of all organic food sold in the UK. Food that carries the Soil Association mark on its labels shows that it has met the association’s strict standards.

So what is the Soil Association’s understanding of organic?

Organic farmers aim to produce good food from a balanced living soil. Strict regulations, known as standards, define what they can and cannot do, placing strong emphasis on protecting the environment. Organic farmers use crop rotations to improve the fertitilty of their soil. They cannot grow GM crops and can only use as a last resort seven of the hundreds of pesticides available to farmers. Parasite problems in farm animals are controlled through regularly moving the animals to fresh pasture and other preventative methods rather than through routine drug doses.

Under organic standards all aspects of animal welfare are tightly controlled including rearing, shelter, feeding and transportation. there are lower stocking density rates so animals have more room, and they are allowed to express their normal behaviour with proper access to the outdoors. Animal medicines must be used if they become ill, but cannot be used routinely in feed.

The Soil Association’s report, The Biodiversity Benefits of Organic Farming, concluded that the number and variety of bird, butterfly and wild plant species is greater on established organic farms. This is because pesticide use is restricted and trees, hedges and wider unfarmed field edges are encouraged, providing habitats for natural predators such as beetles, spiders and birds to control pests.

The price of organic food reflects the true cost of organic production and the special care for the environment and animal welfare involved in organic farming. It is more expensive to rotate crops, to provide extra space and better conditions for animals and to buy high-quality organically produced feed. The higher cost paid therefore represents a fair price to organic farmers and growers who produce food to these standards.

Many people buy locally produced organic food because they want their money to go direct to local organic farmers and growers. As well as the social and economic benefits to communities, food grown locally is likely to be fresher and travels a shorter distance to reach you, cutting down on fuel pollution. The Soil Association has a thriving local food links department that plays a key role in the development of farmers’ markets, home-delivery vegetable box schemes and other local food projects.