Join us for an engaging 'Trends and Talks' segment where our panel of experts imagines the future of organic farming.
The guests in this episode bring a wealth of knowledge and perspectives on organic farming and nutrition. First, we have Barbara, a nutritionist who believes in the enhanced nutrient content of organic food and its potential to resonate with consumers.
Our second guest, Jeff Moyer, from the Rodale Institute, underscores the importance of promoting the scientific basis of organic farming and its role in regenerative agriculture. He envisions a future where organic farming principles are the cornerstone of food and fiber production, driven by consumer values, policy decisions, and the medical profession's recognition of food production's impact on health.
Next, we hear from Roger Kerr, Chief Executive of Organic Farmers and Growers in the UK. He paints a picture of a future food system that has adapted to climate change, land availability pressures, and biodiversity challenges. He believes the organic sector will contribute significantly to addressing these issues and hopes for higher recognition of organic principles from governments and NGOs.
Finally, Cristina Micheloni from the Italian Association for Organic Farming rounds out the discussion, envisioning more knowledgeable consumers "pulling" the production, processing, and consumption of organic food towards a more sustainable future.
Tune in as our panel addresses the complex challenges facing agriculture and discusses how organic farming can evolve to meet these demands. This episode offers profound insights into the future of organic farming and what it might take to get there. Join us as we journey into the heart of agriculture's future.
Looking for additional insight? Catch the full episode here.
-
Barbara Bray -
Roger Kerr -
Jeff Moyer -
Cristina Micheloni
- The global goal is to have 25% organic land by 2030, with the belief that organic food can feed 10 billion people.
- The organic industry accounts for only 1.4% of the UK's multibillion-pound food and drink market, according to the National Farmers Union.
- You might think that organic farming is a new age movement, however farming was done organically all across the world prior to World War II.
In this series
MBE, PHD RESEARCHER AND CONSULTANT IN NUTRITION, QUEEN’S UNIVERSITY BELFAST
Barbara is a PhD researcher in nutrition at Queen’s University Belfast, a TEDx speaker and director of her own consultancy, Alo Solutions Ltd.
She speaks at food and agriculture events, she has spoken on BBC Radio 4’s Farming Today and represented the Private Sector Mechanism in speeches at the UN Committee for Food Security in Rome.
Barbara is passionate about diet and food. Her Nuffield Farming project on ‘Vegetable Production For Specific Nutritional Need’ looked at international food policies and private initiatives to promote consumption of vegetables that benefit our health.
Roger Kerr comes from a farming background and has worked on various farms over the years. He helped establish Calon Wen, the Welsh organic dairy farmers co-operative in 2000 and became their Managing Director. Calon Wen were the first ever to secure a branded organic milk listing in a U.K. major retailer along with developing branded butter and cheese lines.
Roger is also Chairman of the U.K. Certifiers Group, the U.K. representative on the IFOAM EU Council, the Director of Finance of the Organic Trade Board and the Pasture Fed Livestock Association, and a Trustee of the Organic Research Centre.
Jeff has been working at Rodale Institute for over 45 years and became CEO in September of 2019. He was project leader for the highly acclaimed Organic No-Till project and is the author of two books on this subject: “Organic No-Till Farming – Advancing No-Till Agriculture Crops, Soil, Equipment” and “Roller/Crimper No-Till – Advancing No-Till Agriculture.” His vast experience and knowledge regarding organic farming has provided the media with a reliable source and perspective for information on current agricultural issues.
Cristina Micheloni is an agronomist with a degree in Ecological Agriculture from Wageningen University, and has been engaged in organic farming since early '90s, when she set up the first Documentation and Dissemination Centre for Organic Farming in Italy. Cristina combines advisory activity with on-farm research and regulatory development. In her Region, Friuli Venezia Giulia, she established a specialized advisory service for organic farmers. In the last years, she started several experimental activities on-farm on topics such as organic no-till, new value chains and plant-based proteins.
