The government should aim for 10% of farmland in England to be organic to deliver on climate and nature goals, ensure food security and meet consumer demand, wildlife and environment groups have said.
Greenpeace, RSPB, The Wildlife Trusts, National Trust, River Action and Wildlife & Countryside Link are among 13 groups who have signed the Soil Association’s open letter to farming minister Daniel Zeichner.
The alliance has called for an Organic Plan to be devised and delivered, with strategies to boost production and consumption of organic and make it more accessible.
The letter highlighted how England has fallen behind Scotland, Ireland and the EU where farming policy recognised the environmental benefits of organic farms, which have 30% more biodiversity on average than conventional farms.
Government should act on the “failings” of previous governments that allowed organic farmland in England to shrink despite booming demand for organic food and drink in the UK, the letter says.
“We know farmers want to work more with nature, but many are stuck in a system that causes harm to our rivers, wildlife, air quality and climate,” said Soil Association policy director Brendan Costelloe. “But organic offers key solutions for driving real positive change.
“The evidence is clear that organic delivers for climate and nature with resilient systems based on healthy soils and nature-based practices that do not depend on harmful, fossil fuel-based chemicals. We need to increase the availability of food produced in this way to help make it more affordable.”
He added that government intervention was “desperately needed” and a 10% target would “drive this work forward”.
The Soil Association has outlined a policy briefing alongside the open letter, which sets out how organic is the “gold standard for sustainable farming” and can support in adapting to climate change.
The letter has been signed by Wildlife & Countryside Link, Greenpeace, The Wildlife Trusts, National Trust, Sustain, Compassion in World Farming UK, British Dragonfly Society, Bat Conservation Trust, Organic Farmers & Growers, Buglife, River Action, ClientEarth and the RSPB.
“Organic farming is less costly on the earth, but UK organic is still viewed as an expensive, premium approach,” said Richard Benwell, CEO of Wildlife & Countryside Link. “The government should work with farmers to catch up with other countries to grow more food organically, giving more consumers the chance to choose healthy, nature-friendly products.”
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