A Twenty-year Vision for Organic Agriculture: Bios
Five organic movement and industry leaders discuss their vision, the potential risks and the pathways for organic agriculture to become the dominant farming system.
- Photo credit Jan Mangan
Michael Ableman has been farming organically for over 30 years. He is the author of three books: On Good Land, From The Good Earth and Fields of Plenty. Michael is the founder and former director of the Center for Urban Agriculture at Fairview Gardens in Goleta, CA. He currently farms in British Columbia on Foxglove Farm and the Centre for Arts, Ecology and Agriculture. He has worked on many urban agriculture projects empowering people to grow their own food.
- Amigo Cantisano
Amigo Cantisano has 35 years of organic farming and consulting experience. Amigo co-founded the Eco Farm conference and is the founder of Peaceful Valley Farm Supply. He advises more than 400 organic and transitional farmers in the US, Latin America and Europe. Amigo continues to farm organically on the San Juan Ridge in the Sierra Nevada, and hosts a monthly Organic Living show on KVMR radio in Nevada City, CA.
Gary Hirshberg is the CE-Yo of Stonyfield Farm, the largest organic yogurt brand in the
world. In 2005 Stonyfield partnered
with Groupe Danone of France. Gary has won numerous awards for corporate
environmental leadership and he has written the book Stirring it up: How
to Make Money and Save the World.
10% of Stonyfield profits-over $12 million- have been donated to heal and
protect the earth.
Theresa Marquez is the Chief Marketing Executive of Organic Valley, the largest organic farmer coop in the US, representing 10% of all US organic farmers. Theresa has served on the board of directors of the Organic Trade Association, The Organic Center and the Oregon Tilth advisory board. Theresa developed the Food Alliance eco-label, and created the concept of the Earth Dinner- bringing people together around healthy food and organic agriculture.
- Photo credit Tanya Butler
Bob Scowcroft was the founder and first director of the Organic Farming Research Foundation that sponsored and disseminated organic farming research helping to advance the technical expertise of organic farmers, prior to that he was the Executive Director for CCOF (California Certified Organic Farmers). In the 1970’s and beyond Bob was a national organizer for pesticide issues for Friends of The Earth.
