Soil Association - follow our bloggers

If. . .

Helen Browning — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 11:42:23 GMT

We are excited to have joined a new campaign coalition focused on the vital issue of hunger in developing countries. It’s called ‘IF’ and focuses on the fact that despite us producing enough food in the world to feed everyone, many are still going hungry. One in eight people on our planet are hungry and two million children die each year because of malnutrition. And the problem is not a shortage of food; there are deep inequalities in the food system, which mean that the hungry do not get the food they need to live.

Health, as I understand it

Helen Browning — Mon, 10 Sep 2012 16:01:10 GMT

It’s been good to be on the farm for the weekend, to re-establish my equilibrium after a hectic week. As well as interviewing for our new Director of Communications (lots of brilliant candidates, more news shortly), holding a well received staff conference (so much progress reported), hosting policy makers at the farm and supporters at Highgrove, launching Organic September, and all the usual busyness of the Bristol office, we have had the additional complication of the Stanford University report, and its reporting in the media.

Exciting times are ahead

Helen Browning — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 16:48:05 GMT

Back in September I asked for feedback on the first iteration of our new group strategy, and I was delighted when so many people took the time to share their thoughts – through the blog comments, by email and in person. I was even more delighted that so much of the feedback was so positive – in general the vast majority of you said that our direction of travel seemed right, and this has given us real confidence in what we’re doing.

We’re not really the awkward squad, you know

Helen Browning — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 17:12:26 GMT

When I started farming organically, 25 years ago, I did so for a number of reasons. I was concerned about diminishing wildlife on the farm; and my desire to find a way to keep pigs and poultry in a way I felt respected their right for a good, natural life had already been stimulated whilst doing my degree at Harper Adams, where visits to supposedly ‘state-of-the-art’ farms sometimes left me shocked by their attitude to animal welfare.

Merry Christmas

Helen Browning — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 10:04:45 GMT

I'm not sure how to feel about the end of this year. Has it been the year when economic turmoil gripped political leaders to the extent that the now critical issues of climate change and biodiversity loss were lost from view, probably irretrievably... Or was it the year in which a significant minority of people recognised that our values must change if we are to have any chance of a sane future on this planet?

The little white bottle

Helen Browning — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 12:16:32 GMT

Today sees the publication of a new report on the dangers of over using antibiotics, that we’ve published in partnership with Compassion in World Farming and Sustain as part of the Alliance to Save our Antibiotics. The overuse of antibiotics in farm animals has been a key issue for the Soil Association for many years, led by the fantastic work of Richard Young. As a practising farmer, it's an issue that’s close to my heart.

Sustainable food cities

Helen Browning — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 12:58:42 GMT

I’m really excited to be speaking in Bristol this morning at a conference we’ve organised to launch a network of sustainable cities across the country. Making sure our cities are sustainable in terms of their food and health needs is a crucial challenge, and there are a number of different projects working hard on the idea in different cities around the country already. And while none of the projects are identical, with each city having its own diverse needs, there is obviously lots of common ground – giving people the knowledge and skills to access affordable healthy and sustainable food; helping to tackle food poverty and diet-related ill-health; promoting local economic prosperity for farmers and food businesses; and minimising waste, biodiversity loss and food’s impact on climate change can all be the outcomes of a sustainable city.

The price of organic food

Helen Browning — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 09:15:43 GMT

One of the key pillars of our refreshed strategy is ‘Good Food for All’. By this we mean that we are committed to ensure that organic, seasonal, healthy food is accessible to everyone.

The Road to 2020

Helen Browning — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 10:40:13 GMT

It has been a busy few weeks. Organic September is proving a great success with activities taking place all over the country, and lots of promotional activities among our licensees. And today I’m very excited to announce the publication of the first iteration of our refreshed strategy: ‘The road to 2020': Towards healthy, humane and sustainable food, farming and land use’

Happy Organic September!

Helen Browning — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 10:22:46 GMT

Happy Organic September! Today sees the start of a busy month here at Soil HQ. We’re putting lots of energy into making sure that the world of organic and all that it encompasses gets the recognition it deserves - across supermarket shelves, on our plates and in our bathroom cabinets and wardrobes.

Thoughts about the future

Helen Browning — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 16:40:47 GMT

I have been in the hot seat at the Soil Association for a few months now, and my main task has been reviewing the work that we are doing, and establishing clear direction and priorities for the future. Our staff, Council, and the Farmer and Grower Board have all been very involved in helping with this, and I now feel that we can start to talk about this more widely. So while it will be a few weeks before we publish our refreshed strategy, I would like to share some of our thinking with you now, and would be very pleased to hear any comments or thoughts that you have.

WI update

Helen Browning — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 09:30:13 GMT

Win, lose or draw, I said in my last post. Nothing could have quite prepared me for the WI's AGM yesterday in terms of outcome! For the first time in their history, WI members voted to - not vote. The WI still operates as a purely membership led body, which means any resolutions that come before the AGM are proposed by grassroots members - a bit like the old party conferences used to operate before the slightly more stage-managed events of today.

Win, lose or draw. . .

Helen Browning — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 15:54:12 GMT

I’m speaking at the Women’s Institute AGM on Wednesday, in support of the motion: “This meeting abhors the practice of factory farming particularly large animals such as pigs and cows, and urges HM government to ensure planning permission is not granted for such projects.” So I spent the weekend polishing my speech, and reflecting on the issues raised by the motion. Speaking to the WI is both exciting and a little nerve-racking, and win lose or draw on the motion, I’m looking forward to the experience.

Constructive co-ops

Helen Browning — Thu, 19 May 2011 17:12:23 GMT

Welcome to my first blog as the Soil Association director - I want to use this to share some of my thoughts and give an idea of what we're up to, but I'm new to blogging, so bear with me while I get going! Last week I spent an excellent day in Devon alongside Phil Stocker, and my amazing co-ordinator Lisa, meeting with the South Devon Organic Producers Coop (sdop), Rod Hall, and a number of producers, courtesy of the Buddens. The sdop were inspiring, showing how good coperation, both with each other and with customers, in this case Riverford, can reap significant rewards. The verdict from all was that the financial viability of their smallish farms has been secured by the coop and its close and constructive relationship with Riverford. Then we had an amazing lunch at the Field Kitchen....completely bowled over by the food, and was high on vegetables for the rest of the day!