Scottish Organic Producers Association Ltd
Scottish Organic Producers Association Ltd (SOPA) is a 1988-founded Scottish membership co-operative providing Defra-approved organic certification and member support services to farmers, processors, merchants and exporters across Scotland under certification code GB-ORG-17.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1988
- HeadquartersPerth, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Scottish Organic Producers Association Ltd does
Scottish Organic Producers Association Ltd (SOPA) is a membership co-operative established in 1988 and registered under the Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies Act 2014 (Registration Number SP02278R). Headquartered in Perth, Scotland, SOPA serves as the dedicated organic industry body for Scotland, holding the only UK-approved organic standards specifically developed for Scottish farmers. The organisation represents more organic businesses in Scotland than any other organisation and contracts independent certification activities to OF&G (Scotland) Ltd, a Defra-approved and UKAS-accredited body operating under the legally protected organic certification code GB-ORG-17.
SOPA's core product is a comprehensive suite of organic certification services covering Scottish farmers and growers (cereal crops, fodder crops, livestock, vegetables, wool), food processors (butchery, baking, beverages, box schemes), merchants and wholesalers, livestock auction marts, importers/exporters, and an Evaluation Scheme that approves input products such as soil conditioners, fertilisers and livestock minerals for use in organic systems. Beyond certification, SOPA operates a member services platform including a discounted sampling service in partnership with Lancrop (part of Yara) offering 29 soil, leaf, forage and manure analyses, a bespoke consultancy service covering mentoring and feasibility studies, an AIC-recognised Organic Grain Passports scheme, the Trade Hub member-to-member classifieds directory, and the SOPA Sounds podcast produced with OnFarm.
SOPA monetises primarily through recurring annual membership fees that bundle certification, advice, business support and mentoring, supplemented by certification and inspection fees processed via OF&G (Scotland). The go-to-market is community-led and event-driven, with member acquisition and retention built around farm walks, the annual conference ("The Road Ahead for Scottish Organics"), the AGM, and content channels including the website, social media and podcast series. SOPA operates with a 5-person staff supported by an 8-member Board of Directors, with no parent company, subsidiaries, acquisitions or external funding rounds disclosed.
Scottish Organic Producers Association Ltd firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Scottish Organic Producers Association Ltd
- Legal name
- Scottish Organic Producers Association Ltd
- Website
- https://sopa.org.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1988
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Scottish Organic Producers Association Ltd (SOPA) is a 1988-founded Scottish membership co-operative providing Defra-approved organic certification and member support services to farmers, processors, merchants and exporters across Scotland under certification code GB-ORG-17.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Scottish Organic Producers Association Ltd industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Organic Certification Services
- SIC
- Agricultural Services (700)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Organic Certification Services (AFALAMAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Fair Trade & Ethical Supply Chains (Certification, Traceability, Producer Support) (BPAGALAL), Accredited Certification Bodies (CBs) – ISO 22000/FSSC 22000/BRCGS/SQF (AFALACAA)
Keywords
Where Scottish Organic Producers Association Ltd is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Perth
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Scottish Organic Producers Association Ltd business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Membership Fees: Annual membership fees that include certification and advice services. Members pay a single fee covering all certification activities and access to Member Services support including free advice, business support, and mentoring.
- Certification Services: Organic certification services provided through OF&G (Scotland) Ltd for producers, processors, merchants, importers/exporters, and evaluation of approved products. Certification activities generate revenue through annual inspection and audit fees.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Annual Membership with Certification |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
Scottish Organic Producers Association Ltd product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Scottish Organic Producers Association (SOPA) provides Defra-approved organic certification and membership services for Scottish farmers, food processors, merchants, and importers/exporters under the GB-ORG-17 certification code. The co-operative bundles annual organic certification (delivered via OF&G Scotland) with advisory, business support, and mentoring services to members.
Product overview
Scottish Organic Producers Association (SOPA) is a membership co-operative providing organic certification and support services for the Scottish organic industry since 1988. SOPA offers a comprehensive suite of certification services including Organic Certification for Farmers (covering cereals, livestock, vegetables, and wool), Organic Processing Certification for food and drink businesses, Merchants/Wholesale certification, Import/Export certification, Livestock Auction Mart certification, and an Evaluation Scheme for Approved Products. The organization contracts certification activities to OF&G (Scotland) Ltd under Defra and UKAS approval. Alongside certification, SOPA provides member support services including a discounted Sampling Service (in partnership with Lancrop/Yara), Consultancy (mentoring, project management, training), a Trade Hub classifieds platform, and SOPA Sounds podcast series. The organic certification code is GB-ORG-17.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Organic Certification for Farmers
Quantifiable outcome
- AECS Funding: Arable Land receives £755 over five years; Improved Grassland receives £445 over five years; Rough Grazing receives £50.50 over five years; Fruit and Vegetable Land receives £1400.00 over five years
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Scottish Organic Producers Association Ltd
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Scottish Organic Producers Association Ltd technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Scottish Organic Producers Association Ltd partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- OF&G (Scotland) LtdcoreOF&G (Scotland) Ltd is the independent certification body contracted by SOPA to conduct organic inspections and audits. They maintain the SOPA scheme and ensure compliance with Defra and UKAS requirements. All SOPA members are certified independently by OF&G (Scotland) Ltd under organic certification code GB-ORG-17. The relationship is core to SOPA's operations as the certification authority.
- Lancrop (part of Yara)minorSOPA collaborated with Lancrop (part of Yara) to offer a discounted sampling service for soil, leaf, forage and manures exclusively for SOPA Members. SOPA negotiated discounted rates for analyses and members can send samples free using pre-paid envelopes.
- Robin Appel LtdminorRoger Baird, SOPA board member and organic cereals trader, works in conjunction with Robin Appel Ltd, a respected independent grain merchant based in southern England who trades over 25K tonnes of UK produced organic cereals and pulses.
- OnFarm Podcast ChannelminorSOPA Sounds podcasts are produced in conjunction with the OnFarm podcast channel. Anna Davies and the Scene and Herd team record podcasts featuring SOPA members, telling stories of organic farmers, food and drink producers.
- Scene & Herd Marketing & PRminorScene & Herd Marketing & PR is the external agency responsible for designing and building the SOPA website. They also assist with podcast production and content creation.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Scottish Organic Producers Association Ltd competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- ECOCERT: Global organic certification body operating across food, cosmetics and textiles; comparable as a much larger incumbent organic certification scheme owner whose UK operations overlap with SOPA's potential cross-border members.
- Control Union: Global certification company providing organic, sustainability and supply-chain certification worldwide; comparable as a broad incumbent offering organic certification that competes with national/regional schemes for international organic trade clients.
- Kiwa BCS: International organic certification body (formerly BCS Öko-Garantie) operating under EU and global organic standards; a broad incumbent offering organic certification comparable in scope to SOPA's but at global scale.
Direct peers
- Soil Association Certification: The largest UK organic certification body, offering Defra-approved organic certification across England, Wales and Northern Ireland — directly competing with SOPA for organic farmer and processor certification contracts in the UK.
- Organic Farmers & Growers (OF&G): Long-established UK organic certification body that is the parent/affiliated body of OF&G (Scotland) Ltd — SOPA's own certification delivery partner — making it both a scheme collaborator and a competitor for organic certification in England and Wales.
- Demeter UK (Biodynamic Federation): UK arm of the international biodynamic certification scheme (Demeter), providing certification for biodynamic/organic producers — closely comparable as a niche, standards-based organic certification body serving UK farms.
- Irish Organic Association: Ireland's leading organic certification body serving farmers and processors under EU organic regulation; closely comparable as a regional/national organic certification scheme with Defra-equivalent regulatory standing.
Regional players
- Quality Welsh Food Certification: Wales-based certification body offering organic and farm assurance certification under Welsh Government schemes — directly comparable as a regional UK organic certification scheme with devolved/national regulatory alignment.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Scottish Organic Producers Association Ltd social profiles
Digital presenceScottish Organic Producers Association Ltd compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance4 records
Scottish Organic Producers Association Ltd financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Scottish Organic Producers Association Ltd leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
Scottish Organic Producers Association Ltd funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Scottish Organic Producers Association Ltd M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Scottish Organic Producers Association Ltd
What does Scottish Organic Producers Association Ltd do?
Scottish Organic Producers Association (SOPA) provides Defra-approved organic certification and membership services for Scottish farmers, food processors, merchants, and importers/exporters under the GB-ORG-17 certification code. The co-operative bundles annual organic certification (delivered via OF&G Scotland) with advisory, business support, and mentoring services to members.
Is Scottish Organic Producers Association Ltd a public or private company?
Scottish Organic Producers Association Ltd is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Scottish Organic Producers Association Ltd founded?
Scottish Organic Producers Association Ltd was founded in 1988. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Scottish Organic Producers Association Ltd based?
Scottish Organic Producers Association Ltd is headquartered in Perth, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Scottish Organic Producers Association Ltd make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Membership Fees are the primary driver. The others are certification Services.
Who are Scottish Organic Producers Association Ltd's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are ECOCERT, Control Union and Kiwa BCS. Direct peers are Soil Association Certification, Organic Farmers & Growers (OF&G), Demeter UK (Biodynamic Federation) and Irish Organic Association. Quality Welsh Food Certification is listed as a regional player.
Does Scottish Organic Producers Association Ltd have an API?
No public API is recorded for Scottish Organic Producers Association Ltd.
What industry is Scottish Organic Producers Association Ltd in?
Scottish Organic Producers Association Ltd's product category is Organic Certification Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFALAMAA, Organic Certification Services, with a secondary code of BPAGALAL, Fair Trade & Ethical Supply Chains (Certification, Traceability, Producer Support). Its SIC code is 700.