OF&G CEO announces resignation after a decade in role

Roger Kerr has announced that he is to leave his position as CEO at Organic Farmers & Growers (OF&G).

Roger leaves the role after 10 years leading the UK organic certification body, and the Board is now seeking to appoint a successor. Roger is committed to ensuring a smooth transition and will remain in post until a successor is appointed.

Chairman of OF&G’s Board, Richard Thompson, expressed his thanks for Roger’s commitment to the organic sector and recognised his impact and influence, commenting: “Roger has been instrumental in OF&G’s growth in stature and recognition as the organic certifier responsible for certifying over half of the UK’s overall organic land area. He has remained true to organic’s core principles, delivering high quality certification services while championing the sector and taking a pragmatic approach to protecting the interests of the organic farming community. As a highly respected figure within the wider agricultural industry, I’d personally like to express my gratitude for Roger’s hard work, leadership and accomplishments.”

Roger added: “I’m incredibly proud of what OF&G and all that the team has achieved, but now is the time for me to explore other personal business and consultancy opportunities. I am also looking forward to finding more time to spend with my family and grandchildren. I would like to extend my thanks to my exceptional team and to the OF&G Board for their guidance and support.”

Fairtrade calls on next UK Government to ensure trade policy works for people and planet

The Fairtrade Foundation has urged the next UK government to ensure trade policy works for people and planet as it unveiled its manifesto ahead of the General Election.

The Fairtrade Foundation has launched the manifesto, calling on the next UK government to build fairness and resilience for producers and consumers.

Alexander Carnwath, Head of Public Affairs at the Fairtrade Foundation, commented: “It’s just over a week before the UK public head to the polls, and it’s crucial that following the election, the next government builds a fairer and more resilient trade system that works better for both UK consumers and those who produce much of our food in low-income countries.

“The UK imports almost half its food, with 16 per cent coming from countries exposed to climate change and lacking the capacity to adapt and respond. In recent years, we’ve seen how global events can have a massive impact on UK food supplies, with the cost of some of our favourite food products soaring and increasingly difficult conditions for farmers overseas. We urgently need to invest for the future, building fair and strong trading partnerships, with businesses working for people and planet, that will ensure the ongoing availability of our food in the face of a changing climate.

“The next UK government – whichever party or parties make it up – should commit to publishing a trade strategy that addresses the key links between trade, development and environmental sustainability and supports the UK to meet objectives across all three. It should also address UK competition law to provide support for innovations in the area of pre-competitive collaboration between businesses, through initiatives such as Fairtrade’s Shared Impact, to support environmental and development objectives.”

The Fairtrade Foundation election manifesto has three key asks:

• Develop trade policy that works for people and planet. These policies must improve resilience for the small holder farmers and workers producing food overseas and support innovative business approaches to enhance environmental and social sustainability.
• Legislate to ensure responsible business. The legislation must ensure that businesses address human rights and environmental violations in supply chains, including deforestation, while taking full account of the needs of farmers and workers.
• Strengthen UK aid by responding to the needs and priorities of farmers and workers who make a crucial contribution to the global food system.

Booja-Booja launch new single portion mini pots

Booja-Booja, the multi award-winning ice cream and chocolate truffle maker, is launching four of its most popular ice cream flavours in single portion ‘mini pots’.

Following the success of its free-from ice cream range which launched last summer, Booja-Booja is now making 110ml pots of the flavours Deeply Chocolate, Vanilla, Caramel Pecan Praline and Mango & Raspberry.

Perfect for impulse buys and food service, each one is made from an organic cashew nut base and just a handful of simple ingredients. They contain no artificial flavourings, preservatives or colours and they are all organic, vegan, and free from any dairy, gluten and soya.

Booja-Booja has been a pioneer of dairy-free deliciousness for over 20 years. The brand’s ice cream range is premium, created to be creamy, indulgent and sophisticated, while also ticking many of the most requested free-from boxes. The new mini pots feature the same bold, colourful design as used on the larger ‘take home’ tubs .

The new Booja-Booja ice cream mini tubs have an RRP of £1.99 and are available now.

Alara Wholefoods launches two gut health cereals

To tap into the rapidly growing gut health market, sustainable food pioneer Alara Wholefoods is launching two new organic cereal products – Alara Organic Wheat Bran and Alara Organic Oat Bran.

Both cereals are high-quality, single ingredient products that each offer a complex nutritional profile suited to anyone looking to support their gut microbiome.

A growing body of research¹ shows wheat bran promotes gut microbiota diversity, and is an effective prebiotic. Similarly, multiple studies^2,3 confirm the prebiotic function of oat bran, plus its ability to reduce oxidative stress and inflammatory response – both markers for chronic disease. Wheat bran also delivers a wide range of micronutrients, including 100 per cent recommended dietary allowances (RDAs)  of some essential vitamins and minerals (per 100g).

Commenting on the launch, Alara Founder and Managing Director, Alex Smith, said: “We definitely see a gap in the market for these two products. They play directly into the heightened level of interest and awareness of gut health. So we think they’ll be a high consumer demand for both products. As well as their nutritional benefits they are organic and are packaged in Alara no-plastic packs. They also come with a very attractive RSP of just £2.69 (650g) for the Wheat Bran and £3.24 (650g) for the Oat Bran.”

Alara is offering independent retailers a chance to grab a free case (six packs) of each of the new products. Smith added: “We wanted to give retailers the chance to try these exciting new products, and assess demand on a risk-free basis”.

Retailers can claim their free products when they are next visited by their Thyme Marketing contact.

1 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590157522000505

2 https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2021.787797/full

3 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6121460/

King Charles retains patronage of Soil Association

It has been announced that His Majesty King Charles is retaining his patronage of the Soil Association as part of his long-standing support for organic and nature-friendly farming.

King Charles has supported the charity since first becoming patron as Prince of Wales in 1999 and he has also supported hundreds of farmer-led research trials with the charity’s Innovative Farmers network, which helps farmers to test sustainable solutions on real farms and has been funded by King Charles III Charitable Fund (formerly known as The Prince of Wales’s Charitable Fund) since it was launched 12 years ago.

Soil Association Chief Executive, Helen Browning, commented: “We are delighted that His Majesty King Charles will remain our patron. At the Soil Association, we have been very fortunate to have worked closely with King Charles during his many years of extraordinary charitable work as the Prince of Wales. I feel privileged to know him as a fellow organic farmer with a lifelong dedication to healthy, sustainable food, and as a champion for nature, the countryside and its people.

“King Charles III Charitable Fund has supported more than 120 farmer-led research trials with our Innovative Farmers network – but his support goes far beyond financial generosity. He follows the work of pioneering farmers with avid fascination and takes inspiration from them. We look forward to sharing more with the King as the Soil Association pursues a nature-friendly future with his support.”

Speaking at a 10-year anniversary event for Innovative Farmers held in 2022, the former Prince of Wales said he was “very proud” to have been able to support Innovative Farmers.