13 July 2012
ITU-Gumussuyu Campus, Orhan Ocalgiray Conference Hall
Taksim- Istanbul
The world faces many environmental problems and most of the time it is the humankind who is primarily responsible for creating irreversible ecological disasters. Many scientists believe that we are very close to the point of no return. Corporate industrial activities together with unrestrained greed are destroying the only planet that we can live in. People need to be aware of the problems and know the ways how to tackle them. Problem solving also requires knowledge and cooperation especially when we deal with the global problems such as climate change or food poverty.
At Green Salon meetings, we will try to look at the environmental issues from a broader perspective and create a suitable atmosphere for discussions. In the media, most of the time, environmental issues are remembered only when there is an environmental problem. The debates are often limited in scope. Most of the time, the link between environmental issues and life is not visible. Unfortunately, classical economic theories and anthropocentric approach to the issues are widely used in the general way of thinking. However, ecology covers a wide range of different areas from climate change to green economy, food security/safety to energy and it needs a holistic view to solve all the problems. That requires a different approach, a new vision and information as well as a new way of thinking.
Heinrich Böll Stiftung Turkey Representation will try to create occasions for knowledge sharing, cooperation and solidarity through the Green Salon meetings. The first Green Salon meeting of this year is organised together with Atlas Magazine on the 13th of July in Istanbul. Each Green Salon meeting will focus on different topics, the first one of which is sustainable food. Patrick Holden who is a well known advocate of organic food and sustainable farming in the UK is our first guest speaker. He will deliver a speech on sustainable food, share his experience and answer your questions.
We invite everybody who is interested in sustainable food movement and organic farming to join our Green Salon meeting and contribute in the discussions.
Heinrich Böll Stiftung Turkey Representation
Atlas Magazine
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Patrick Holden is one of the pioneers of the modern sustainable food movement who, during his period as Director of the Soil Association, between 1995 and 2010, played a leadership role in developing the UK organic market. Closely involved with standards development, producer cooperation, Patrick’s extensive engagement with the public through successive media campaigns, played a key role in winning public trust in the products from sustainable agriculture.
Before joining the Soil Association he was founder and chairman of British Organic Farmers, which developed the production base of the organic food movement before merging with the Soil Association in 1995.
He trained in Biodynamic farming at Emerson College, Sussex, and in 1973 he established what is now the longest established mixed organic dairy holding in Wales. His family produces an award winning raw milk cheddar-style cheese from the milk of 75 Ayrshire dairy cows.
In 2010 he stepped down from the Soil Association to address a newly emerging challenge - the need to develop strategies for sustainable food systems which have wider application, for the whole of agriculture. The mission of the resulting organisation, The Sustainable Food Trust, is to promote international cooperation between all those involved in sustainable food production.
His other current positions include: Patron of the Bio-dynamic Agricultural Association, the Living Earth and the Soil Association Land Trust; Senior Environmental Advisor to JCB and International Ambassador of the Soil Association.
He received a CBE for services to organic farming in 2005.