The role of ‘Pressure’ Groups Emma Hockridge Policy team soilassociation

1. The role of ‘Pressure’ GroupsEmma HockridgePolicy teamwww.soilassociation.org

2. Overview • What is the Soil Association? • What is a ‘pressure group’? • What is a ‘campaign’? • Practical example of a campaign • Working with others • Conclusions

3. Soil Association • History • Started in 1946: Group of farmers, agricultural scientists & doctors • ‘Healthy Soil, Healthy People, Healthy Planet’

4. What is a ‘Pressure Group’? • Dictionary entry: • pres·sure group • Noun: • ‘A group that tries to influence public policy in the interest of a particular cause’. • Synonyms: lobby

5. What is a ‘campaign’ / what does it mean to ‘campaign/?

6. A summary of Soil Association charity role • Work with governments and decision-makers • Act as the voice of the organic movement • Educate consumers about sustainable, healthy food choices

7. Policy and campaigns • Lead on policy matters important to the industry: sustainable and organic farming, GM, pesticides • Lobby government on food, farming, health and environmental policies • Publish reports, for example Soil Carbon that demonstrate contribution of organic to climate change, human health, feeding the world • Campaigns like Better Nursery Food Now - an expose on nursery food,

8. Soil Association Certification • - Soil Association Certification Ltd is a subsidiary of the charity which undertakes certification. • -Soil Association Certification is the UK's largest organic certification body, responsible for certifying around 80% of all organic products sold in the country. - Certify organic food and farming, organic textiles and organic beauty products. - The Soil Association organic logo on pack is the most recognised in the UK and a guarantee produce meets the highest organic standards.

9. Education and awareness • Over 100 open farms – 1M visitors per year • Over 27,000 public members • Living Earth magazine • Supporters e-mail with a circulation of 60,000

10. Practical Projects

11. 70% of members say their overall quality of life has improved

12. Members top motivations... • Sustainably produced food • Healthy high quality food • To support local farmers

13. Food for Life Catering Mark and Partnership Working with over 3,200 schools to promote an improved food culture and better understanding and education of seasonal, local and organic foodAim is to encourage fresh, healthy meals – organic is not only focus3 tier award scheme to encourage food that is fresh, healthy, some local and organic and free from harmful additives and trans fats in catering services including restaurants Over 90 million meals served a year to Catering Mark standards

14. Example Campaign Hospital Food • Highlighting positive examples of good practice within hospitals • Pointing out the problems via an independent research report • Outcomes • Encouraging other hospitals to improve food provision • Further publicise the importance of good food for health • Giving opportunities for farmers to supply

15. Increasing demands on resources • Water • Peak oil • Nitrogen fertilisers • Peak Phosphate Source: White and Cordell

16. Soil Association future plans • The Road to 2020….

17. Working with other groups • con·sen·sus/kənˈsensəs/ • Noun: • General agreement. • Synonyms: • accord - agreement - unanimity

18. Conclusions • Wide range of views • The role of ‘pressure groups’ and ‘campaigns’ is broad • Importance of good research • Working together

19. Thank you! • www.soilassociation.org ehockridge@soilassociation.org