Organic Farmers & Growers (OF&G) has published a manifesto calling for “radical policy change” ahead of the general election on July 4.
OF&G said it is targeting policymakers and has set out a framework for change based on the four principles of the organic food and farming movement – health, ecology, fairness and care.
Chief executive of OF&G, Roger Kerr, said the future of food and farming is becoming a “political hot potato”.
“The nation’s seen huge upheaval in the last eight years. A flawed food system has left the country at the tipping point of catastrophic environmental and human health crises,” he said.
“Decisive action cannot come soon enough. We need policies that create jobs, improve rural livelihoods while delivering sustainable and economically viable food and farming systems.
“Restoring this balance and equity requires ambition and vision from government. The long-term effects of recent policies are still unfolding, but the need for action is urgent. One thing is clear; we must aspire to accomplish more.”
Health
In terms of health, OF&G has called for policymakers to tackle to the prevalence of cheap, highly processed foods.
The organic certifier calls for a food partnership and plan to be established across all regions.
These would run alongside initiatives that ensure healthy and sustainable food is made available to people in care (children, the sick and the elderly).
New levies would be introduced to fund pathways to make healthier food more accessible to 7.2 million people living in food insecure households in the UK.
Ecology
OF&G proposes additional funding to support organic farming to address nature degradation.
The introduction of a land use framework should also incorporate new food and farming strategies (including horticulture), it said.
Within this strategy would be the delivery of an Organic Action Plan to increase the farmed area to 10% organic land – a three-fold uplift on today’s level.
Fairness
Under the manifesto’s fairness heading, OF&G makes recommendations which include the implementation of transparent supply chain contracts, and new eco-food labelling to better inform consumers.
It said the principle of fairness is fundamental to ensuring that food production benefits everyone, from farm workers to consumers.
OF&G is calling for a strengthened Grocery Code Adjudicator, the establishment of an environmental label and the implementation of open and transparent contracts within the supply chain.
Care
The delivery of a higher level of care would be facilitated by clear trade policies that ensure a level playing field for farmers, producers and consumers while protecting high health, welfare and environmental standards, OF&G said.
This would extend to the roll-out of a mandatory co-existence framework to allow greater choice around the consumption of genetically edited foods.
“Implementing OF&G’s recommendations would have a massive, beneficial impact. Organic is a defined farming system and operates to the highest level of compliance to deliver on all four of the principles outlined,” Kerr said.
“The recent formal adoption of regulation on nature restoration by the EU shows that, with political will, change is possible.
“By advocating for policy changes that support health, ecology, fairness, and care, we can create a sustainable, equitable, vibrant and healthy food system.
“Organic is part of the solution to the challenges confronting us but is not just about changing farming practices, it is about championing a profound, positive impact on our society and the planet.”
