Organic – the natural way to be more sustainable

Organic agriculture is based on four key principles:

Health

Organic agriculture should sustain and enhance the health of soil, plant, animal, human and planet as one and indivisible.

Ecology

Organic agriculture should be based on living ecological systems and cycles, work with them, emulate them and help sustain them.

Care

Organic agriculture should be managed in a precautionary and responsible manner to protect the health and well-being of current and future generations and the environment.

Fairness

Organic agriculture should build on relationships that ensure fairness with regard to the common environment and life opportunities.

Why organic?

In the face of climate change, diet-related ill health and widespread decline in wildlife, the need to change our food system has never been greater. The “whole system” approach used in organic attempts to address issues in a joined-up way. Organic therefore provides solutions to many problems, offering truly sustainable food for a growing population, in a way that works with nature.

Food you can trust

The standards for organic food are laid down in law (and, in places, these are supplemented by the Soil Association’s well-evidenced higher standards), so certification is required to grow, process or market organic products, plus all organic farms and companies are inspected at least once a year. Soil Association Certification certifies over 70% of organic food in the UK and the organic label is the best way of assuring that the food you eat has been produced to a standard you can trust.