Contact us
Once you are ready to apply, you can email your application forms to us using the form on this page. If you have any questions, please contact our Farming Certification team via email or phone.
Apply for organic certification for farming and growing
We’re here to ensure the application and conversion process is as smooth as possible, from completing your application form, to receiving continued support throughout your conversion period and getting your organic certificate.
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Preparing your farm for organic conversion
Converting your farm into organic production is a commitment that requires careful planning for success. Every farm is different, so it’s important to understand the requirements of the organic standards and prepare for any changes you and your team will make on your farm.
We have supported thousands of innovative farmers and growers across the UK to convert their farms to organic. Following these steps will help you to start preparing your farm or holding for organic conversion.
1. Familiarise yourself with our conversion guides and the Soil Association organic standards
Farming organically will inevitably result in changes to your day-to-day farming practices. It’s important for you and your team to understand the potential changes to the way you farm and grow.
Visit our resources page to read our conversion guides and find out more about the requirements of organic conversion and production.
The Soil Association Standards set out the comprehensive requirements for organic farming and growing so you can produce and sell your products as organic using the Soil Association symbol. Our dedicated farming and growing certification team can explain how the standards fit in with your unique farming system and talk you through the certification process.
2. Identify organic conversion and maintenance payments
Financial support and ongoing maintenance payments are available to many farming businesses to assist with conversion to organic and running an organic farm. The availability of payments will depend on where you're based:
Remember, most of the organic conversion and maintenance payment schemes have limited applications windows and strict deadlines.
3. Learn from other organic farmers and growers
Case studies from our farmers and growers provide helpful information including the process of converting, different routes to market and the various opportunities for grants and government funding.
The Soil Association Charity regularly hosts farming and growing events across the UK, look out for national organic conferences, too, which are very sociable, informative and inspirational events to be involved with.
The Soil Association Charity has produced a number of technical guides as well as a team of Farming Advisors who are available to support you with a wide range of technical queries.
The application process
Pre-application
Contact our expert producer Certification team to discuss the certification and conversion process, organic standards, grants payments and opportunities for your business. We're here to help.
Application
when you're ready to apply, get in touch with your application form and contract and we will send you the application pack
once we've received your completed forms, your conversion period can start
a Certification Officer will give you a welcome call, providing you with an opportunity to ask any questions
one of our experienced inspectors will make an application visit to your farm
you'll then receive a report highlighting any changes you need to make or additional information we need
once we've received any outstanding information, we'll undertake a final review of your application and issue your first annual certificate
Complete your conversion
Organic production is governed by UK and EU legislation. This specifies a ‘conversion period’ whereby you must manage your land (and any animals) according to the organic standards for the required period of time, before you can market land or products as organic.
The conversion period provides time for you to start establishing organic management techniques, build soil fertility and biological activity, as well as to develop a viable and sustainable business.
The conversion period for land is typically two years, although there is scope to reduce this by up to four months if you can demonstrate you have managed the land according to organic standards before entering conversion.
In exceptional circumstances, a reduction of up to 12 months can be issued, subject to approval from Defra. Perennials will also require a further 12 months on top of the standard two-year period before the crop can be harvested as organic.
The conversion period can start from the day we receive your completed application form, or you can set a specific date in the future. You can convert your farm in stages, or you can convert the whole farm.
Selecting the right date for your conversion can be very important for future cropping plans and will depend on your farm and specific enterprises. We will provide tailored support on your conversion options when we know more about your farm enterprises, to best support you in making these decisions.
You're officially certified organic
After successfully completing the conversion period, you'll have achieved organic status. We'll issue your final certificate and you can start marketing your products using the Soil Association organic symbol.
We will continue to inspect your business each year and you will benefit from ongoing support from your Farming Certification team who are dedicated to looking after your license.
Start your application
If you're ready to apply then please complete the documents below and send them to us. If you have any questions about the application and conversion process then please contact our certification team.
Application forms and fees
I haven’t yet met a farmer that regrets their decision to farm organically...it’s often a leap of faith, but once you’ve started farming organically the satisfaction is worth a lot.
Learn more about organic certification
Find out all you need to know about certification for farmers and growers.