Sagoh
Jia Lissa
Iffa Jayyana
Nila Kartika Wati
Pevita Pearce
By Patrick Holden, CEO and Founder of the Sustainable Food Trust
In the modern agricultural landscape, the pace of change is accelerating. Over the past month, my schedule has taken me across oceans and continents, from the verdant fields of Ireland to the bustling streets of Turin, and across the Atlantic to the heart of New York’s climate discourse. These travels were not merely a sequence of engagements; they were a profound barometer of the global appetite for a systemic shift in how we produce, consume, and value our food.
The movement toward sustainable agriculture is no longer a fringe pursuit; it has entered the mainstream boardroom and the collective consciousness of a new generation. Yet, as this transition gains momentum, the challenge lies in ensuring that the movement remains authentic, transparent, and grounded in measurable outcomes.
The New Vanguard: Youth and the Reconnection to Land
The journey began in Ireland, at the prestigious Ballymaloe Cookery School. At the invitation of the legendary Darina Allen, I addressed the inaugural cohort of their six-week Food and Farming course.
What struck me most was the demographic of the attendees. These were not seasoned veterans of the agricultural industry, but young people in their 20s and 30s, driven by an urgent, almost visceral desire to return to the land. We are witnessing a demographic shift: a generation that has grown up in the shadow of industrial, processed food systems is now actively seeking to dismantle them in favor of hands-on production. With a waiting list that grows longer by the day, the message from the youth is clear: the future of farming is not merely a career choice; it is an act of environmental and social reclamation.
Harmony in Scotland: The Definition Dilemma
From Ireland, I traveled to Scotland for a high-level summit co-hosted by the Sustainable Food Trust (SFT) and the Circular Bioeconomy Alliance (CBA), under the auspices of The King’s Foundation. The event brought together a diverse group of stakeholders, including Defra Secretary of State Angela Eagle and Chris van Tulleken, author of the seminal work Ultra-Processed People.
The presence of senior representatives from major food retailers was particularly telling. There is a palpable realization among corporate entities that the status quo is unsustainable. They are under pressure—from consumers, from regulators, and from the harsh reality of climate change—to pivot toward "nature-friendly" production.
However, we encountered a significant hurdle: the linguistic inflation of the term "regenerative." Currently, "regenerative" is becoming a catch-all marketing term. I have visited numerous UK farms that claim this title while continuing to rely on synthetic fertilizers and regular applications of glyphosate.
This presents a critical transparency crisis. If a farmer uses herbicides to maintain a "regenerative" label, the consumer is being misled. The burden of proof must lie with the producer. We must move beyond vague terminology and toward a system where the consumer knows exactly what they are purchasing. The "right to know" is the cornerstone of trust in the food chain.
The American Perspective: Measurement as the Antidote to Greenwash
My journey then took me to upstate New York for the Real Organic conference, where I joined a panel with Eliot Coleman, a titan of the American organic movement. The central tension of our discussion was the relationship between organic farming and the burgeoning regenerative movement.
Is regenerative agriculture a threat to organic standards, or a necessary evolution? My perspective remains firm: it is only a threat if we allow it to descend into greenwashing. The solution is rigorous, standardized measurement.
If we can agree on a common framework to measure outcomes—climate impact, biodiversity, soil health, and social welfare—we can move beyond the "hazy" definitions that currently plague the industry. This is the bedrock of the SFT’s Global Farm Metric (GFM). By speaking the same language, we can provide the transparency required to hold global agriculture accountable. Without a unified metric, "regenerative" risks becoming just another hollow label on a supermarket shelf.
New York Climate Week: Scaling the Beacon Farms
In New York City, I participated in a convening hosted by the Sustainable Markets Initiative (SMI) to highlight our Beacon Farms project. This initiative, which showcases farms that have successfully transitioned to sustainable, regenerative models, is the proof-of-concept for the global shift we envision.
We have already established 50 Beacon Farms in the UK, and following a successful launch in Ireland earlier this year, we are now turning our sights toward the United States. We are currently vetting partners who share our commitment to re-connecting people with their food source. This expansion is essential; the US represents a massive, influential market where the scale of our impact could be transformative. By showcasing successful models in the American heartland, we can demystify the transition and provide a roadmap for others to follow.
Terra Madre: A Global Call for Biodiversity
The final leg of this month-long odyssey was in Turin for Terra Madre, the global gathering of the Slow Food movement. The atmosphere was electric. Though the passing of Carlo Petrini—the visionary founder of Slow Food—cast a shadow of mourning over the event, his legacy was palpable in the sheer number of attendees.
Seeing hundreds of thousands of people gathered in the streets of Turin, united by a commitment to biodiversity, peace, and dialog, was a powerful reminder of the movement’s scale. King Charles’s message of condolence to the movement underscored the global importance of the work Petrini initiated.
Terra Madre is more than a conference; it is a manifestation of a global agricultural culture that values quality over quantity, and heritage over industrial efficiency. It serves as a necessary counterweight to the sterile, commoditized food system that dominates global trade.
Implications: The Path to 2030 and Beyond
As I reflect on the last month, my conviction has never been stronger. The transition toward sustainable, regenerative, and organic systems is no longer a theoretical exercise; it is a real-world, scalable ambition.
Key Takeaways for the Industry
- Standardization is Non-Negotiable: The industry must coalesce around a common framework for measuring sustainability. Without it, the terms "regenerative" and "sustainable" will lose all meaning.
- Retailer Accountability: Major food companies must move beyond commitments to action. Transparency in supply chains is no longer an optional CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) goal; it is a fundamental requirement of modern business.
- The Power of the Youth: The influx of young, motivated individuals into food production is the most encouraging trend in agriculture today. We must support them with training, land access, and mentorship.
- Global Synergy: The cross-pollination between the European organic movement and American agricultural initiatives is vital. We are working toward a unified language that bridges these diverse markets.
The events I attended this month highlighted a universal truth: people are hungry for a connection to their food. Whether it is a young student in Ireland or a consumer in a New York grocery store, there is an inherent demand for integrity.
We are currently at a crossroads. We can continue down the path of industrial extraction, where the true costs of our food are hidden in the form of environmental degradation, or we can embrace a transparent, regenerative future.
The SFT remains committed to providing the tools—the Global Farm Metric, the Beacon Farms network, and the advocacy needed to influence policy—to ensure that this transition is not just possible, but inevitable. The work is difficult, and the stakeholders are many, but the momentum is clearly on our side.
If you would like to follow the progress of these initiatives, I encourage you to sign up for the monthly SFT newsletter, where we document the front lines of this global transition.
