Changing the hearts and minds of policy makers, farmers and consumers is an essential part of our mission. Creating the conditions for a major expansion of organic farming is the main purpose of the campaigning and lobbying work that we do.

We regularly meet government ministers and senior officials to advance the case for organic farming and submit numerous consultation documents to government and other agencies.

Find out more about the issues:

• Food for Life
  Led by the Soil Association, The Food for Life Partnership brings together the Focus on Food Campaign, Garden Organic and the Health Education Trust, all with unique experience of successful practical work in schools, revolutionising school meals and giving children the chance to grow and cook food, and visit organic farms.

• GM
  The Soil Association believes that the risk of using genetic engineering in agriculture is too great and genetic modification has no place in the production of safe and healthy food.

• One Planet Agriculture
  Many analysts predict that peak oil will be reached before 2010. The Soil Association is anticipating and preparing for the changes that will result for the benefit of our farmers and growers, food networks and society.

• Animal welfare
  Intensive methods of production have led to spectacular increases in productivity. But there is a price to pay in terms of animal welfare. Many of us find the realities of industrial livestock production too horrific and do not make any connection between the lives of the vast majority of farm animals and the meat, eggs and dairy products we buy.

• Antibiotics
  Our campaign on the misuse of antibiotics in livestock production has led to a government ban on seven growth promoting hormones.

• Pesticides
  Pesticides have a devastating effect on the environment and there are real uncertainties about the effectiveness of official safety regulation of pesticides, and some risks to human health are unknown.

• Wildlife
  Farmland wildlife is under threat as never before. Yet many scientific studies show that going organic can reverse this decline in biodiversity.

Policy papers:

» Organic production more profitable as oil prices rise 09/03/2008 » New Soil Association report shows GM crops do not yield more - sometimes less 04/25/2008 » Public unaware that most milk, dairy products and pork from GM 11/16/2007 » Polytunnels for horticultural crops - Soil Association position 10/02/2007 » Organic Works - executive summary 04/25/2007 » Soil Association Livestock Feed Statement (Spring 2007) 03/28/2007 » Soil Association response to the Veterinary Medicines Directorate consultation (26th May 2006) on the proposals for the administration of homoeopathic veterinary medicinal products 08/11/2006 » Towards a UK Strategy for Biofuels - Soil Association response to Department for Transport consultation, July 2004 12/02/2005