Bill Young, the newly appointed CEO of Organic Farmers & Growers (OF&G), shares his vision for the future of the organic sector in the UK.
The new chief executive of Shropshire-based organic certification body Organic Farmers & Growers has shared his reflections on farming and hopes for the year ahead and beyond.Following leadership roles at NSF, SAI Global, and with the farming charity, Addington Fund, Bill Young recently joined OF&G and said the opportunity to lead the organisation'really jumped out'. 'An aspect of the role that appealed at once, is the fact that OF&G is a Community Interest Company (CIC),' he said.
'To me, that’s very important. Far too many farm assurance schemes are controlled from overseas. I believe that licensees’ fees from UK farms should provide a benefit to the domestic market.' Bill has been appointed to continue growing OF&G as one of the leading certification bodies, following Roger Kerr’s 10-year tenure. The organisation is already in a strong position, with sound financial standing and already responsible for certifying over 50 per cent of all organic land in the UK. 'OF&G continues to be a magnificent platform for promoting improved food security through environmentally benign farming practices,' he said. 'We’ll also continue to support our existing licensees by ensuring the voice of the organic community is represented at the highest levels. 'In just over a month as chief executive, I can already see a huge opportunity to deliver real growth for the organic sector. 'Currently, organic makes up 3 per cent of the UK’s agricultural land area, so there’s a significant opportunity for expansion.' He said recent agricultural policy has continued to focus on the delivery of public goods through improved environmental outcomes, with farmers being encouraged to introduce more sustainable practices. 'An organic approach is inherently supportive of these goals and offers a clear path forward to achieving Government’s objectives,' added Bill. 'However, we must remember that environmental protection and food production are not mutually exclusiv
ORGANIC FARMING CERTIFICATION FOOD SECURITY ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY UK AGRICULTURE
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