A passionate advocate for sustainable and organic farming, Patrick has dedicated his working career to making that a reality. Patrick first established his passion for farming at Emerson College, studying the field of Biodynamic Agriculture. In 1973 Patrick started a mixed community farm in Wales, farming various products such as carrots, flour and the milk from his herd of 85 Ayrshire cows. Patrick’s farm thrived, and now holds the title of the longest established mixed organic dairy holding in Wales.
Keen to pioneer actionable change in the world of British farming, Patrick became the founding chairman of British Organic Farmers in 1982. This organisation helped to develop the movement of organic food production in Britain. In 1988 Patrick was then appointed as director of the Soil Association, where he spearheaded the movement for sustainable food and gained public trust in products that are from sustainable agriculture. Patrick dedicated over 20 years to the association, placing him as a pivotal figure of the sustainable food movement. He is also an international ambassador of the Soil Association Land Trust, patron of the Living Earth Land Trust and a patron of the Bio-dynamic Agricultural Association.
In 2010 Patrick stepped down as the Director of the Soil Association, on a mission to address new emerging challenges. He became the founding director of The Sustainable Food Trust in 2011 to face these new challenges. Patrick found there was the need to develop strategies across the whole of agriculture to introduce sustainable food systems, and so The Sustainable Food Trust was established to encourage the international cooperation of sustainable production.
Now highly sought after as a public speaker, Patrick delivers intelligible keynote speeches on the need for safe and sustainable production of food and drink. As an advocate for the international transition to a more sustainable and organic food future, Patrick has travelled the world giving regular broadcast interviews and talks for corporate events. In 2005, Patrick’s advocacy and passion for farming were honoured, receiving the appointment of CBE during the 2005 New Year Honours. Advocating the need for sustainability, Patrick is both well-informed and well-received during every speech that he delivers. Personable and knowledgeable, Patrick is the perfect speaker for a range of corporate events, inspiring actionable change in the budding farmers of the future.
