Soil Association

Consumers are still supporting organic food, says IGD
Nearly one in five (19%) of all UK shoppers are remaining loyal to organic food and drink and they are maintaining their expenditure, according to new consumer research out today from the IGD grocery industry think-tank. A further 9% say they will buy more organic food when they have a bit more money to spend, says the IGD. A further 8% are focusing their organic spend on fewer products where they think it really makes a difference, and another 8% say they are not sure what organic stands for anymore.
Joanne Denney-Finch, chief executive at the IGD, said:
"There remains a strong core of dedicated organic shoppers - nearly one in five of the UK population - who are maintaining support, regardless of the economy. Even better news for the organic movement is that these supporters tend to be younger and more affluent - supporting our view that the organic market is experiencing a dip rather than a collapse. There are still challenges, however. Those that have drifted away have not performed a U-turn on ethics - they are finding value for their values in, for example, products that meet high animal welfare standards, local foods and Fairtrade. The organic movement has the opportunity to win back at least some of these shoppers and to increase sales among their existing customers. By communicating the full range of benefits in a clear and compelling manner, they will enable shoppers to weigh up the value for themselves."
Talking Retail (19 Aug)
Fresh Info (20 Aug)

Letters: Organic omissions
A reader letter in support of organic is printed today in The Scotsman. Donald Scott of Perthshire writes: "Your report on organic food (30 July) fails fully to address the topic. The emphasis is on nutrition, but there is no mention of pesticide residues, so were these covered in the report by Dr Dangour? If not why not? There is also no mention of the wider ecological benefits of organic agriculture, which range from reduction of river pollution due to excess fertilisers, to damage to insects and hence birds due to pesticides."
The Scotsman (20 Aug)

Farming Today
Website summary: A three million-pound pot of money has been announced to help areas which are struggling in the current recession. While half our local authorities are rural, only six of the 57 to win funding are in the countryside. The Commission for Rural Communities says the way of allocating the money is unfair and skewed towards urban cities, and argue that rural villages are being left out.
Also in the programme, Charlotte Smith hears about the council-owned farm which local residents are fighting to save.
BBC Radio 4, listen again (20 Aug)

"It is difficult to avoid the conclusion that the FSA has decided to give such loud backing to this report because it can bend the findings to suit its political, pro-GM, anti-organic agenda… As most of the British public understands, but the FSA fails to acknowledge, the benefits of organic food go far beyond this narrow point. The fact is that organic production is much better for personal health, food quality, the environment and the welfare of livestock."
Joanna Blythman, Daily Mail, 31 July 2009

"It is a popular myth that people who buy organic food only do so because they think it will make them healthier. Recent research in a number of European countries, including the UK, has found that its regular buyers have a much more sophisticated understanding of organic food and farming.
On health, people are mainly concerned to avoid eating sprays. Pesticides are designed to kill living plants and animals, so it makes good sense to avoid consuming them. Organic animals can't be treated routinely with antibiotics: concern about resistance to antibiotics is rising and in some EU countries, community acquired MRSA is an increasing problem."
Peter Melchett, Soil Association policy director commenting on the FSA Organic Review in the Independent, 30 July 2009.