Royal Patron Trustees HRH The Prince of Wales Matt Brown Neil Canetty-Clarke Chair of Trustees John Carson Dennis Overton OBE Oliver Dowding Rachel Martino Chief Executive Graeme Matravers Helen Browning OBE Dr Isabel Oliver Dennis Overton OBE Honorary Vice-Presidents Dr Gabriel Scally Jonathan Dimbleby Charles Weston Charlotte Mitchell Trudie Styler Our 2017 Soil Association Soil Association Scotland Spear House, 3rd Floor, Osborne House, 51 Victoria Street Osborne Terrace, Bristol, BS1 6AD Edinburgh, EH12 5HG T 0117 314 5000 T 0131 666 2474 F 0117 314 5001 F 0131 666 1684 Work www.soilassociation.org www.soilassociationscotland.org Registered charity no. 206862 Registered charity no. SC039168
Transforming the way we eat, farm and care for our natural world Introduction
It has been an extraordinary year and I’m and we will have our work cut out going proud of the way we have responded to forward to do them all justice. the twists and turns of an ever-changing political environment. We have sought The additional support from donors to use this ‘unfrozen moment’ as an who have pledged funds for three opportunity to set out a compelling years as part of our 70th anniversary vision and to position the UK as leader appeal has allowed us to increase our in food, farming and environmental policy capacity at this crucial time. We policy making. As a charity with organic are overwhelmingly grateful for their principles at our core, our campaigning confidence and generosity. This was and delivery work spans food culture the year too, when the philanthropy and health, biodiversity, animal welfare, of the Spear Charitable Trust enabled farming, forestry and much more. This us to purchase our new HQ in Victoria broad and deep perspective has allowed Street, which staff are very much looking us to play an important role in brokering forward to moving into next May. across interest groups. So, it is to all our funders that I dedicate Given how many organisations and this review; the many trusts and individuals are working hard on post- foundations, the businesses that choose Brexit farm and food policy, we have to work with us, our members, who concentrated our detailed policy efforts provide so much of our unrestricted on the issues where we have special income, and the individuals who expertise and experience, or which may support us at a higher level. The Soil otherwise be left neglected. There are Association is in a pivotal position, eight of these: organic farming, of course; working constructively with our many soils; public procurement; children’s food; friends and partners, to enable change animal welfare/antibiotic abuse; zero right now, to not just ensure that organic carbon farming; farmer led innovation food and farming has a vibrant future, and hospitals as beacons of good food. but to transform the way we eat, farm and As you will see in this review, we have care for nature. This is the time to invest made progress in all these areas this year, in a better future, for this and future generations.
Helen Browning OBE, Chief Executive
1 2 What we do and why it matters
We are the UK’s leading food and farming charity and ethical certification body.
The Soil Association was formed in Food For Life – we work to make good 1946 to transform the world into a food the easy choice for everyone place where we can all farm, eat and whoever and wherever they are live healthily in balance with the environment. Facing the Future – we support farmers and growers to research and tackle The world’s resources are being the most serious food and farming put under increasing pressure by challenges overconsumption and poor farming systems. This is why we work with Enabling Change – we engage with farmers, growers and researchers to thousands of businesses, from organic find pioneering and practical solutions farmers and processors, to caterers and to today’s farming challenges. We’re foresters, to bring our principles to life also making good food the easy choice for everyone, from children in schools, We operate as a charity and as a to older people in care homes. And not-for-profit business through Soil we’re inspiring millions of people to Association Certification. Together, take their own step towards a healthier, along with our supporters, we happier future. champion a world where people, farm animals and nature can thrive.
3 4 What we’ve achieved Making waves at a glance
Thank you for the support you’ve shown us this year. Here’s a look at what you’ve helped us accomplish from April 2016 to April 2017.
In 2016, we changed UK policy by giving We launched the Food for Life Better Out to Lunch’s army of secret diners Campaign for Clarity received key evidence to the first ever Select Care project which uses good food to descended upon the UK’s most popular extensive coverage by leading media Committee inquiry into soil health which improve health and reduce the isolation attractions throughout 2016, uncovering outlets such as Huffington Post, The sparked parliament’s firstWestminster faced by many older people. The Big a whole host of unhealthy pre-packed Guardian and Vogue. Our petition for Hall debate on soil health and Lottery Fund granted us £1.25 million lunchboxes. The story was picked up by brands to come clean about beauty has protection. In response, the Government to spend on creating links between the BBC Breakfast and all major broadsheets, gained thousands of signatures and is announced its intention to halve the generations by involving our Food for reaching 39 million people. After still growing. We’re looking to build subsidies paid on soil-damaging maize Life schools in communal activities like receiving the lowest score, the Natural on this momentum to make a big grown as biofuel. This success has cooking, growing and shared meals. History Museum decided to completely difference to the way beauty products redoubled our resolve to work towards a redevelop their restaurant and menu. are marketed to the public. complete end to the subsidies. As of this spring, the AssureWel project has meant that over 11,000 dairy farms , sought to Organic Market Report caught the We have responded to the challenges and over 200,000 cows are benefiting Organic September encourage buyers to look for the attention of the press when it revealed presented by Brexit, standing up for the from assessment against welfare Soil Association logo. The campaign that sales of organic products had issues that matter deeply to our members outcome measures. The project won the was picked up by leading national increased by a massive 7.1%, reaching the and licensees. We’ve put forward TP Organic Innovation Award for its work newspapers and reached 32 million highest levels since the 2008 recession. practical, positive solutions for the UK’s in “improving farm animal welfare”. people. Social media engagement The report was picked up by major future farming and food policy. Our work reached a further 28 million people. This publications, such as The Daily Mail, has ranged from undertaking field-based Sustainable Food Cities now has 50 lead to a 7% increase in sales of organic Country Life and Horticulture Week, research with the Innovative Farmers members. The movement is looking to products during September – a fantastic reaching 7 million people. network, to ensuring that organic farmers create cities where every nursery, school boost for our organic licensees. receive fair payments through the EU’s and college, every hospital and care Rural Development Programme (RDP). setting, every restaurant and workplace canteen serve healthy and sustainable meals.
5 6 Our future Support for Soil organic farming Antibiotics Healthy soils are essential. We will be encouraging Hoping to build on Over the next year, the Soil greater governmental support momentum from 2016, We’re looking forward Association will be running to increase the number of The alliance to save our a series of GREATsoil farmers converting to building on the many antibiotics is campaigning workshops and field labs, to organic. for a dramatic reduction successes from 2016. offering practical advice on in the use of ‘critically soil enrichment Here are some of our important’ antibiotics. plans for 2017: and crop rotation.
Labelling With Compassion in World Farming and the RSPCA, we are launching the Labelling Matters Campaign to Brexit encourage mandatory method of production There’s no doubt Britain’s labelling for the meat and withdrawal from the EU poses dairy industries. major risks to the future of food and farming. We’ve published a major report naming game-changing proposals that we believe should be included in Britain’s future Children’s food agricultural policy. In the coming We will relaunch our year, we’ll continue to contribute flagship Food for Life evidence to parliamentary Schools and Early Years inquiries and to campaign for the Award programmes, government to put food, farming making them more and the environment at the heart accessible for schools, of it’s agenda. nurseries and children’s centres.
Funding farmer innovation Forestry We will continue to call on We’re developing a new Zero carbon farming the Government to commit Catering training programme From 2050 the UK needs to cut to a dedicated agricultural for forest managers, This September we will greenhouse gas emissions to innovation fund to be spent policymakers and auditors, relaunch our Catering Mark zero. Over the next year we’ll on farmer-led research, as the to engage more foresters as Food for Life Served Here. continue to lobby Westminster best agricultural ideas come across the world. The relaunch will help build to give us commitments to from farmers. awareness of an award that reducing agriculture’s recognises caterers for the carbon footprint. local, fresh and nutritious food that they serve.
7 8 FOOD FOR LIFE
Prevention pays and preventing poor diets is the single most important investment we could make for our country’s health. Good food – healthy, sustainable, eaten together not alone – holds the key to healthier people, a healthier economy and a healthier environment.
Our 2017 highlights
Over 1.7 million meals are served to Food to Life Served Here standards everyday. This means that now, more than ever, people have access to nutritious, fresh and sustainable food.
When the Government outlined plans to stop Universal Infant Free School Meals, we sprang into action with the Jamie Oliver Food Food is a measure of how Foundation and Sustain. The proposal was dropped from the Queen’s well or how badly we are speech. Our quick action prevented kitchen closures, job losses, and junk- doing as a society, and it should filled packed lunches. be measured by how well the poor are doing, not the rich. The Food for Life School Award is an endorsement for schools that support Geoff Tansey, Chair of the pupils to eat well and enhance their learning with cooking, food growing and farm links. This year we reported a 20% overall increase in the number Fabian Commission on Food of schools receiving the Award. and Poverty and Curator of the Food Systems Academy
9 10 Food for Life Schools: Our hospitals: making good food the norm challenging the status quo
Food for Life helps pupils learn about cooking, growing and where their meals come from. This not only inspires young people to eat Good food is the cornerstone of good And it’s not just green spaces that have health, and when you’re unwell, it’s even been transformed: the hospital’s food has differently, it also helps to build local food economies, benefitting more vital for a good recovery. Food also had a makeover, with an outstanding communities and farmers. for Life is helping hospitals to lead by salad bar and more nutritious snacks now example by improving the wellbeing and on the menu. The swapping of existing Greenfields Community School in This positive partnership lives on beyond welfare of staff, patients and visitors. snacks for healthy treats has been the Nottingham works closely with Food the school gates, inspiring children and biggest success – with busy staff now for Life to use food to create positive parents to repeat good food successes Warwick Hospital has seen some big able to choose nutritious quick fixes. change in the wider community. To at home. improvements since the introduction of reach out across the neighbourhood, Food for Life. After attending one of our With help from Food for Life, South Greenfields has invited parents to attend “Give it a Grow” workshops in March, Warwickshire NHS trust has helped joint cookery classes with their children. Food for Life can help they transformed an area of disused put good food and staff wellbeing at As well as using food to bring children children’s understanding of land into a beautiful herb garden which the heart of hospital life. and their parents together, the classes food, but also an understanding provides an oasis of calm to staff and are responsible for providing practical patients. The hospital’s Secret Garden, of the world around them. It helps advice on anything from shop budgeting, free for anyone to use, inspired staff to For full references and them to think about the fact that to how to pack a nutritious school lunch. grow their own food, which also gave evaluation reports, visit: They even produced a recipe book, we only have one planet and we them space to relax and de-stress from www.foodforlife.org.uk/impact which included recipes from staff, need to cherish that. their hectic working day. parents and pupils. Jeanette Orrey
11 12 Sustainable Food Cities: Out to Lunch: changing the focus transforming attractions
A week after the Government announced The Sustainable Food Cities programme its much-weakened plan to tackle The Out to Lunch survey is which is led by the Soil Association, childhood obesity, Out to Lunch released a great asset in helping us Sustain and Food Matters, helps 50 cities findings on the lack of healthy food being identify our successes and areas take a joined-up approach to tackling offered to children at the UK’s top visitor for improvement as we work to some of today’s most urgent food-related attractions. Secret diner families went provide a quality experience for challenges. Food pioneers across these undercover in 20 locations including cities are paving the way for a whole Stonehenge, Alton Towers and London customers at the Millennium new way of thinking about food. Each Zoo (where one lunchbox included up Gallery Café. Sustainable Food City is different, with to 36g of sugar – 189% of a child’s Kim Streets, the focus being very much on the most daily allowance!). Chief Executive of the pressing regional challenges and needs. Millennium Gallery, Sheffield Through our local focus, we are seeing Out to Lunch gave attractions that real change taking place as communities topped the league table, like the Eden work in partnership with food producers, Project, the opportunity to celebrate the processors and retailers. locally sourced, seasonal and organic ingredients used in their food, whilst One of the ways the Sustainable Food the National History Museum chose Cities programme is driving long-lasting to close their restaurant to redevelop change is by addressing the needless their menu. Their caterer, Benugo, disposal of good food. In response, ‘The has since launched a new children’s People’s Fridge’ in Lambeth was launched menu featuring more veg and healthier in 2016. The initiative allows traders, puddings. food businesses and the public to share their excess food with those in need. Out to Lunch has proven how, by Through this initiative, and others like it, working directly with businesses, we we are not only dealing with the growing can quickly change the way millions of phenomenon of food waste but we’re families experience better food. stopping some of the most vulnerable people in our communities from www.foodforlife.org.uk going hungry.
The achievements don’t end Read more about the campaign: here - to find out more visit: www.soilassociation.org/OTL www.sustainablefoodcities.org
13 14 FACING THE FUTURE
We are living through turbulent times. With Brexit dominating the headlines and our climate seemingly low on the list for world leaders, it is easy to feel fearful for the future of life on our planet.
That’s why our mission to safeguard food and farming for the next generation is more important than ever. We’re working with farmers, growers, researchers and campaigners. Together, we’re finding innovative solutions to some of the most pressing challenges facing farming today.
Our 2017 highlights
Re-launched in 2014, the Government’s Countryside Stewardship scheme uses financial incentives to encourage farmers to take care of the Many of the farmers here environment. This has helped contribute to a 22% increase in the number of have different methods farmers converting to organic. for making their farms viable. Whether organic or Future Growers is in demand, with strong competition for a chance to conventional, this is about learn and work in organic horticulture. We now have 107 graduates, with us learning from each other over half still farming or growing. and sharing ideas. Innovative Farmers has brought non-organic and organic farmers together John Pawsey, to develop ways to improve their crops, animal, and soils. Shimpling Park Farms
15 16 Innovative Farmers – Over the Obsalim® trial farming for the future period we logged an extra 3,000 litres of milk, at the same time as reducing our Of the £450 million of UK taxpayer’s feed costs. The cows looked money currently spent on agricultural healthier too. It’s hard to put a research every year, it’s estimated that price on that!” less than one per cent goes towards projects led by farmers. But we know that Nick Freeth, Manor Farm many of the best ideas in farming come from farmers themselves.
The Innovative Farmers network is part of the Duchy Future Farming programme. This year 18 groups of farmers led field labs to find practical, innovative solutions to real-life farming challenges.
Some non-organic farmers work to improve their soil by using reduced tillage techniques, which rely on planting cover crops they later kill with a herbicide before the main crop gets sown. With pressure mounting to ban glyphosate, they need a different What’s going on approach and have found common in the Field Labs? cause with organic farmers interested in reduced tillage. A group in East Dairy farmers in Wiltshire have Sourcing organic protein for animal Anglia is looking into alternatives that explored how to improve their herds’ food is getting harder and more will benefit both the soil and health and reduce feed costs at expensive. Could lupins be an answer? their profits. the same time. They’ve been using They’re high in protein, they like our Obsalim®, a French technique that climate and they’re great for bees. interprets symptoms in cows. Trials Farmers across the South West are Last year, tests run by Wiltshire farmers show that when they’re housed, In line with organic growing a mix of white and blue field showed that while there were good cows often feed constantly, which is levels of the natural fertiliser phosphate bad news for their digestion and for principles, it’s important lupins. Once they’re harvested, the group will measure their yield and in their soils, it wasn’t in a form that the farm’s finances. The group has that we use as much feed as suitability for animal feed. their crops could easily absorb. This encouraged the cows to lie down and possible from the UK. This year the farmers want to redress this ruminate (or ‘chew the cud’) after means home grown protein balance. By combining rock phosphate feeding so their digestive systems crops [like lupins] will become Creeping thistles are a big problem with farmyard manure and composting become more efficient, making the increasingly important for for low-input and organic farmers. them together, they hope to increase animals healthier. the bacterial content of the soil. This the future of the organic In Norfolk, farmers compared the effectiveness of 11 different techniques. should make the phosphate more livestock sector. Their discovery? Ploughing eight to accessible to the plants – which means You can find out more at Nigel Mapstone, ten inches deep dealt the weed the a welcome boost for both soil health www.innovativefarmers.org Mole Valley Farmers biggest blow. and crop yields.
17 18 Save our Soils Save our Antibiotics
Alliance to Save our Antibiotics The Government has Alliance investigations and activities Our next step is to heeded our advice on the have rarely been out of the news. The ensure that we move destructive impact of maize coalition, of which we are a founding towards farming systems member, along with Sustain and and acted to reduce the subsidy which prioritise the health Compassion in World Farming, has built of livestock, humans and our for biogas maize by 50%. This huge support within the health, medical ecosystem. is a big victory for our soils and scientific communities, with over 50 campaign. leading experts publicly endorsing Cóilín Nunan, Scientific Peter Melchett, their work. Adviser at Alliance to Save Our Soil Association Antibiotics Policy Director After sustained pressure from the Alliance, the first sector in the UK to meet a key proposal was the British Poultry Council. In late November, it announced produced from maize. Last December we that during 2016 it stopped prophylactic secured a victory, when the Government (preventative) use of antibiotics, where announced that it will reduce payments. groups of animals are mass medicated This is a major step forward but we’ll to prevent disease. Stopping group continue to push for maize subsidies to treatments is a huge step forwards for be scrapped completely. improving animal welfare and protecting human health. We also took part in an event at Lancaster We’re asking the government to House with HRH The Prince of Wales. The British Poultry Council also commit to protecting and restoring soil This brought together world experts to announced that its producers stopped health as part of a new vision for post- discuss the crucial connection between using fluoroquinolone antibiotics. Brexit agriculture. healthy soils and climate change. Fluoroquinolones are critically important, being one of the only types of antibiotics The amount of maize grown in the UK Soils will be at the heart of our Brexit- that can be used to treat serious human has grown rapidly over the years, and related advocacy in 2017. campylobacter infections. There is it is increasingly being cultivated as an mounting evidence that they lead to energy crop to produce gas. When badly antibiotic resistance in humans. The The Alliance was awarded second managed, maize crops cause damage news signified a key victory for the To read more visit: prize in the European Commission’s to soils, leading to water pollution and Alliance who, from the beginning of the www.soilassociation.org/ EU Health Award. The award is for floods. We have been campaigning for year, had stepped up its campaign to ban our-campaigns European NGOs making a significant an end to public subsidies for energy fluoroquinolones in poultry. effort to tackle antimicrobial resistance.
19 20 AssureWel: championing Land Trust: protecting animal welfare our environment
Thanks to the generosity of retiring farmers and landowners, the Land Trust is protecting land for organic farming and growing. By safeguarding this land, the Land Trust aims to provide opportunities for people of all backgrounds to enter farming.
Land Trust tenant Sam Kennen is the second generation of his family to farm at Chitcombe. He now farms with his parents, Edwin and Jenny, and his wife, Ali. This year the Land Trust were delighted to reunite Sam with Easterdown Farm in Devon. Chitcombe and Easterdown were split in the 1950s and bringing them back together benefits everyone. The extra land at Easterdown provides more grazing for Chitcombe’s Since 2010, our AssureWel initiative has The team is now working with farm livestock and wood from the hedgerows been dedicated to improving the lives of assurance schemes like Red Tractor to fuels the biomass boiler that keeps the farm animals. help them make the most of the new camping barns and farmhouse warm. welfare assessment tools. As a result Most importantly, uniting the two Together with the University of Bristol of AssureWel’s work, millions of farm farms gives Sam and Ali a more and the RSPCA, we are developing animals will live happier, healthier lives. secure future. practical and effective new tools to assess and improve animal welfare. These Creating a legacy like this – with the next tools centre on rigorous checklists, from The Assurewel project generation given the chance to work on Being in a long term inspecting the skin condition of pigs, to has been instrumental in organic land - is what the Land Trust is tenancy gives us more feather loss in hens and the cleanliness of all about. supporting the introduction of security than most. We love what sheep fleeces. Welfare Outcome assessments we do and where we live, and we The AssureWel team was delighted to in the Red Tractor Dairy Farm would love one of our children mark the end of the project in 2016 with Assurance Scheme.’ to carry on here after us. Jess Sloss, To read more visit: an innovation award from TP Organics www.soilassociation.org/ Sam Kennen, in Brussels. This was a great opportunity Technical Manager at the-land-trust Chitcombe Farm to share their findings more widely. Red Tractor
21 22 If we don’t follow the ENABLING central organic principle of giving back what we take, then we will perish. CHANGE Seb Pole, Pukka
Our not-for-profit trading subsidiary Soil Association Certification helps over 6000 businesses work in ways that improve our food, farming and land use systems which are good for people and the planet. These businesses farm and produce food in ways better for the environment. Their clothing lines are made from organic cotton. They keep their beauty products toxin-free. They protect forests. They are making a real difference – and we feel privileged to work alongside them.
Our 2017 highlights
Through our forestry certification, we’re reassuring consumers that their paper, furniture and floorboards were produced without damaging people or the environment. We now help protect over 15 million hectares across the world, from Vietnam and Turkey, to China and the UK.
We launched the Best of Organic Market Awards (BOOMS), the only organic awards which celebrate retailers, producers, farmers, caterers and brands who are working hard to change and improve our food system.
Shoppers are buying more organic produce as they see organic as the healthy choice. Our 2017 Organic Market Report revealed a seven per cent increase in sales of organic food and drink during 2016. Read more at: www.soilassociation.org/certification
23 24 Healthy Food for All Organic Served Here
This award encourages everyone who prepares and sells food to think about that quality. So let’s all grow, cook, eat and learn together, and be part of Our Food for Life Served Here Supplier a future of better food for all. Scheme brings together people who Neil Forbes, Café St Honore produce good food and people who want to serve good food.
We match our food suppliers with schools, care homes, hospitals and With 40% of meals now eaten out of the restaurants that hold the Food for Life home, many diners are looking for the Served Here award. It’s a win-win: same high-quality ingredients in cafes it makes sourcing healthy food easy and restaurants that they have in their for caterers and it boosts business for own kitchen cupboards. suppliers. It has helped increase the amount of organic food being served Last year we launched Organic Served in schools, hospitals and workplaces to Here in Scotland and it proved so a spend of £9 million, doubling over successful that we’re now rolling it out two years. across the UK. It’s a simple and easy way to help diners identify cafes and The scheme now has 170 suppliers and restaurants that are committed to organic 124 are organic, like The Organic Pantry food. The more organic ingredients the in North Yorkshire. This family-run farm outlet buys, the more Organic Served believed that healthy food shouldn’t Here stars they are awarded. If there’s be exclusive. They saw membership of an Organic Served Here sticker in the the scheme as a wise business move Our membership of the Food window, diners know they’ll be ordering and they were right: their turnover has for Life Served Here Supplier food produced with high animal welfare increased by 25% since they joined up Scheme has been a big boost for standards and minimal impact on the two years ago. They now supply over 500 environment. us. We’ve diversified to meet the schools and nurseries with the very best seasonal and organic fruit and veg, with different needs of our customers Currently there are 19 Organic Served future hopes to branch into supplying and this diversification has led to Here venues in Scotland and England. NHS trusts. new business beyond the Food for They include: Radio Alice, and organic Life scheme. pizzeria in Hoxton, London; Domi Domingo, a vegan-friendly nursery in Read more here: Freddie Watson, Leeds; and Edinburgh’s Cafe St Honoré, www.soilassociation.org/ The Organic Pantry which has a seasonal menu that certification/catering/ changes daily.
25 26 Soil Association Certification Beauty and Wellbeing Forestry: building a sustainable future
In Honduras, we’ve been working with Forests of the World and FSC Honduras to introduce the principles of sustainable forestry to isolated communities. By learning about forestry standards, local businesses are beginning to make a profit from producing sustainable timber, without damaging the delicate eco- systems existing within Honduras’ great forests. With our support, local people have been able to develop connections between the production of local timber and higher value global markets.
By supporting these smaller businesses, Organic isn’t just about what we put in we are able to strengthen and protect the our bodies, but what we put on them too. local economy in a way that will protect From skincare to supplements, more and it for future generations. more people are choosing organic when they shop. With fantastic growth over the last year we are delighted to have 54 new I was shocked to find businesses sign up as licensees, bringing ingredients which could Soil Association Certification started the total to 268: that’s 268 more beauty contain human carcinogens to offer forestry certification back in businesses committed to COSMOS in products with labels which 1996 and now works with almost 2,500 organic and natural standards, creating could misleadingly suggest Soil Association Certification businesses across 54 countries, covering products that are free from: GM; animal that they might be organic. everything from builder’s merchants Forestry certify and inspect testing; toxic chemicals; and synthetic Genuine organic products are and furniture makers, to sawmills and many schemes worldwide, dyes, colours and fragrances. publishers. We now certify over 15m including the globally recognised independently certified and I hectares of forest from small woodlands and trusted Forest Stewardship Our Campaign for Clarity revealed brands would encourage consumers to Council® (FSC®) and Programme to complex group schemes. and beauty products on the market which choose those. for the Endorsement of Forest make potentially misleading organic Certification (PEFC™). Vyvyan Howard, claims on the label. The campaign helped Emeritus Professor at the Centre FSC® A000525 shake up the cosmetics industry and for Molecular Bioscience at Learn more about our forestry PEFC/16-44-917 revealed the public’s true feelings towards Ulster University. work at: beauty product labelling, making some www.soilassociation.org/forestry big brands sit up and take notice.
27 28 BOOM Winner: Original Beans Last May, Original Beans beat strong is helping remove carbon dioxide from competition to win best confectionary the atmosphere rather than adding it. product at the Best of Organic Market So alongside creating a chocolate that is Awards (BOOMs). The BOOM awards are regarded as one of the best in the world, a chance for organic producers, retailers, Original Beans has also created a business restaurants and bloggers to be recognised that cares for the environment and for the outstanding work they do in encourages smallholder farmers to build producing and promoting organic food sustainable futures. to everyone. Original Beans sees business as a Philipp Kauffmann founded Original way to bring real change. They encourage Beans in 2008 on a passion for making customers to donate to help set up cacao the finest chocolate and protecting cooperatives and farmer-led conservation the earth’s rarest and most biologically projects. diverse rainforests. Original Beans is just one example of The business works to restore everything the creative and ethical organic they use. They are part of the One Tree businesses that are recognised by the programme which, by planting over one BOOM awards. million trees, means that their chocolate
I feel deeply aligned and associated to the organic movement - its worldview, values and markets. If anything, I want to help modernise the organic movement. Philipp Kauffmann, CEO of Original Beans
29 30 We are preparing our future OUR generation with skills for life and work, and a healthy relationship with food. Lyndsay Macnair, Head teacher, WORK IN Doune Primary School SCOTLAND
Our team in Scotland works with farmers, food businesses, caterers, teachers and policy-makers to change the way Scotland eats, farms and cares for the natural world.
Our 2017 highlights
We hosted the ‘Scotland’s Food: Farming for the Future’ event which brought together MSPs and over 80 other attendees to hear why sustainable food must be a key part of the Scottish Government’s Good Food National Bill and how we can go about creating a greener, healthier and fairer Scotland.
We ran our new Food for Life Kitchen Coach training programme with East Renfrewshire Council, to help school cooks develop confidence and skills to work with school pupils. Catering staff became educators, working with students to build their confidence to cook and choose fresh and healthy food.
31 32 Bringing school staff Farming with Nature together to Grow, Cook, Eat
Teachers are realising that we are more than just cooks. School catering staff are realising that they have transferable skills; they feel a lot more important and that they are part of the education team. Tracey Walker, Menu Development Manager, Stirling Council
The Farming with Nature programme is Innovation Fund. Over the next about win-wins for farmers and nature three years, we aim to get over 700 – helping farmers to boost production more farmers working with nature whilst giving wildlife a helping hand. to benefit both their business and the environment. What would happen if teachers and At this seminar pizza was the order of the One of the trials we’re currently catering staff joined forces to teach day for Stirling’s primary schools with running is on a farm in Aberdeenshire pupils not only how to cook but also participants investigating how the raw that looks at how to attract bees and other consider where their food comes from? ingredients had been produced. Catering pollinators and the role they can play Developing and promoting Food for Life Scotland’s Cook, Grow, Eat staff showed off their pizza making skills in increasing cereal yields. Farmers learn sustainable farming practices seminars are run in partnership with a and revealed their secret ingredient for a about working with nature, from skills which work in harmony with range of food professionals. They give delicious tomato sauce: roast vegetables. events led by experts to demo farms nature, as this initiative does, staff in schools the chance to come where they see the real-time results of is so important for delivering together to practise practical food skills Seminars like this benefit everyone: they production experiments. Conferences environmental benefits like clean and explore the journey from ‘soil, to sea, raise teachers’ confidence in the kitchen, bring farmers, crofters, industry air and water, as well as rich to plate’. Staff then discuss how they help connect catering professionals bodies and experts together to share they can take all the lessons they’ve with their education colleagues, and they best practice. habitat for wildlife and of course learned back to the classroom to share make good food a tasty, fascinating and good, healthy food for us to eat. with the children. fun aspect of school life. The programme is funded by the Scottish Stuart Housden, government’s Knowledge Transfer and Director of RSPB Scotland
33 34 Individuals and Soil Circle members
Miss A Bamford Mr J Hastings-Bass Mr T Finney THANK Mr A and Mrs H Armstrong Mr J Sundt Mr W and Mrs M Dodwell Mr A Binks and Mrs L Wood Mrs J Davis Mr W and Mrs T Rossiter Mr A Cooper Mrs J Waney Mr X and Mrs K Ramirez Mr A Francis The Hon Mrs J Hogg Mr A Cruickshank Miss K Lacroix Legacies Mr A Sawday Mr L Wallace Mrs A Crossland Lady Iliffe Anthony Holt YOU Mr B and Mrs T Arbib Ms Liz Earle MBE Anne Ruthven Elliott Lightwood Mrs C Wentworth Mr M Wynne-Parker Brian Tucker This year we are seeing the pace of change Mr D and Mrs S Lovett Ms M de Botton Cynthia Clarkson Webb Mrs D Booth Mr N Rustin Dorothy Mary Beaumont picking up dramatically. Without your generosity, Dennis Overton Mrs O Kay Miss E M Saunders we wouldn’t be able to have the impact we are Mr E Egelie Orna NiChionna Finlay John Southern Erica Cobb Mr P and Mrs B Gallagher Gertrude Bunzl currently having. So, thank you for supporting Felix Appelbe Mr P Neville Gladys Lilian Chadwick our work and the positive difference it makes in Dr G Johnson Mr P Uhd Jepsen and Dr R James Keith Winward Mr G Schwarzenbach Mason Joyce Mary McDougald the lives of so many! Mrs G Barker The Duke and Duchess of Margaret Ellen Bailey Hugh and Karen Scott-Barrett Richmond Mary Grimoldby Mr I Anderson and Ms G Mayall Roger Ross and Lots Road Olive Mellor Mrs I Jeeninga Auctions Miss P Chanin Miss J Wang Ms S Lines Sylvia Marshall Mr J and Mrs C Scheckter Mr T and Mrs D Sanderson Ursula Margaret Gayler Mr J and Mrs J Osborne Mr T and Mrs L Brown Werner Eichler
Businesses and organisations
Abel & Cole Nutshell Construction Anglia Farmers Ocado Arla OMSCO In particular we would like to acknowledge the following individuals, companies Bamford OTB and organisations who have generously supported the Soil Association with major BBSRC Planet Organic donations and grants between April 2016 and April 2017. Buccleuch Estates Produce World Group Diversified Communications Pukka Herbs Educo Rachel’s Organic G’s Fresh - for Produce Forum 2016 Robin Appel Trusts and foundations Good Energy Skin & Tonic Harrods The Phone Co-op All Saints Educational Trust Schiehallion Giving Group Heath & Heather Therapi Honey Skincare Bernard Richard Body Charitable Trust Schroder Charity Trust Herbfarmacy Triodos Brian Wilson Charitable Trust Tanner Trust Honest Tea Viridian Buffini Chao Foundation The 1970 Trust Lloyds Banking Group VOYA Cecil Pilkington Charitable Trust The 29th May 1961 Charitable Trust Made for Life Organics Waitrose Esmée Fairbairn Foundation The Craignish Trust Natracare Whole Foods Market Henry C Hoare Charitable Trust The Golden Bottle Trust Neals Yard Remedies Yeo Valley J & M Britton Charitable Trust The Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust Nourish London John James Bristol Foundation The Michael Marsh Charitable Trust John Swire 1989 Charitable Trust The Orr Mackintosh Foundation Miss K.M. Harbinson’s Charitable Trust The Paget Trust Mitchell Trust The Persula Foundation Thank you to all the businesses who have donated products to support our events. B and J Lloyd Family Charitable Trust The Prince of Wales’s Charitable Foundation Pilkington General Charity Fund The Prince’s Countryside Fund Government, statutory, lottery and public bodies Ruth Smart Foundation The Walker Trust Savitri Waney Charitable Trust Tinsley Foundation Thank you to all government statutory and lottery bodies who have funded our work
35 36 Statement of Financial Activities for the Unrestricted Restricted Total Total 2016/17 CHARITY year ended 31 March 2017 Funds Funds 2016/17 2015/16 FINANCES £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000
Incoming resources Donations 623 1,010 1,633 406 Legacies 61 0 61 38 Membership subscriptions 838 0 838 827 Grants 0 4,967 4,967 2,060 Overall the Charity had a successful year Our fixed assets have increased by some Contract income 1,297 0 1,297 1,881 financially; delivering an unrestricted £2.9m compared to the previous year Income from trading subsidiaries 549 0 549 506 surplus of £74k from charitable activities, representing the purchase of a freehold Other 207 0 207 62 Total incoming resources 3,575 5,977 9,552 5,780 securing a £1m donation that allowed office building and the delivery of new IT
the Charity to achieve its long-term systems such as our website. The Charity Resources expended aim of purchasing a property for use as has part-funded the building acquisition Facing the Future 674 1,066 1,740 1,809 its headquarters and receiving further through fixed rate borrowing, with this Food for Life 1,711 1,152 2,863 3,872 significant long-term restricted grant mortgage showing as £1.48m long-term Communications and campaigns 547 0 547 593 funding for our charitable programmes. liability. Our business plan is that our new Raising funds 581 0 581 576 headquarters will cost no more to occupy Total resources expended 3,513 2,218 5,731 6,850 Charitable giving from supporters than our existing leased premises. increased by 20% compared to the Net incoming resources - before transfers 62 3,759 3,821 (1,070) previous year. Revenues from contract At the end of the year our £2.07m Transfer between funds 1,000 (1,000) income, principally associated with of unrestricted reserves represented Net incoming resources - before other 1,062 2,759 3,821 (1,070) our Food for Life activities, although investment in fixed assets plus net gains and losses substantial at some £1.3m were down current assets less long-term liabilities. Gains/(losses) on investments 12 0 12 (970) 31% on the previous year due to a large Of this figure, the Charity considers its Net incoming resources for the year 1,074 2,759 3,833 (2,040) Government contract coming to an free unrestricted reserves to be £328k Total funds brought forward 1,001 1,071 2,072 4,112 end. There were notable successes in which is below our current targeted securing new long-term restricted grants minimum reserves level of £484k. The Total funds carried forward 2,075 3,830 5,905 2,072 for our work in Food for Life (Big Lottery Board of Trustees has set targets designed Fund and Esmée Fairbairn Foundation) to achieve this minimum level within Balance Sheet as at 31 March 2017 Total Total as well as continuing to build the grant 2017/18. In terms of restricted funds, 2016/17 2015/16 funded programme within Facing the under Charity accounting rules the £’000 £’000 Future (Prince of Wales’s Charitable £3.8m level of restricted reserves at the Assets and liabilities Foundation). Contributions from our end of the year contain some £2.4m of Fixed assets 2,988 126 trading subsidiaries, most notably Soil multi-year grant income recognised in Current assets 6,320 6,404 Association Certification, increased by advance of receipt, the cash receipt will Current liabilities (1,924) (4,458) 8% compared to the previous year on occur in future years on incurring the Long term liabilities (1,479) 0 Net assets 5,905 2,072 the back of a growing market for costs of the associated activities. organic produce and forestry Funds and reserves certification services. Martin Dawson Unrestricted funds 2,075 1,001 Chief Operating Officer Restricted funds 3,830 1,071 25 July 2017 Total funds 5,905 2,072
This is a summary of the Charity’s accounts taken from the 2016/17 audited statutory accounts of The Soil Association Limited. Copies of the full accounts are available on request from the Soil Association or can be accessed from our website or that of The Charity Commission. 37 38