The Organic Trade Board (OTB) – in collaboration with Soil Association Certification, Ecotone, Ethical Food Company and RBOrganic – is calling on industry and members of the public to ‘bug the new PM’ by supporting its petition to the next Prime Minister.
The petition asks the new PM to ‘take drastic action to save nature’ in their first 100 days in office, protecting wildlife through policy and committing to representing the UK at the UN Biodiversity Conference (COP15) in December.
“Not only are insects a vital part of a balanced ecosystem, providing food for other animals and recycling nutrients, they also play an essential role in our global food system. One in three mouthfuls of food depends on pollinators and without pollinators we wouldn’t have potatoes, strawberries, tomatoes, coffee, chocolate or cotton,” says the OTB.
Even tiny insect-sized steps can make a big difference
Cristina Dimetto, general manager, OTB, comments: “Organic farming works with nature, not against it, encouraging natural predators like ladybirds, and pollinators like bees and butterflies, rather than spraying harmful pesticides. As a result, on average, plant, insect and bird life is 50% more abundant on organic farms. There are up to seven times more wild bees in organic grain fields. So if nature did have a voice – it would choose organic.
“If pesticides were substituted for more sustainable farming practices (like organic) this could slow or reverse the decline in insects. The hope is that even tiny insect-sized steps can make a big difference when it comes to keeping nature’s crucial keyworkers thriving.”
The petition is supported by a design from children’s author and illustrator Kate Pankhurst, a descendent of suffragette and political activist Emmeline Pankhurst.
Lend your support by visiting Change.org.
