 Throughout Great Britain, the Soil Association is advocating for dirt. Simply put, healthy soil is needed to grow healthy, organic food . Promoting the public benefits of an organic agricultural system can and should lead to a globally sustainable system, and that’s why the Soil Association is really into dirt.
“The real challenge of our organization is reconnecting the public with agriculture,” said Patrick Holden, director of the Soil Assocation. “Once they understand the issues involved, they often become lifelong consumers of organic products. But first they have to know. They have to have the knowledge.”
 Funds from Stonyfield Farm’s Profits for the Planet program have helped the Soil Association develop its program that tries to ensure that every school child in Great Britain has the opportunity to visit an organic farm before the age of 11. A network of some 65 farms participate in welcoming the students. Profits for the Planet funding helps cover some of the costs of producing maps to the farms, curriculum materials for the schools, and helping the farms welcome the public with such things as adequate parking and meeting space.
The Soil Association helped develop the Food for Life program, an effort to bring more healthful food into Britain’s public schools, where the average cost of a meal is 31 cents. That amount doesn’t allow for the purchase of high quality ingredients.
“We’re making it a national challenge, talking to our government, the prime minister, etc. and trying to set minimal standards for the schools, including that meals should be 75 percent fresh produce, 50 percent locally grown, and 30 percent organic,” Holden said. Some schools are already participating voluntarily, and Holden says he’s been amazed at the overwhelming support and interest from teachers and parents. “It’s causing a revolution of attitudes. We’ve really awakened something—and it’s not just to the benefit of the United Kingdom or of our organization, but to the benefit of the planet,” Holden said.
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