Not in my Banger
We started the year under the threat of legal action simply for voicing our concerns about a proposed new 'mega farm' in Derbyshire. Midland Pig Producers submitted a planning application to build a mega pig unit in Foston, Derbyshire, for 2,500 sows and 20,000 piglets. The Soil Association made a formal objection to the plans based on the threat we believe this type of farming system can pose to human health.
You supported us with your petition signatures and donations and the campaign really gathered momentum, and over 13,000 written objections were submitted.
After months of wrangling, South Derbyshire District Council finally rejected the proposed plans. Derbyshire County Council is expected to announce the final decision in the next couple of months.
Our strategy
We launched our new strategy earlier in the year: 'The Road to 2020 Towards healthy, humane and sustainable food, farming and land use'.Building on our past successes, and putting a strong emphasis on innovation and on reaching out to a wider audience, the strategy is based around two major themes: ‘facing the future’ and ‘good food for all’, underpinned by an ongoing commitment to 'enabling change'. If you’ve not already had a look – read it here.
Food for Life Partnership
The year has finished in wonderful style with the Soil Association led Food for Life Partnership awarded the prestigious BBC Radio 4 Derek Cooper Award at the Radio 4 Food & Farming Awards.
For five years the Soil Association and its partners in the project have been working with schools and communities across England to transform their food cultures, and the award is fitting recognition for the impact the scheme has had. As Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, talking about the Food for Life Partnership at the ceremony, said:
‘The positive effect of the work is absolutely unambiguous. It’s proven academically, but more to the point, it’s proven in the bright eyes and busy attitude of the kids and the fantastic commitment of the headteachers... It couldn’t be more important and we have to see this succeed.’
Now, at the end of 2011, the Food for Life Partnership is celebrating:
• 4,250 Food for Life Partnership schools
• 28% more children eating five or more portions of fruit and veg in Partnership primary schools
• a five-fold increase in trading community supported agriculture projects during the last four years
• over 450,000 Catering Mark meals served every day
• improved welfare assurance inspections for up to 5 million laying chickens
Thank you again for all your incredible support and we look forward to working with you in 2012.
The Soil Association
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