The Soil Association priorities include tackling climate change, restoring nature and soil health, along with trying to normalise healthy diets.
One of the key parts to The Soil Association manifesto is to use government-buying power to make healthy and sustainable diets the norm in the public sector (schools and hospitals). The Soil Association wants to learn from Denmark’s 60% and France’s 50% organic food procurement.
The Soil Association is calling for children to be given a ‘world-class food education’ in terms of climate, nature and health. The manifesto states it wants education inspection frameworks, such as Ofsted, to recognise schools that give pupils the chance to cook food that is healthy and nature-friendly.
The food and farming charity is also calling for five additional ‘asks’ to be present in party manifestos:
- Commit to a ten-year transition to climate and nature-friendly farming
- Ensure trade agreements maintain the high standards of UK food and farming
- Focus on farmer-led innovation to create a climate and nature-friendly future
- Tackle the antibiotic resistance crisis
- Invest in making diverse, fresh and affordable food available to all
The Soil Association believes the 2019 General Election could be a chance to ‘reshape the future of food and farming’ in the UK.