{"id":21374,"date":"2018-03-12T00:53:01","date_gmt":"2018-03-11T22:53:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bioecoactual.com\/?p=21374"},"modified":"2022-12-28T14:06:27","modified_gmt":"2022-12-28T13:06:27","slug":"organic-leaders-natural-organic-products-europe-2018","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bioecoactual.com\/en\/2018\/03\/12\/organic-leaders-natural-organic-products-europe-2018\/","title":{"rendered":"Organic leaders to debate the future of food at Natural & Organic Products Europe 2018"},"content":{"rendered":"

Some of the biggest names in the organic world will be heading to London ExCeL next month for Natural & Organic Products Europe \u2013 the UK\u2019s flagship trade event for the natural and organic sector.\u00a0Soil Association, Sustainable Food Trust, Riverford, Daylesford & Ocado now confirmed.<\/em><\/p>\n

Chief executives and senior managers from the Soil Association, Sustainable Food Trust, Riverford, Daylesford and Ocado are among the speakers now confirmed to appear in the show\u2019s new-format Natural Food Talks Theatre (sponsored by Natural Products Global) over 22-23 April.<\/p>\n

The stellar line-up also includes Zac Goldsmith<\/strong>, Conservative MP for Richmond Park and North Kingston \u2013 a lifelong environmentalist, animal welfare campaigner, and passionate advocate for organic food.\u00a0 He\u2019ll be talking candidly about his environmental beliefs, what he thinks the organic industry can do to feed a hungry world, and what should happen to British agriculture post Brexit, in an exclusive interview with journalist Michael Wale<\/strong>, on the show\u2019s second day (11am, Monday 23 April).<\/p>\n

Brexit & beyond<\/h3>\n

The government\u2019s recent pledge of delivering a \u2018Green Brexit\u2019 and commitment to \u2018conserving natural capital\u2019 has been widely welcomed by the organic and sustainable farming community.<\/p>\n

But what does a Green Brexit actually mean for organic?\u00a0<\/strong>What might a farming policy that prioritises environmental protection and emphasises the vital links between food and health look like in practice? Is it, as it\u2019s been called, a transformative moment in agricultural history?<\/p>\n

These are just some of the questions three prominent organic farmers \u2013 including Soil Association chief Helen Browning<\/strong> OBE, Sustainable Food Trust\u2019s CEO Patrick Holden<\/strong> CBE, and Riverford founder Guy Watson<\/strong> \u2013 will be tackling in a headline Keynote panel discussion at the show (1pm, Monday 23 April).<\/p>\n

For this year\u2019s visitors, it\u2019s a rare opportunity to hear directly from three of the UK\u2019s most inspirational and influential individuals working in the organic sector today, addressing some of the key issues facing UK farmers and the organic sector more generally.<\/p>\n

Commenting on the session, Natural Products Global editor in chief, Jim Manson<\/strong>, says: \u201cIf, as an industry, we can show that our products and our approaches to production – environment-friendly, high animal welfare standards, sustainable \u2013 are a natural fit with the Government’s stated new priorities we will have a fantastic opportunity to strengthen our businesses and achieve our vision.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Organic retail trends<\/h3>\n

Other Natural Food Talks highlights include a rare Keynote by Tim Field, sustainability manager at Daylesford.\u00a0 Since joining the company in 2007, he has worked closely with founder Carole Bamford on the farm, retail and caf\u00e9 business and the Daylesford Foundation charity.\u00a0 He\u2019ll be discussing successful organic retailing and the new trends driving their innovations, including packaging, plant based diets, and agroecology practices (12pm, Sunday 22 April).<\/p>\n

New speakers also include:<\/strong><\/p>\n