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
environmental
direct
connection
between
farming
practice
and
plant,
As membership charity at the heart of the UK organic movement. The
soil
animal,
human
Association
and
health.
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. 13.
Soil Association. (2000). The Biodiversity Benefits of Organic Farming:
05/27/2000. 101kb. Pp. 1-34.
Soil Association. (2000).
Soil Association. (2004).
32.5kb. Pp. 1-1.
Executive Summary,
Biodiversity Campaign 2000, 05/09/2000. 32.5kb. Pp.1-1.
Report proves that organic farming is better for wildlife, 10/07/2004.
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.
Soil Association. (2001).
Article: Local food and developing countries. 12/07/2001. 35.5kb. Pp.
1-1.
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.
Soil Association. (2006).
Ethical trade: Some common questions answered. 01/17/2006. 103kb.
34.5kb. Pp. 1-1.
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.
Soil Association. (2005).
Woodmark International Forest Certification Procedures, 11/07/2005.
111kb. Pp. 1-5.
93.3kb. Pp. 1-6.
Soil Association. (2005).
6.
UK Group Forest Certification Procedures, 10/28/2005. 111kb. Pp. 1-
Soil Association. (2005). Woodmark Group International Procedures, 08/11/2005. 111kb. Pp. 16.
Soil Association. (2005).
available)
Woodmark Non-Timber Forest Product Standard, 11/01/2004. (not
» Woodmark Forestry Standards
Soil Association. (2006).
Pp. 1-65.
Woodmark Locally Adapted Standard: Tanzania, 08/03/2006. 571kb.
Soil Association. (2005). Woodmark Generic Small and Low Intensity Managed Forests
Standard, 09/05/2005. 98.8kb. Pp. 1-16.
Soil Association. (2004).
365kb. Pp. 1-57.
Woodmark Locally Adapted Standard: Southern Africa, 10/28/2004.
Soil Association. (2004).
Pp. 1-54.
Soil Association. (2004).
1-9.
Woodmark Locally Adapted Standard:
Namibia, 10/28/2004. 395kb.
Woodmark Locally Adapted Standard: Ghana, 10/28/2004. 559kb. Pp.
» Woodmark public FSC certification reports
Soil Association. (2006). South Africa: Environmental Management Consulting (SA-FM/COC1453), 05/22/2006. kb. Pp.
Soil Association. (2006).
1353), 05/10/2006. kb. Pp.
Soil Association. (2006).
05/10/2006. kb. Pp.
South Africa:
Kenya:
TWK Agriculture Ltd, Group Scheme (SA-FM/COC-
Coast Farm Forestry Association (SA-FM/COC-1416),
Soil Association. (2006). South Africa: South Africa: SAPPI FORESTS GROUP SCHEME (SAFM/COC-1363), 03/13/2006. kb. Pp.
Soil Association. (2006).
Soil Association. (2005).
03/01/2005. kb. Pp.
Namibia: Jumbo Charcoal (SA-FM/COC-1182), 03/10/2006. kb. Pp.
South Africa:
SAPPI Forests (Pty) Ltd. (SA-FM/COC-1230),
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
publications.
advice and useful
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
http://www.english-nature.org.uk
Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group
http://www.fwag.org.uk
Farming Solutions
http://www.farmingsolutions.org
The site brings examples of successful environmentally responsible farming systems from around
the world.
HDRA Organic Weed Management project
http://www.organicweeds.org.uk
National Council for the Conservation of Plants & Gardens
http://www.nccpg.org.uk
Dedicated to conserving plant variety.
The Ecologist
http://www.theecologist.org
A magazine that disseminates information about plant, animal and environmental conservation.
Web of Hope
http://www.thewebofhope.com/
Measure your ecological footprint with the online toolkit. Plus information on local food and other
green issues.
WWF - The Conservation Organisation
http://www.wwf.org.ukConservation
-Certification bodies
Demeter
http://www.biodynamic.org.uk/Demeter.htm
Demeter certified food comes from biodynamic farming
EU organic farming regulation
http://europa.eu.int/comm/agriculture/qual/organic/reg/index_en.htm
Access the the EU regulation online
Fairtrade Foundation
http://www.fairtrade.org.uk/
The Fairtrade Foundation exists to ensure a better deal for marginalised and disadvantaged third
world producers.
Food Certification Scotland (FSC)
http://www.foodcertificationscotland.co.uk/
Forest Certification Resource Centre
http://www.certifiedwood.org
Promotes forest certification as a tool to conserve, protect and restore the world’s forests.
International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM)
http://www.ifoam.org/
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)
http://www.iofga.org/
Organic Farmers and Growers
http://www.organicfarmers.org.uk
Organic Food Federation (OFF)
http://www.orgfoodfed.com/
Scottish Organic Producers Association
http://www.sopa.org.uk
The Organic Trust
http://www.iol.ie/~organic/trust.html
UK Register of Organic Food Standards (UKROFS)
http://www.defra.gov.uk/farm/organic
Useful Contacts
Position:
Name:
Email:
International enquiries
Soil Association
[email protected]
Organic
expert
health
and
Certification Information
beauty Maarten Van Perlo
Soil Association
[email protected]
[email protected]