Soil Association director steps down

30 June 2010 | By William Surman

ONE of the country’s leading organic protagonists, Patrick Holden, is to step down from his role as director of the Soil Association after 20 years at the organisation.

Mr Holden, who joined the association in 1990 and became director in 1995, said it was the right time to find a successor to take the organisation forward.

He said the move would allow him to concentrate on promoting sustainable food internationally.

“It has been an enormous privilege to serve the Soil Association over a period where interest in organic and sustainable food enjoyed tremendous growth and I should like to pay tribute to all those who have made my job so stimulating and rewarding over the years,” said Mr Holden.

The organisation has grown rapidly during Mr Holden’s tenure and now certifies over 80 per cent of organic farming and food processing in the UK and has more than 27,000 members.

“The Soil Association is in my DNA and I will remain deeply committed to the organisation and its philosophy and principles for the rest of my life,” added Mr Holden.

Orna Ni-Chionna, Soil Association Chair of Trustees, said Mr Holden had been a leader of ‘exceptional insight and wisdom’.

“His unique talents, experience and skills will be very difficult to replace. But we know that he will bring urgently needed impetus to international initiatives and we are delighted that we will still have opportunities to work closely together,” she said.

Readers' comments (3)

  • Anonymous | 30 June 2010 11:52 am

    good riddance. him and his like have put british farming back in the dark ages. All they do is lie about the effects of organics and cover up its cruelty to livestock and how its wrecked the countryside. Iwas farming organically before anyone had even heard of the Soil association. My animals are healthy, unstressed and I have won awards several awards from my local wildlife trust for my farming methods and the wildlife Ihave on my farm

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  • John Byng | 2 July 2010 11:41 am

    The contributor who says "good riddance" does not show much consistency. Having suggested that organic farming is cruel and damaging he then boasts that he was farming organically before anyone heard of the Soil Association.

    The fact is that organic farming ensures very high standards of animal welfare and of environmental protection and biodiversity. These facts have been confirmed by Government research in the UK and elsewhere.

    I was extremely grateful to Patrick for all the help and advice he gave me when I was head of the Organic Farming Unit of MAFF. He helped achieve a good deal in protecting consumers and genuine producers from fraudsters and demonstrating the viability and long term sustainability of organic farming. I owe a great deal to Patrick for enabling me to enjoy several years of such worthwhile endeavour.

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  • Richard Auler | 2 July 2010 12:01 pm

    I have met Patrick many times when we were developing organic standards for Ireland in the mid Eighties. . His great personality, combined with enthusiasm, energy and knowledge were a huge help,
    I'm not sure we would have succeeded without him. Of course any successful person has opponents, but the service Patrick has given to agriculture and food is second to none. It will be difficult for anyone to fill his place within the SA.

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