MORE PASTURE fed animals – and less grain-fed pigs and poultry – is the right way to move farming and food production towards 'net zero' carbon emissions.
Speaking at the Royal Highland Show, Soil Association chief Helen Browning warned against the 'perverse outcomes' that might arise if reducing carbon was pursued as an end in itself, without consideration for the interconnected issues of biodiversity and human health.
"We have a mandate from the public for change, with movements like Extinction Rebellion and figures like David Attenborough moving the issue to the fore. The spotlight is on farming, food and land use as a key to making changes and that’s why I’m so pleased to hear from the minister that we need to join the dots and work together on climate change, biodiversity and human health. 
"Organic has a strong role to play in showing what we have learned. It’s not enough to interact with the organic sector – it’s all of food and farming that must change. There’s a debate looming between a world view between a pathway to net zero of intensification and sitka forests, versus land as a multifunctional asset which delivers all the public goods we need and protects our soils," said Ms Browning.
"We need to reverse the biodiversity crash, we need to be wary of the perverse outcomes we might have by chasing climate change goals only. We need to reduce grain feeding animals, we need to feed animals on pasture and that means mainly red meat instead of pigs and poultry... and I’m a pig farmer! We need to feed pigs on waste."
Ms Browning said that society had just ten years to make the transition to agroecology, and that needed immediate 'dramatic' change. "Whether we’re in or out of Europe there is much we can do right now to set us off on the pathway to net zero. In Denmark 60% of public food is organic, in France 9.5% of farms are organic. This commitment to public procurement can lead the way in giving confidence to farmers and in relocalising our food system. 
"We must have real confidence about the pathway to net zero, determined we will change and can change towards a profitable, sensible, healthy, nature-friendly way of running our food system."
Scottish environment minister Mairi Gougeon, who attended the Soil Association's Highland Show breakfast meeting, said that it was a Scottish Government 'priority' to increase the land in organic production in Scotland
"The Scottish government has commissioned research into demand for organic produce and the environmental benefits of organic agriculture which will contribute to the development of policy," she said.
"Scottish Government is determined to drive an increase in public sector procurement of local food, and here 'Food for Life' is a fantastic driver of local, sustainable sourcing of ingredients. We know that spend on PGI Scotch beef, lamb and pork has increased to £220,000 in 2018 from £16, 000 in 2013/14 for example. 
"At FFL silver and gold levels there’s an organic requirement of 5% and 15% respectively, with East and North Ayrshire at Gold, demonstrating that it is possible for the public sector to source organic. As always, we can do more, and it is important we continue to strive to do more."