Report Urges Government Support For Organic Food To Boost Health And Economy

A new report from food-and-farming alliance Sustain, titled “Bridging the Gap” has called on the Government to increase its support for organic food, arguing that doing so could deliver significant public-health and economic benefits.

Image: Sustain

The report highlights the potential for greater production and consumption of organic food to support healthier diets, reduce long-term pressures on the NHS, and strengthen the resilience of UK farming. It notes that organic systems typically rely less on chemical inputs, help to restore soil health, and offer a pathway to more sustainable and future-proofed supply chains.

According to “Bridging the Gap,” targeted support could also help unlock fresh economic opportunities for growers, retailers and manufacturers, particularly as consumer interest in sustainably produced food continues to rise. The analysis points to mounting demand for products with strong environmental and welfare credentials, suggesting that organic produce is well-positioned for further mainstream growth.

The report urges policymakers to review existing frameworks and consider incentives that would enable more farmers to transition to organic production. Sustain argues that such measures could deliver benefits across the supply chain — from improved market stability and job creation to better access to healthy food for households nationwide.

For the UK’s fresh-produce sector, the findings add weight to calls for a more coordinated approach to supporting sustainable farming, while underlining the commercial potential of expanding organic food supply.