We’re delighted to see DEFRA has committed to support organic farming, grow domestic production, strengthen organic supply chains, and make organic food more accessible.

In its new Organic Action Plan for England (OAPE) – written in development with the English Organic Forum – it acknowledges the vital role organic systems play in improving soil health, cutting chemical and synthetic inputs, and supporting biodiversity.

The report has been welcomed by organic farmers and environmental groups for its ambition and strategy to connect food grown in England with nature recovery and public-sector procurement.

What does the OAPE deliver?

For farmers and growers: it aims to provide better access to information, advice, innovation, and peer support, making it easier to start or expand organic production. Currently, only 3.4% of England’s farmland is organic – so the OAPE’s target of 10% could help deliver national goals for biodiversity and climate resilience.
For businesses: it seeks to improve understanding of where domestic supply can meet demand, helping producers, processors and buyers identify new market opportunities.
For consumers: it aims to increase awareness of organic certification and encourage greater uptake of English organic produce. Consumers are showing they want organic, with a demand for organic food doubling in a decade (reaching £3.9 billion in 2025) – but much of this is met by imports. The plan prioritises access to homegrown organics and lower reliance on imported organic food.
For wildlife: organic farming helps to reduce the use of inputs like synthetic nitrogen fertilisers and pesticides, restore habitats and boost local diversity by supporting pollinators and soil health.

"This is such an encouraging step and a huge accolade for those who’ve campaigned for so many years on behalf of organic practice," says our CEO Fiona Taylor. "While the plan does not yet have budget behind it, nonetheless it shows that DEFRA is committed to the long-term future and expansion of the organic sector, which is very good news indeed."

We’ll be taking a deeper dive into the OAPE - and also looking at the steps Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are taking - in the spring issue of The Organic Way. We’d love to hear what you think: email [email protected].