The answer lies in the soil Print E-mail
Written by Paul Richmond-Darbey, 2008   
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The Soil Association puts its seal of approval on over 85 per cent of Britain's organic produce. But what is it and what does it do? Lifelong organic gardener Paul Richmond-Darbey has been finding out

The Soil Association is the UK's leading environmental organisation promoting sustainable, organic farming and championing human health. It was founded in 1946 by a group of farmers, scientists and nutritionists who observed a direct connection between farming practice and plant, animal, human and environmental health.

Today it has over 180 staff based in its Bristol headquarters, in regional centres and working as certification inspectors across the country.

With organic food and drink sales at around the £2 billion mark, and with three out of every four households in Britain buying organic food, the Soil Association's area of concern and expertise has become big business.

You might expect something so important to be organised and supported by the government, but in fact the Soil Association is a charity, reliant on donations and on the support of its members and the public to carry out its work.

So just what is 'organic'?

The word 'organic' is defined by law. It may only be used by producers and manufacturers who are registered with a recognised organic accreditation organisation. In order to become registered, members must:

  • Follow a strict set of guidelines laid down by national and international law.
  • Keep thorough and accurate records of production processes.
  • Submit to annual and random inspections

Organic farmers aim to produce good food from a balanced, living soil. Strict regulations placing a strong emphasis on protecting the environment define what they can and cannot do. Organic farmers use crop rotations to make the soil more fertile. For example, a farmer might graze sheep on a field one year, making the soil more fertile with their droppings, then plant wheat the next year.

Farmers can't use genetically modified crops and can only use - as a last resort - seven of the hundreds of pesticides available to farmers. The Soil Association, however, only allows four of these.

Parasite problems in farm animals are controlled through regularly moving the animals to fresh pasture and other preventative methods, rather than routinely dosing the animals with drugs.

Main features of organic farming:

  • Organic farming severely restricts the use of artificial chemical fertilisers and pesticides.
  • Instead, organic farmers rely on developing a healthy, fertile soil and growing a mixture of crops.
  • Animals are reared without the routine use of drugs and wormers common in intensive livestock farming.

Many more people are choosing to buy organic produce because they believe it tastes better, but they also cite the safety aspect - organic farms, as far as possible, avoid using unnecessary chemical sprays. "Food additives linked to asthma and heart disease are among those banned under organic standards," says the Soil Association.

Buying clothing made from organic cotton means that this crop, heavily reliant on pesticides, has not endangered the health of the workers.

With the environment and wildlife biodiversity high on the agenda, organic farming is seen to be friendlier to the environment. There is a much greater variety of birds, butterflies and plants on organic farms.

Organic farming requires animals to be kept in more natural, free-range conditions with a more natural diet, which means a clearer conscience when it comes to animal welfare - for instance, when you buy free-range organic eggs.

EU standard

There are several organic certification bodies with the UK, all of which conform to standard laid down by the European Union. But the Soil Association has its own standards, which are more exacting than those laid down by DEFRA.

Organic certification applies mainly to food products. But you can find it on almost anything from baby products and clothing to skin care.

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