Paul Holmbeck at Churchtown: Getting Organics On The Offensive

#199: Paul Holmbeck's talk from our event, Real Organic: A World Movement, which took place at Churchtown Dairy this September, is a straight shot of strategy aimed at increasing organic crop plantings and food sales. Paul's experience as the (former) Director of Organic Denmark has him considering many effective paths that the US organic movement could adopt to move the needle and generate real impact here in the States.  After moving from North Carolina to Denmark, Paul Holmbeck served as the Director and Political Director of Organic Denmark for 20+ years. His involvement in political strategy, policy development, and market initiatives have helped to protect organic agriculture, vital ecosystems, and the nutritional health of the Danish population. Paul currently serves as board member for IFOAM International and works hard to ensure that those who claim their products and services benefit the planet's climate are being true to their word.To watch a video version of this podcast with access to the full transcript and links relevant to our conversation, please visit:https://realorganicproject.org/paul-holmbeck-at-churchtown-2024-getting-organics-on-the-offensiveThe Real Organic Podcast is hosted by Dave Chapman and Linley Dixon, engineered by Brandon StCyr, and edited and produced by Jenny Prince.The Real Organic Project is a farmer-led movement working towards certifying 1,000 farms across the United States this year. Our add-on food label distinguishes soil-grown fruits and vegetables from hydroponically-raised produce, and pasture-raised meat, milk, and eggs from products harvested from animals in horrific confinement (CAFOs - confined animal feeding operations).To find a Real Organic farm near you, please visit:https://www.realorganicproject.org/farmsWe believe that the organic standards, with their focus on soil health, biodiversity, and animal welfare were written as they should be, but that the current lack of enforcement of those standards is jeopardizing the ability for small farms who adhere to the law to stay in business. The lack of enforcement is also jeopardizing the overall health of the customers who support the organic movement; customers who are not getting what they pay for at market but still paying a premium price. And the lack of enforcement is jeopardizing the very cycles (water, air, nutrients) that Earth relies upon to provide us all with a place to live, by pushing extractive, chemical agriculture to the forefront.If you like what you hear and are feeling inspired, we would love for you to join our movement by becoming one of our 1,000  Real Friends:https://www.realorganicproject.org/real-organic-friends/To read our weekly newsletter (which might just be the most forwarded newsletter on the internet!) and get firsthand news about what's happening with organic food, farming and policy, please subscribe here:https://www.realorganicproject.org/email/