Soil Association

A very hoppy New Year to all...

Whether it's a solstice or a new calendar year, this time is all about beginnings. We enter 2024 with so much at stake for biodiversity, nature, and our planet.🌍

But there is so much we can do for nature right away. Find out what you can do to make 2024 the year nature wins, and make a pledge for our planet as your new years resolution. Our small actions add up to make a real difference.

https://www.soilassociation.org/take-action/pledge-for-our-planet/

🤔❓Would you choose gene-edited food?

The Food Standards Agency, whose job is to protect public health and consumer confidence, want to hear your views on its proposals for regulation and the associated impact of gene-edited food/feed.

Please take a look at our guidance and how you can respond to the consultation https://www.soilassociation.org/blogs/2023/november/23/we-must-have-adequate-consultations-on-gene-editing/

We're taking a break for the holidays from today. Our offices reopen on 2th Jan 2024.

We won't be monitoring our social media channels over the holidays, but if you have any questions, please send us a message and we'll respond when we return.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! 🎄 ☃️

Who's growing your Christmas dinner?

The festive table is a prime opportunity to connect with, support, and celebrate the amazing farmers, growers, and landworkers who have made it all possible. 💚

Opting for Organic, local produce where you can means your dinner can also be a gift to nature, supporting all the benefits of farming along the way.

That means happier animals, space for nature, and healthy soil. What could be better? 🦔 🎁

Learn more about the benefits of Organic: https://soilassociation.co/3SKCaYw

😞🍲"Ultra-processed foods are robbing children of the experience of learning to eat" https://thetimes.co.uk/article/ultra-processed-foods-hijacking-childrens-tastebuds-jv7wf32g7

What do your children eat at school?

✊We've rallied a group of TV chefs and food writers to sign an open letter to Rishi Sunak warning that ultra-processed foods are “blindfolding” children to the diverse flavours and textures of whole foods, posing long-term risks to their health.

See the open letter and read more in our latest report here: http://soilassociation.co/3REapCB

Ultra-processed foods ‘hijacking children’s tastebuds’ Chefs and campaigners say youngsters are being ‘robbed of the experience’ of good meals by diets high in sugar, salt and additives

It's an age old question, and the annual Christmas conundrum. Is a fake tree better than the real deal?🎄

The answer is less straightforward than you might think. Our guide to eco-friendly Christmas trees explains why a carefully chosen, real, UK-grown tree is often the better choice for the environment. 👆

Find out more: https://soilassociation.co/3uWFEje

Have you posted your yet? 🪱👀

From the perspective of a worm, the solution is simple - we need to take care of our soils! Billions of species call it home, and it needs our protection.

The solution to climate change is right beneath our feet 👣

Soil Association marks World Soil Day with 'worm's eye' view of the world Organisation encouraging everyone to get down on the land in honour of the soil

Healthy soil produces almost all of our food! 🥕 🌱 🤎

Not only that - it's one of our greatest allies in the fight against climate change - combatting flooding and drought, and locking up carbon 🔒

This World Soil Day, tell your friends, raise awareness for healthy soil and show you care about the climate and nature 🌱

World Soil Day: Why is healthy soil so important? Each year on 5 December the world celebrates the amazing things that are going on under out feet.

Tomorrow is too late. This we're sending out an SOS. SAVE. OUR. SOIL. 🤎🪱👀

Soil is the heart and soul of our planet, and we couldn't live without it. Healthy soils let us grow healthy food, they capture carbon, and protect us from floods and drought. 🌱

Show some love for this World Soil Day, and share your Worms Eye View to let the world know that looking to the ground is just as important as looking up to trees, and out to water as we fight climate change!

The solution is under our feet🌱

🌍🥘In last night's Planet Earth III episode, Sir David spoke about diet's climate and nature impacts. He suggested moving away from meat and dairy towards a plant-based diet.

❓Is he correct? Does the subject require more nuance? Read more on our website about the complex relationship between diet, climate change and biodiversity. https://www.soilassociation.org/take-action/organic-living/why-organic/better-for-the-planet/does-climate-change-mean-i-need-to-stop-eating-meat/

🌍💚"The impact of humans is clear. This only makes watching more uncomfortable viewing. But perhaps that feeling is useful if it motivates us to act. And act we must".

🚜Our campaign advisor Cathy explores the impacts of the food system on nature and how changing the status quo would lead to a much more positive relationship with Image credit Earth 👉 https://soilassociation.co/3uD3Hnf

It's estimated that UK soils hold 10 billion tonnes of carbon.

Soil is the heart and soul of our planet. And we can't live without it. Healthy soils hold the key to:

🥕 Feeding the world
🏭Fighting climate change
💧Preventing floods and droughts

Find out what organic does to , and see what you can do at home to help: https://soilassociation.co/3mp90Rb

It's the first day of COP28 today. Whether or not turns out to be more of a 'cop-out', we know we haven't got much time to waste...⌛

We need a fair and just food system that puts nature at it's very heart. Where people are nourished with good food, farmers paid fairly, and soils protected from degradation.

Find out how your small changes add up to make a huge difference to the planet: https://soilassociation.co/3xl7ODP

Up to 10 billion organisms can call a gram of soil home - that's about a quarter of a teaspoon🥄 🤯

There's a whole world going on beneath our feet, and it's estimated that half of the Earth's species make their home within the soil🪱🌱

Soil is the heart and soul of our planet. It's incredible stuff that holds the key to combatting climate change💚

Learn more about what organic does to save soil, and find out what you can do at home to help via the link:

https://soilassociation.co/3ehVHwf

Still need to get your Christmas Cards sorted? 🎄

With a strong commitment to the environment, The Ethical Shop supports our charity every year and donates a percentage of Christmas card sales to our cause.

These nature-themed cards, printed on FSC certified paper, are a perfect way to spread holiday cheer sustainably; all cards and packaging are plastic-free, recyclable, and compostable.

Check out their Christmas gifts for adults and children too, including our favourites – the Hazy Sheep Handwarmers! Ewe-co friendly and baa-eautiful 🐑 🎁
👇
http://sa.ethicalshop.org/

Don't throw that veg peel away! 🥕 🥔

Turn it into tasty vegetable crisps - good for you, good for the planet 🌍

It's month, and Soil Association Food for Life has a whole range of recipes and events you can take part in.

Cooking and enjoying food brings us together- whether it’s eating your favourite meal with family and friends, or sharing your food stories,

Get your veg peel crisps recipe and more here 👇

Cook and Share Month Toolkit | Food for Life Get Togethers Resources, tips and ideas to make your Cook and Share Get Togethers activity a success!

🥩Meat; a political hot potato 🥔

The Guardian view on farming’s green transition: the politics aren’t looking good | Editorial Editorial: This month’s Cop28 climate summit will focus on greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture. Governments need to take note

🐝At the current rate of insect decline, what are the likely effects on our food system?

🙏Please consider donating to the Soil Association campaign to save our bees https://act.soilassociation.org/help-save-our-bees-today-0 https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/nov/10/food-soil-water-how-the-extinction-of-insects-would-transform-our-planet?ref=upstract.com

Food, soil, water: how the extinction of insects would transform our planet A new study doubles the number of species at risk of extinction to 2m, driven by the latest data on insects. Losing these tiny creatures would have huge implications for life on Earth

What does the 'right to food' mean to you and how can we achieve it? 🤔🍲✊

UN hunger expert: US must recognize ‘right to food’ to fix broken system Some states have implemented free school meals, and Maine has a constitutional amendment to guarantee the ‘unalienable right to food’

There's still time to register online for our annual Peter Melchett Memorial Lecture with keynote speaker Caroline Lucas MP.

'Re-imagining politics in an age of environmental breakdown' tonight from 7-8:30pm.

https://soilassociation.co/45VPOOa