29 October 2007, 16:52 PM
  • The Soil Association has announced it will change its standards for the air-freighting of organic goods, making a point that this should only be acceptable if there are clear benefits for farmers in developing countries.

This has long been a thorny issue as consumers wonder whether the environmental impact of such practices really sits well with the organic ethos. In the future, however, air-freighted organic food will have to meet the Soil Association’s own Ethical Trade standards or those of the Fairtrade Foundation. These will also require the association’s licensees to develop plans for reducing any remaining dependence on this mean of transportation.

The Soil Association explains that less than one percent of organic imports come to the UK by air. However, 80% of these products are grown in low or lower-middle income countries. Being able to export fresh organic fruit and vegetables provides significant economic, social and local environmental benefits, often for farmers with otherwise very low carbon footprints.

Anna Bradley, chair of the Soil Association’s Standards Board, says, “It is neither sustainable nor responsible to encourage poorer farmers to be reliant on air freight, but we recognise that building alternative markets that offer the same social and economic benefits as organic exports will take time. Therefore, we will be doing all we can to encourage farmers in developing countries to create and build organic markets that do not depend on air freight.

“We also want the public to have clear and meaningful information about both the environmental and social impact of air-freighted organic food. That’s why The Soil Association is working with the Carbon Trust and the British Standards Institute to arrive at a reliable and comprehensive system of assessing the full carbon footprint of all food. The Standards Board will consider implementing carbon labelling within our standards for all organic goods - not just air freighted produce - when a good scheme is available. In the interim, we will be publishing information about air freight drawing on the material we have gathered during the consultation. We will also now consult on whether and if so what, additional and potentially interim means are available to provide consumers with information that will allow them to make informed decisions - from education to labelling.”

The details of the proposal will be open to further consultation during 2008 and will begin to take effect from January 2009.