Soil Association

  • A plan for the land

    A plan for the land

    England’s first ever land use framework aims to maintain domestic food production while freeing land for nature, development and energy. Can it carry off such a delicate balancing act?

  • Will salmon farming growth come at the environment’s expense?

    Will salmon farming growth come at the environment’s expense?

    As the UK negotiates lower tariffs for exports to India, the body certifying organic salmon has warned of unacceptable welfare outcomes on salmon farms. By Nick Hughes. How’s this for a neat illustration of the tension surrounding farmed salmon? Just…

  • Is there an appetite for free school meals?

    Is there an appetite for free school meals?

    Theresa May dropped plans to cut universal free lunches from the Queen’s Speech – but that doesn’t mean an expensive and unproven policy is safe. By David Burrows. On June 16th, Jamie Oliver suggested the prime minister would be committing…

  • Schools fear meals axe will hit health

    Schools fear meals axe will hit health

    Over 90% of schools believe that pupil health and nutrition would be impacted by the potential withdrawal of free school meals for all infants, according to new research. The survey by the Soil Association’s Food For Life programme found that…

  • OOH experiences British food boom

    OOH experiences British food boom

    Caterers involved in the Soil Association’s Food for Life Catering Mark spent £49.7m on British food last year – up 40% on 2015. There have also been “dramatic increases” in spend on organic, Marine Stewardship Council, RSPCA and Fairtrade accredited…

  • Foodservice powers organic growth

    Foodservice powers organic growth

    Foodservice showed the strongest growth in organic sales of any sector in 2016, according to the Soil Association’s latest Organic Market Report. The 19.1% growth in sales of organic food and drink products into the foodservice market exceeded growth in…

  • Dual audit to reduce burden on SMEs

    Dual audit to reduce burden on SMEs

    A new dual audit covering both food safety and organic standards aims to overcome some of the barriers to small businesses becoming accredited. SALSA and the Soil Association have teamed up to launch the first-of-its kind audit for small and…

  • Tesco under fire for fictitious branding

    Tesco under fire for fictitious branding

    Tesco has found itself on the receiving end of a backlash against its fictitious fresh produce branding. The retailer has introduced 76 new lines across seven different farm brands – including Redmere Farms for vegetables and Boswell Farms for beef…

  • Organic sales up 15.2%

    Organic sales up 15.2%

    The catering sector was a star performer for the organic market last year, with sales up 15.2% to £64.3m. Spend through the Food for Life Catering Mark has been driving sales in the public sector, noted the Soil Association in…

  • Organic v non-organic: the battle over health benefits

    Organic v non-organic: the battle over health benefits

    Organic milk and meat could well be healthier than non-organic products. An analysis of over 250 research papers by scientists at Newcastle University found “clear differences” between organic and conventional milk and meat. “Most importantly, a switch from conventional to…