Politicians must take the steps necessary to fix our food and farming systems
The Soil Association is calling on political parties to secure the future of UK food and farming in their manifestos for the next general election.
A bright and sustainable future is possible, but it is urgent that government acts for food and farming that works for nature, public health and climate.
For full details of our asks in each area you can read our full manifesto.
We urge governments to adopt our policy asks:
Grow green jobs – back British farming
Protect the NHS and wildlife - with healthy and sustainable food
Feed our future – school meals and good food communities for all
Soil not oil – healthy soils instead of chemical and fossil fuel dependence
Fair food prices – for shoppers and farmers
Grow green jobs – backing British farming
Double investment in nature-friendly farming across the UK with increased farm support and education about organic and agroecological farming, helping to secure the future of British farming businesses and create opportunities for green job seekers.
Double on-farm woodland cover by 2050 to boost British fruit, nut and timber production and create better jobs and careers in these sectors, whilst supporting nature, carbon capture, and farm resilience.
Create a ‘National Nature Service’ that focuses on creating green jobs and includes support for nature-friendly, agroecological growers who provide quality seasonal work.
Protect the NHS and wildlife – with healthy and sustainable food
Healthy and sustainable diets for everyone and a wildlife-rich UK.
Help people eat ‘more and better’ plants and ‘less and better’ meat, and cut ultra-processed food consumption – particularly for children.
Double British fruit and vegetable production and consumption to support healthy diets, through nature-friendly farming.
Double organic farmland, and support all farmers to adopt organic and agroecological practices that don’t rely on overuse of fossil-fuel derived chemical fertilisers, pesticides and antibiotics.
Stop river and air pollution – a ban on building intensive poultry units and targets to reduce nitrous oxide, phosphates and ammonia emissions from farming, which are poisoning our rivers and contributing to respiratory illnesses like asthma.
Feed our future – school meals and good food communities for all
A healthy and sustainable diet should be accessible and affordable for everyone.
At least half of food in schools and hospitals should be British, local, and sustainable, including organic and improve the quality of the school fruit and veg scheme.
Expand free school meals - provide a nutritional safety net that ensures all children get one healthy, sustainable meal every day.
Invest in food and farming education so that children adopt healthy, sustainable eating habits from an early age as well as an understanding of where food comes from, learning from the Food for Life model.
Invest in local food partnerships that work to tackle food insecurity, supply chain disruption and inequity, and the climate and nature emergency, following the example of Sustainable Food Places.
Soil not oil – healthy soils instead of chemical and fossil fuel dependence
Recognise soil’s essential role for all life on earth by including healthy soils as a key priority area alongside biodiversity, air, water and waste in the Environment Improvement Plan.
Set a plan to achieve an ambitious 2030 soil health improvement target.
Increased support for farmers to protect soils across their entire farms using an organic and agroecological farmers approach that restores and protects soils.
Double organic farmland, and support all farmers to adopt organic and agroecological practices that don’t rely on overuse of pesticides, antibiotics and fossil-fuel derived fertilisers.
Fair food prices – for shoppers and farmers
Food retail pricing – from farm gate to supermarket shelf – that provides a fair return for farmers..
Fair trade deals – setting standards to ensure imports meet the same high UK standards for animal welfare, environmental protection, climate change, and public health
Government intervention in supply chains so that retailers take greater responsibility and provide contracts that incentivise sustainable farming.
Invest in infrastructure such as local processing facilities and small abattoirs to support short, local supply chains. These allow nature-friendly farms to deliver fresh, local food to customers at affordable prices.
Produce an ambitious horticulture strategy whilst supporting British fruit and vegetable production and consumption.
Read our full Manifesto
Read more about our asks and expectations of the next government.
