The Secretary of State for Environment highlighted the importance of healthy soils and confirmed the government's commitment to an Organic Action Plan for England at Groundswell on Thursday 2 July.

Emma Reynolds held a meeting with organisations from across the agroecology and organic movement at the farming festival. They made the case for public procurement and government funded research that better prioritises agroecological farming, which is a type of regenerative farming that doesn't use synthetic inputs.

Representatives also highlighted how the government could help to unlock opportunities for new entrants into nature-friendly farming by changes to planning rules.

Soil Association Chief Executive Helen Browning urged the minister to launch an Organic Action Plan for England, which has been progressing for several years but has been stalled by cabinet reshuffles.

She told her she was "delighted" that the Farming Roadmap, which Defra unveiled last week, included a commitment to an action plan. She highlighted how the organic market has doubled in the last decade, but farmland has remained static, meaning we rely on imports instead of enjoying organic's biodiversity benefits here in the UK.

The minister told the group "we are on it" regarding the action plan and added that she could see how well the agroecology movement works together.

Speaking after the meeting, Helen Browning said: "It was excellent to see the Secretary of State so warm and engaged with agroecology here at Groundswell where there is real energy for nature-friendly farming. I'm really pleased that despite the current flux in politics, we had the opportunity to confirm the government's commitment to an Organic Action Plan, which has had a lot of time and energy put into it. Government now must make sure that the plan delivers enough ambition to grow the organic sector, which is an evidence-backed solution to producing good food while restoring nature. We hope to see an ambition for 10% organic farmland alongside action to build the market for British organic food and drink."

The meeting followed the minister's keynote speech at the farming festival, in which she highlighted the importance of healthy soils for farming profitability.

"We all know that healthy soils are central to nature-friendly farming. They store more water during droughts, they support diverse habitats, they support pollinators, and they support pest control. They provide cleaner water, stronger ecosystems and more efficient use of inputs," the minister said.

She added: "Profitability and nature are not competing aims, they are inseparable."

Agroecology recognised for delivering resilience at Groundswell and in roadmap

The minister's visit to a Groundswell followed a session on farming resilience held in the Soil Association tent, where farmers shared how farming in a nature-friendly way was delivering resilience to climate change.

Speaking on the panel, organic farmer Katie Allen highlighted how her sheep had been using shade from trees during recent heatwaves. She said that as well as planting trees, she was focused on diversity in her grass leys as they held up better in high temperatures.

As well as committing to an Organic Action Plan, the Farming Roadmap also recognised the role of agroecology as the government set out its vision for the next 25 years, in which farmers will increasingly deal with extreme weather. 

It said diverse habitats and more resilient landscapes will be driven by "wider adoption of regenerative, organic or other agroecological practices where appropriate, resulting in healthier soils, cleaner water and more resilient fields and pastures".

The Organic Action Plan was expected to be delivered in July but that has yet to be confirmed following the Angela Eagle's departure from the farming minister role and the Prime Minister's resignation. 

The Soil Association is calling for it to launch before parliamentary recess so that it coincides with support payments for organic conversion being available via the Sustainable Farming Incentive