Bug Liz! Organic September Petition to Save Nature Reaches 30,000 Signatures

A www.Change.org petition launched for Organic September, asking our new Prime Minister Liz Truss to take action to save nature in her first 100 days in government, has reached 30,000 signatures, thus providing wildlife like earthworms, ladybirds and bees a voice for the first time.

On behalf of nature, the Organic Trade Board (OTB) launched the petition requesting the Prime Minister commits to protecting wildlife in any new policies. And represents the UK at the vitally important UN Biodiversity Conference (COP15) in December.

Not only are insects an integral part of a balanced ecosystem, providing food for other animals and recycling nutrients, they also play a key role in our global food system. One in three mouthfuls of food depends on pollinators and without pollinators we would not have potatoes, strawberries, tomatoes, coffee, chocolate or cotton.

Nature's keyworkers also held a miniature protest standing up for their insect rights at an organic farm in the North East this month. Armed with miniature placards, they gathered at Bays Leap organic farm near Newcastle to show if wildlife such as bees, earthworms and ladybirds had a voice they would want all farming to be organic to help keep the delicate ecosystem in balance.

Cristina Dimetto, General Manager of the Organic Trade Board (OTB), said: “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, we believe it would opt for organic. 

“If pesticides were substituted for more sustainable farming practices (such as organic), this could slow or reverse the decline in insects. The hope is even tiny insect-sized steps can make a big difference when it comes to keeping nature's crucial keyworkers thriving.”

For more information visit www.GoOrganicUK.com and to sign the petition head to https://www.change.org/NatureProtest.

Readers of That's Food and Drink will recall that we ran an Organic September feature which actually ends today, the last day of September.