The Soil Association standard’s board has announced it will consult on a range of options to tackle the environmental impact of airfreighting organic food.
The board will publish a paper outlining options for addressing the issue, ranging from labelling produce and carbon offsetting to a total ban on airfreighting.
Following the paper’s release a formal recommendation will be given to the Soil Association’s (SA) elected council within 12 months, after which it “will introduce through its standards whatever measures are deemed appropriate regardless of any parallel actions taken by the British Government or the European Union,” a spokesman said.
Speaking at a conference 'One Planet Agriculture - preparing for a post-peak oil food and farming future', held today in Cardiff, SA director Patrick Holden said the move was prompted by a strong consumer demand to reduce food miles.
“Although there is very little airfreighting of organic produce, we believe there is an urgent and pressing need to make every contribution to curbing climate change that we can. This is a complex issue though: especially for producers in developing countries where it involves equity and ethical trading issues, and that’s why we shall actively engage a wide-range of stakeholders to ensure we get it right,” he said.
Holden claimed the conference, held from January 25-27, demonstrated the Soil Association’s core values extend beyond the matter of organic certification.
“The Soil Association, and the organic farming movement, must continue to lead the way on real, practical measures to tackle the impact of food production and distribution on climate change, and work towards a climate friendly food and farming future,” he added.
