The UK Government has committed in law to cutting the country’s greenhouse emissions 80% by 2050.

And with the UK’s industrialised food and farming system currently responsible for around 30% of UK emissions it is clear that we need to make fundamental changes to way we grow and eat our food.

The Soil Association says that only radical changes to our diets and farming systems can achieve the level of greenhouse gas cuts needed. And some of these changes can be made the next time you shop. Buying organic food and supporting organic farming, alongside a shift to less and mainly grass-fed meat and dairy products, with more seasonal fruit and vegetables is an important step for anyone who takes climate change seriously.

The Soil Association believes it is possible for most of us to shop and cook organically without compromising on quality. It might require some creativity and life-style changes, but these changes have the potential to leave both you and the planet healthier and happier. So use the following tips to stay healthy, ethical and green with money in your pocket.

• Sign-up to an organic box scheme. Get local, seasonal and organic fruit and veg delivered straight to your doorstep, and get excellent value for money while you’re at it. Use the box scheme directory to find your local supplier.
• Cook fresh fruit and veg from scratch. Avoiding over packaged convenience foods is usually both healthier and cheaper. Try some of the delicious recipes in Daisy Makes
• Eat less meat. When you do eat meat try lower cost cuts such as belly of pork or neck of lamb. Offal too can provide tasty nutritious meals. Get friendly with your local butcher for advice on cuts.
• Cook in bulk. Make meals in larger batches, use herbs and spices, and cheaper ingredients like tinned tomatoes or beans and pulses to bulk things out, and then freeze left over portions. This is a great way making less into more.
• Join or create an organic buying group. Bulk-buy your store cupboard staples with a group of friends at wholesale prices.
• Join or start your own local Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) scheme in partnership with a local farmer. CSA is a partnership between farmers and the public where you make an annual investment for a share of the harvest and can prove great value for money.
• Keep your own chickens and enjoy a great house pet and super fresh eggs every day. You can learn more about chicken keeping, and range of other courses on growing and cooking, through a Soil Association Organic Farm School course, supported by the Daylesford Foundation.
• Write a shopping list. As a nation we we throw away 6.7 million tonnes of food every year. By planning meals in advance, buying what you need and not what you ‘fancy’, and using left-overs you should be able avoid the need to throw away any food at all, and save up to £50 a month.
• Take a walk on the wild side. There’s plenty of free wild food available, and identifying and picking it is a great way of having fun outdoors.

Just going organic for one week this organic month of September may help you realise that eating organic doesn’t have to be expensive. Buy quality and it will last. Meat and eggs taste better and milk is more wholesome. And you will have money left in your grocery budget.

Mmmm I hear organic chocolate calling.…