Support sustainable farming
Next time you pick up some groceries, ring up some carbon savings at the same time.
Whether it’s coffee, carrots or cotton, bananas, broccoli or biscuits, our grocery shop starts out on a farm. And the way crops are farmed has an impact on climate change.
Organic farming works with nature, not against it. It’s a powerful collaboration that increases wildlife by up to 50%2, reduces the impact of flooding and droughts, and stores more C02 in the ground.
Climate Change
Non-organic farming methods - which account for about 99% of global agriculture3 - use CO2 emitting fossil fuel-based fertilisers, pesticides and fungicides. These sprays kill wildlife and pollute our environment.
If Europe’s farmland all followed organic principles, agricultural emissions could drop by 40-50% by 20504, with plenty to feed the growing population healthy diets.
Soils
Organic soil is a secret weapon that’ll help us keep our planet cool enough for people and nature to thrive.
There are 2,500 billion tonnes of carbon saved5 in the world’s soils, which is more than in trees, plants and the atmosphere combined. Healthy, organic soil also reduces the impact of floods and droughts.
Organic soils are around 25% more effective at storing carbon in the long-term, with soil carbon increasing on average by 2.2% per year after converting to organic6.
The answer has been right beneath our feet all along.
Health
Eating organic may cost a bit more, but some staples give more nutritional bang for your buck.
Organic dairy products and meat contain around 50% more beneficial omega-3 fatty acids than non-organic7 because organic animals eat an organic, grass-based diet.
And organic cereals, fruit and vegetables were found with up to 68% more antioxidants than non-organic7.
If you’re worried about chemical residues on your food, check out the dirty dozen and clean fifteen list8.
Biodiversity
Did you know that insect pollination is worth a mind-boggling £690 million to UK crops each year?9 But pollinators and other wildlife are in serious trouble.
41% of Britain’s wildlife species have declined since 1970, and more than 1 in 10 are currently facing extinction9.
Pesticides are key drivers of global insect declines and the biodiversity crisis10.
Organic farms encourage wildlife and avoid using toxic chemicals. Plant, insect and bird life is up to 50% more abundant on organic farms2, and there are around 75% more wild bees on organic farms too9!
Water
Only 14% of English rivers meet the criteria for “good” ecological status12, yet almost half of people surveyed think that Britain’s freshwater systems are in good condition. Only 10% of people identified agricultural pollution as the biggest issue for water quality. In fact, pesticide use and waste run offs from intensive agriculture is the main cause13.
The nitrogen fertilisers that are used in conventional farming can create 'ocean dead zones' which deprive life below water of vital oxygen.
Organic farming lowers the risk of environmental pollution - as no harmful chemicals seep into local land and waterways. And healthy organic soil also acts as a filter, cleaning water as it passes through.
Animal Welfare
Organic standards insist that animals are truly free-range; given plenty of space and fresh air, and raised in conditions that suit their natural behaviour.
This means smaller flocks and herds, and more access to the outdoors. Take chickens, the maximum organic flock size is 3,000, free range is 16,000, and there’s no limit for caged birds - some flocks reach 100,00014.
Painful mutilations like beak-trimming of poultry, to prevent the aggressive side effects of stress, are also not needed, or allowed.
Global Goals
In September 2017, a historic agreement was signed by UN member nations agreeing to work towards 17 Global Goals for Sustainable Development by 2030, otherwise known as the SDGs.
Achieving these ambitious goals will require action from governments, businesses, NGOs, and individuals alike. We can - and must - all play our part.
2.4: By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and production, that help maintain ecosystems, that strengthen capacity for adaptation to climate change, extreme weather, drought, flooding and other disasters and that progressively improve land and soil quality.
6.3: By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials, halving the proportion of untreated wastewater and substantially increasing recycling and safe reuse globally.
12.4: By 2020, achieve the environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes throughout their life cycle, in accordance with agreed international frameworks, and significantly reduce their release to air, water and soil in order to minimize their adverse impacts on human health and the environment.
13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.
13.3: Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning.
14.1: By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution.
15.3: By 2030, combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil, including land affected by desertification, drought and floods, and strive to achieve a land degradation-neutral world
Success Stories
101
Pledges
in total
101kg
CO2
pledged
References
- Nature Sustainability Vol 2 - Sustainability in global agriculture driven by organic farming
- Journal of Applied Ecology: The effects of organic agriculture on biodiversity and abundance
- TBC
- Agroecology and carbon neutrality in Europe by 2050
- Soil Carbon Storage
- Soil Association - Organic is better for the planet
- Soil Association - Nutrition
- EWG
- Soil Association - Better for wildlife
- Soil Association - Reducing pesticides
- The Guardian
- Soil Association - Nitrogen risk
- Gov.uk - Poultry welfare codes