Soil Association Cymru: Our work in Wales

Our policy work

Nature-friendly farming

The Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS) is the Welsh Government’s replacement for all  EU-era agricultural subsidies. We believe this change in approach is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to help farmers become more resilient, productive and nature-friendly. 

We want the scheme to fairly support those farm systems that already deliver for nature, including organic farming. And we want scheme payments, advice and guidance to help others deliver more "public goods", like wildlife habitat and soaking up carbon in the land. 

We regularly discussed these issues with the Welsh Government and the Senedd during the development of the scheme. We also provided input as members of the SFS Ministerial Roundtable and stakeholder groups that were formed in 2024 to finalise the scheme. 

Organic farming 

We are a founding member of the Welsh Organic Forum, the body that represents the organic sector in Wales. The Forum helped to reverse Welsh Government’s decision in 2023 to withdraw organic farm support payments.  We want Welsh Government to invest in the sustainable growth of the organic sector through a Welsh Organic Action Plan. 

Healthy and sustainable food 

We’re working to deliver food policy that increases the availability of healthy, minimally processed food, using public procurement to support Welsh, nature-friendly produce.  We regularly engage with Welsh Government and the Senedd on these issues and provide the secretariat to the Senedd Cross-Party Group on School Food. 

Our programmes

Food for Life

ESS, the Senedd catering provider, has achieved Food for Life Served Here Bronze Certification.

Sustainable Food Places  

Sustainable Food Places is a UK-wide partnership programme led by 3 national food charities - Food Matters, Soil Association and Sustain. It supports a network of 95 food partnerships building a healthy, sustainable, more equitable food system.