Choose organic for climate and nature
After a year marked by extreme weather events, a change of political direction, and relentless inflation, the agriculture sector is in a challenging place. For many farmers, the Autumn Budget announcements were the final straw, sparking protests across the country and warnings from NGOs that the sector is at breaking point.
Despite the ongoing pressures for food and farming, there is no escaping the uncomfortable truth: the Budget is tight, and this is unlikely to change as we move into 2025. This raises serious questions for the future of farming - particularly when considering the transition to much-needed climate- and nature-friendly practices.
An Organic Action Plan for England (OAPE) can help the Government reach their climate and nature goals
That said, there are other tools which the government can deploy to help boost nature-friendly farming systems, including support for organic, whilst making progress on our national climate and nature goals, and supporting resilient farm businesses. A government-backed Organic Action Plan for England (OAPE), for example, could play a major role in scaling up organic farming, and tackling the existing barriers to organic production and consumption across the country.
Why organic?
Organic farming systems provide a broad range of environmental benefits, many of which are key to supporting the UK’s climate and nature targets. For example:
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Nature recovery
The use of synthetic pesticides and fertilisers is increasingly identified as a leading factor for the decline in wildlife – particularly insect and bird populations. These synthetic inputs are prohibited by organic standards, which encourage farmers to harness the natural resilience of a healthy ecosystem instead. As a result, when compared with conventional practices, studies have shown that organic increases species richness by 30% and species abundance by 50% on average. Organic farms are vital in driving progress towards the UK government’s legally-binding target to halt species decline by 2030.
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Water quality
Just 15% of English rivers are in good ecological health, and agriculture is the leading cause of river pollution in the UK – but it doesn’t have to be. By closing nutrient cycles and prohibiting the use of synthetic pesticides and fertilisers, organic farming prevents the runoff of these chemical inputs into our water courses. Similarly, by protecting soil health and minimising bare soil through the use of cover crops and green manures, organic practices help to reduce the risk of erosion and the associated sediment pollution. An increase in organic farming could be central to achieving the UK government’s water quality targets, as well as supporting Defra’s wider ambition to clean up our rivers, lakes and seas.
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Farming resilience & food security
The farming sector’s heavy reliance on fossil fuel-derived fertilisers leaves many farm businesses exposed to market volatility. Following the invasion of Ukraine, for example, farmers are estimated to have spent around £1.42 billion on fertiliser in 2022, compared to £470m spent in 2020. This fluctuation of input costs has been identified as having a greater impact on food prices than the restriction of Russian and Ukrainian exports, and is therefore considered a driving cause of food insecurity. By reducing their reliance on external inputs – and avoiding synthetic fertilisers altogether – organic farmers are shielded from disruptions to global markets and supply chains. A less input dependent food system will be crucial for protecting the long-term resilience of farm businesses, and national food security.
Why an Organic Action Plan?
Despite the key advantages of organic farming, an upsurge in farmers following organic principles as part of the regenerative transition, and a growing market for organic products, worth £3.2 billion in 2023, the percentage of organic land share has remained largely static in England, representing just 3% of the country’s farmed area. In comparison, the EU already has an average of 10% organic farmland, with targets to increase that figure to 25% by 2030 set out in the Farm to Fork Strategy. As a result, the UK is heavily reliant on imports to meet the growing demand for organic products, meaning that many farmers are missing out on the potential benefits organic can bring to their business – and the UK landscape in turn is missing out on the environmental benefits delivered by organic systems.
Alongside our colleagues from the English Organic Forum, the Soil Association continues to call for an Organic Action Plan to provide strategic direction to the sector and help boost organic farming in England. While the previous government was reluctant to make a such a commitment, the change of administration may offer fresh opportunities for progress.
And it’s not just us saying it. This week RSPB, The Wildlife Trusts, National Trust, River Action and Wildlife and Countryside Link are among 13 groups who have signed our open letter to Farming Minister Daniel Zeichner, outlining the importance of organic farming for the environment, the economy, and healthy and sustainable food production, and calling for an OAPE to increase the land farmed organically to 10% by 2030.
