The role of ‘Pressure’ Groups
Emma Hockridge
Policy team
www.soilassociation.org
Overview
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What is the Soil Association?
What is a ‘pressure group’?
What is a ‘campaign’?
Practical example of a campaign
Working with others
Conclusions
Soil Association
- History
- Started in 1946: Group of farmers,
agricultural scientists & doctors
- ‘Healthy Soil, Healthy People, Healthy Planet’
What is a ‘Pressure Group’?
Dictionary entry:
pres·sure group
Noun:
‘A group that tries to influence public
policy in the interest of a particular
cause’.
Synonyms: lobby
What is a ‘campaign’ / what
does it mean to ‘campaign/?
Verb: Work in an organized and active way toward a particular goal, typically a
political or social one.
A summary of Soil Association charity role
•Work with
governments and
decision-makers
•Act as the voice of
the organic movement
•Educate consumers
about sustainable,
healthy food choices
Policy and campaigns
•Lead on policy matters important to the
industry: sustainable and organic
farming, GM, pesticides
•Lobby government on food, farming,
health and environmental policies
•Publish reports, for example Soil Carbon
that demonstrate contribution of organic
to climate change, human health,
feeding the world
•Campaigns like Better Nursery Food
Now - an expose on nursery food,
Soil Association Certification
- Soil Association Certification Ltd is a subsidiary of the
charity which undertakes certification.
-Soil Association Certification is the UK's largest organic
certification body, responsible for certifying around 80%
of all organic products sold in the country.
- Certify organic food and farming, organic textiles and
organic beauty products.
- The Soil Association organic logo on pack is the most
recognised in the UK and a guarantee produce meets the
highest organic standards.
Education and awareness
•Over 100 open farms – 1M visitors
per year
•Over 27,000 public members
•Living Earth magazine
•Supporters e-mail with a circulation
of 60,000
Practical Projects
70% of members
say their overall
quality of life has
improved
MEMBERS TOP MOTIVATIONS...
• Sustainably produced
food
• Healthy high quality food
• To support local farmers
Food for Life Catering Mark and Partnership
Working with over 3,200 schools to promote an improved food
culture and better understanding and education of seasonal, local
and organic food
Aim is to encourage fresh, healthy meals – organic is not only
focus
3 tier award scheme to encourage food that is fresh, healthy,
some local and organic and free from harmful additives and trans
fats in catering services including restaurants
Over 90 million meals served a year to Catering Mark standards
Example Campaign Hospital Food
•Highlighting positive examples of
good practice within hospitals
•Pointing out the problems via an
independent research report
Outcomes
•Encouraging other hospitals to
improve food provision
•Further publicise the importance
of good food for health
•Giving opportunities for farmers
to supply
Increasing
demands on
resources
• Water
• Peak oil
• Nitrogen
fertilisers
• Peak
Phosphate
Source: White and Cordel
Soil Association future plans
The Road to 2020….
Working with other groups
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con·sen·sus
/kənˈsensəs/
Noun:
General agreement.
Synonyms:
accord - agreement - unanimity
Conclusions
• Wide range of views
• The role of ‘pressure
groups’ and ‘campaigns’ is
broad
• Importance of good
research
• Working together
Thank you!
ehockridge@soilassociation.org
www.soilassociation.org