Wild Living Resources Profiles
Soil Association
Background:
The Soil Association is the UK's leading campaigning and certification organisation for organic food and farming. Founded in 1946 by a group of farmers, scientists and nutritionists who observed a direct connection between farming practice and plant, animal, human and environmental health.
As membership charity at the heart of the UK organic movement.The soil Association works towards raising awareness about the positive health and environmental benefits of organic food and farming and supporting farmers in producing natural food consumers can trust.
Although the Soil Association is based in the UK with all its target efforts directed there. Being the leading organic body it’s now extending its activities worldwide through its international certification and campaigning.
Certification:
Being certified with SA Certification means that producers can use the organic symbol of trust on their products and in their marketing. The Soil Association symbol is recognised by consumers as the ultimate mark of organic integrity and often demanded by retailers for the organic products they stock.
Soil Associations technical staff and inspectors have extensive practical experience of the organic and non organic food industry. Their close links with industry mean that our certification schemes are straightforward. They are also accredited to carry out industry schemes to a producer’s convenience and at very competitive costs.
Accreditation at this level ensures we provide fair and consistent certification to our customers, including organic and non organic certification schemes.
The Soil Association standards
The Soil Association's aim is to promote the highest level of organic integrity. The Soil Association standards must meet consumer expectations, reflect the best sustainable and become a benchmark for organic production globally.
Non food standards:
The Soil Association now has standards for organic textiles and organic health and beauty care products. These were developed in response to consumers wanting organic non-food products and industry wanting to make organic claims on their products.
These areas are not currently covered under the EU Regulation or national standards although increasing consumer and media awareness of certification of these products gives certified companies a competitive edge in marketing their products.
Health and Beauty standards:
The Soil Association health and beauty care standards provide the most comprehensive organic standards worldwide for these types of products. They were developed over three years through stringent and respected standards setting process, drawing on the expertise of wide industry representation.
The Soil Association standards are technically robust, based on the Nordic standards, EC cosmetics directive and EC regulation 2092/91 which governs organic food production and food processing.
Case study:
Caterham Herbs, Bosnia and Herzogovina
Bosnia and Herzogovina has proved a great place to grow our herbs as so many grow here naturally – the climate is perfect. Caterham Herbs was the first British company to invest in the province after the war and, apart from watching out for the landmines, things have gone relatively smoothly.
"We set out with the aim of growing and harvesting organic herbs, distilling the oil and transporting the end products ourselves, with no middle men. The dried herbs and oil would then be sold to food and body care manufacturers. What we didn't realize is that this would mean we'd have to certify each step of that process separately.
"We picked the Soil Association as we knew it was one of the best organic certifying bodies in the world and we've been really happy with the help we've received. We spent 18 months just talking to the Soil Association about certification requirements – which must have paid off since they said ours was one of the best prepared documents for an initial inspection that it had ever seen.
"This was probably also due to the fact that we have worked in the building trade where traceability and document control systems are the norm, although we've never had to do everything in two languages before.
"We've had several Soil Association inspections so far. The inspections are really hard work for the inspectors as they have to cover such a vast area of land – we have 310 hectares of cultivated land and 11,000 hectares of wild harvested land in Bosnia.
"Being new to organic farming we've learnt a lot from the Soil Association but we've also picked up masses of tips from the local farmers who have always farmed organically. Whenever we go out to Bosnia we always drop by to see the local farmers' cooperatives for a chat. They come down and look at our soil and tell us instantly where we need compost.
"We now grow lavender, rosemary and oregano, and we wild-harvest sage, juniper and helichrysum. We're planting 400,000 organic lavender and rosemary plants this year and we'll do the same next year. Soon we are going to be the world's largest producer of organic lavender oil and we are already the first to introduce cultivated lavender into Bosnia.
"The next step is for us to cultivate herbs in Spain and we are using the services of a former Soil Association person out there to give us advice on how to go about it."
Useful Documents Available at WLR
Soil Association. (2006). How does organic farming benefit wildlife, 04/28/2006. 101kb. Pp.1-3.
Soil Association. (2005). Can organic farming bring real biodiversity benefits, 12/01/2005. 66.5kb. Pp.1-2.
Soil Association. (2005). How organic farming delivers biodiversity benefits, 03/17/2005. 91.3kb. Pp. 1-3.
Soil Association. (2001). How Organic Farming Delivers Biodiversity, 04/26/2001. 54.4kb. Pp. 1-3.
Soil Association. (2000). The Biodiversity Benefits of Organic Farming: Executive Summary, 05/27/2000. 101kb. Pp. 1-34.
Soil Association. (2000). Biodiversity Campaign 2000, 05/09/2000. 32.5kb. Pp.1-1.
Soil Association. (2004). Report proves that organic farming is better for wildlife, 10/07/2004. 32.5kb. Pp. 1-1.
Soil Association. (2000). Wide scale organic farming could reverse wildlife decline, 08/14/2000. 29.5kb. Pp 1-1.
Soil Association. (2000). Organic farms richer in wildlife, 06/09/2000.30.0kb. Pp. 1-1.
Tewolde, B. G. E.and Colin, T. (2006). Can organic farming feed the world, Public Lecture, 12/20/2006. 248Kb. Pp. 1-10. and 105kb. Pp. 1-14. Respectively.
Soil Association. (2006). Soil Association response to 'Productivity growth for poverty reduction: an approach to agriculture' by the Department for International Development. 01/16/2006. 66.7kb. Pp.1-2.
Soil Association. (2005). Feeding the world using organic techniques. 10/04/2005. 24.4kb. Pp. 1-1.
Soil Association. (2001). Article: Local food and developing countries. 12/07/2001. 35.5kb. Pp. 1-1.
Soil Association: (2006). Packaging Standards, briefing update. 10/26/2006. 88.4kb. Pp. 1-3
Soil Association: (2002) Soil Association Summary of the Policy Commission report, “Farming & Food A sustainable future.”01/30/2002. 90.0kb. Pp. 1-1.
Soil Association: (2004). Report proves that organic farming is better for wildlife. 10/07/2004. 34.5kb. Pp. 1-1.
Soil Association. (2006). Ethical trade:Some common questions answered. 01/17/2006. 103kb. Pp. 1-3.
Soil Association: (2006). Woodmark International Profile, 05/23/2006. 95.9kb. Pp. 1-2.
Soil Association. (2005). Woodmark Programme Structure, 10/31/2005. 73.2kb. Pp. 1-2
Soil Association. (2005). Woodmark Guidance for Chain of Custody Applicants, 11/02/2005. 307kb. Pp. 1-14.
Soil Association. (2005). Woodmark Group/Multi-site Chain of Custody Procedures, 10/28/2005. 111kb. Pp. 1-5.
Soil Association. (2005). Woodmark International Forest Certification Procedures, 11/07/2005. 93.3kb. Pp. 1-6.
Soil Association. (2005). UK Group Forest Certification Procedures, 10/28/2005. 111kb. Pp. 1-6.
Soil Association. (2005). Woodmark Group International Procedures, 08/11/2005. 111kb. Pp. 1-6.
Soil Association. (2005). Woodmark Non-Timber Forest Product Standard, 11/01/2004. (not available)
» Woodmark Forestry Standards
Soil Association. (2006). Woodmark Locally Adapted Standard: Tanzania, 08/03/2006. 571kb. Pp. 1-65.
Soil Association. (2005). Woodmark Generic Small and Low Intensity Managed Forests Standard, 09/05/2005. 98.8kb. Pp. 1-16.
Soil Association. (2004). Woodmark Locally Adapted Standard: Southern Africa, 10/28/2004. 365kb. Pp. 1-57.
Soil Association. (2004). Woodmark Locally Adapted Standard: Namibia, 10/28/2004. 395kb. Pp. 1-54.
Soil Association. (2004). Woodmark Locally Adapted Standard: Ghana, 10/28/2004. 559kb. Pp. 1-9.
» Woodmark public FSC certification reports
Soil Association. (2006). South Africa: Environmental Management Consulting (SA-FM/COC-1453), 05/22/2006. kb. Pp.
Soil Association. (2006). South Africa: TWK Agriculture Ltd, Group Scheme (SA-FM/COC-1353), 05/10/2006. kb. Pp.
Soil Association. (2006). Kenya: Coast Farm Forestry Association (SA-FM/COC-1416), 05/10/2006. kb. Pp.
Soil Association. (2006). South Africa: South Africa: SAPPI FORESTS GROUP SCHEME (SA-FM/COC-1363), 03/13/2006. kb. Pp.
Soil Association. (2006). Namibia: Jumbo Charcoal (SA-FM/COC-1182), 03/10/2006. kb. Pp.
Soil Association. (2005). South Africa: SAPPI Forests (Pty) Ltd. (SA-FM/COC-1230), 03/01/2005. kb. Pp.
Soil Association. (2005). Organic Market Report: The most authoritative and comprehensive review of the organic sector. 79.1kb. pp. 1-3.
Summary: The report includes figures on land conversion, market sectors and growth, along with consumer reaction to organic food.
Soil Association. (2001). A Share in the Harvest. 655kb. pp. 1-44.
Summary:This report focuses on how community supported agriculture (CSA) could help farmers and their customers develop a relationship based on mutual support and trust.
Soil Association. (2000). Biodiversity Benefits of Organic Farming.101kb. pp. 1-34.
Summary: This report presents and reviews the findings of nine studies on the biodiversity supported by organic farming in the lowlands, compared to non-organic farming systems. From the individual findings, general conclusions are drawn.
Soil Association. (1998). Local Food for Local People: A Guide to Local Food Links.
Summary: This guide shows how local food schemes link together to build sustainable local food economies and introduces the many types of scheme, how you can set one up and who to contact to find out more. Essential reading for anyone interested in box schemes, subscription farming, farmers' markets, and community owned farms, community gardens and orchards.
Soil Association Publications
Soil Association. (2001). A Share in the Harvest: A feasibility study for community supported agriculture. 665kb. Pp. 1- 44.
Summary:This feasibility study looks at how community supported agriculture (CSA) can help in the development of local and sustainable food economies. It investigates community involvement in farming around the globe and in a number of established and planned CSA initiatives in England. Eleven case studies provide the basis of discussion, along with relevant policy recommendations and areas for future research.
Soil Association. (2001). A Share in the Harvest: An action manual for community supported agriculture. Pp. 1-70.
Summary:A practical guide to support those, including farmers/growers, consumers and activists who wish to develop community supported agriculture (CSA) initiatives. The manual uses experiences from CSA farms in the UK and overseas and includes information on CSA models, membership, finance and legal issues, land and share issues, grant advice and useful publications.
Soil Asssociation. Cultivating Co-operatives: Organizational structures for local food enterprises.
Summary: This is a toolkit, in book form, to help producers, agencies and activists set up or develop a local food enterprise. Covering issues such as developing an organisation and protecting your organisation, this publication includes case studies of existing CSA schemes - how they were started and how they are funded.
Links
-English Nature
Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group
Farming Solutions
The site brings examples of successful environmentally responsible farming systems from around the world.
HDRA Organic Weed Management project
National Council for the Conservation of Plants & Gardens
Dedicated to conserving plant variety.
The Ecologist
A magazine that disseminates information about plant,animal and environmental conservation.
Web of Hope
Measure your ecological footprint with the online toolkit. Plus information on local food and other green issues.
WWF - The Conservation Organisation
-Certification bodies
Demeter
Demeter certified food comes from biodynamic farming
EU organic farming regulation
Access the the EU regulation online
Fairtrade Foundation
The Fairtrade Foundation exists to ensure a better deal for marginalised and disadvantaged third world producers.
Food Certification Scotland (FSC)
Forest Certification Resource Centre
Promotes forest certification as a tool to conserve, protect and restore the world’s forests.
International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM)
IFOAM's goal is the worldwide adoption of ecologically, socially and economically sound systems that are based on the principles of Organic Agriculture.
Irish Organic Farmers and Growers Association (IOFGA)
Organic Farmers and Growers
Organic Food Federation (OFF)
Scottish Organic Producers Association
The Organic Trust
UK Register of Organic Food Standards (UKROFS)
Useful Contacts
Position: / Name: / Email:International enquiries / Soil Association /
Organic health and beauty expert / Maarten Van Perlo /
Certification Information / Soil Association /