To mark this year’s Organic Fortnight - September 2-17 - Waitrose aims to settle consumer concerns about the real value of organics with an online debate.
Headed up by the National Farmers Union (NFU) and The Soil Association, the online debate will be available to download from the Waitrose website from September 4.
Flying the flag for the organic movement is Patrick Holden, organic farmer and director of the Soil Association. In the podcast, he outlines the benefits of organic farming. He said: “The growth of the organic movement is an extraordinary expression of public empowerment. By buying organic food, people can make a direct contribution, on an individual level, to transform the future of our agriculture.”
Opposing Holden is NFU director of communications, Anthony Gibson, who advocates British conventional farming methods. He said: “Conventional farming is good, wholesome, highly-regulated British agriculture and horticulture with some of the highest standards in the world. British conventionally-produced food is safer than ever, purer than ever, with better eating qualities and better choice than ever before.”
Once listeners have heard both sides of the argument, they will be invited to register a vote, and the results will be published online at a later date.
