About Us

Patrick Holden is the founder and CEO of the Sustainable Food Trust, whose mission is to work internationally to accelerate the transition towards more sustainable food and farming systems.

Between 1995 and 2010, he was Director of the Soil Association, the UK organic advocacy and certification organisation, where he played a leading role in developing the organic standards and market.

He currently leads a task force on measuring land use sustainability for the Sustainable Markets Initiative (SMI), established by the then Prince of Wales in 2020.

Patrick trained in Biodynamic farming at Emerson College and has farmed for over 50 years on a 300-acre mixed organic dairy holding, now the longest established organic dairy farm in Wales, producing a raw milk cheddar from the milk of 85 Ayrshire cows.

He received a CBE for services to organic farming in 2005 and is Patron of the UK Bio-dynamic Agriculture Association. He became an Ashoka Fellow in 2016 and was awarded an honorary doctorate for his international work in sustainable agriculture by the University of Wales Trinity Saint David in 2022.

Adele has been working with the SFT since 2013, now overseeing the organisation’s strategic activities. In recent years, one of her major focuses has been the development of a project called the Global Farm Metric – an internationally common framework for measuring on-farm sustainability. She is also currently an advisor to the Scottish Government.

In 2020, she undertook a part time secondment with the Welsh Government, and in 2019 she completed a part-time secondment with DEFRA, both times working to develop metrics for monitoring the new post-Brexit farm support schemes. Previous to these roles, she has a background in geography and soil science.

Fabia joined the Sustainable Food Trust to work with the team to take the Global Farm Metric to the next stage of development, consensus and adoption, and to Chair the GFM coalition working group.

She first met Patrick Holden in 2015 when CEO of the Rothschild Foundation, director to the family office and board member of the Waddesdon Estate. She was looking for answers to how a responsible land owner could ensure that their land was passed to the next generation in a better state – environmentally, economically and for greater public good. This led to Sustainable Food Trust’s work into the establishment of a common language and framework for measuring the sustainability of our land management systems.

Fabia remains a board member and trustee for a number of family offices, Non-Executive Director of Whitley Asset Management, Trustee of the Illuminated River Foundation and Director of Waddesdon Wines Limited.

Lesley Mitchell is Policy Director for the Sustainable Food Trust, leading an expert team to develop policy, evidence and advocacy to drive the regeneration of food and agriculture. Previously she led Forum for the Future’s global food systems practice for five years.

Lesley is a specialist in systems change for a sustainable future and has worked with some of the most ambitious and forward looking major multi-national corporates, as well as major global conveners like WBCSD, stretching ambition and equipping partners to deliver their climate, environment and development ambitions and building diverse collaborations bringing together unlikely allies to innovate where no one player can solve a challenge alone.

Before joining the SFT, Megan studied for a degree in International Politics and then gained a Masters degree in Food and Water Security at Aberystwyth University. Following some work as a lambing assistant in Devon, she joined the SFT as an intern, moving to a full time role as a policy assistant before becoming communications manager. Megan now works on our policy, campaigns and comms, linking these important areas together.

She currently lives on her family’s Somerset farm where they rear sheep and spin and sell the wool.

As Head of Projects, Bonnie oversees a wide range of SFT activities, including the Feeding Britain campaign, Beacon Farms project, and work around food education and local food.

She joined the SFT in 2017 to support the development and delivery of SFT projects and events. A large part of this work included managing the establishment and evolution of The Harmony Project – an SFT led initiative, working with educators to help them put Nature’s principles of Harmony at the heart of teaching and learning. Bonnie has a background in food anthropology and environmental science with a Bachelor’s degree in Liberal Arts and Sciences from the University of Amsterdam, and a Food Anthropology MA from SOAS University of London.

Bonnie is excited to be part of a growing movement of people who care about where their food comes from, and hopes the work of the SFT will help to inspire farmers, producers and citizens to move towards more sustainable food production and consumption.

Claire takes the lead on the operational management of the Sustainable Food Trust, as well as playing a key role in our strategic development and overseeing fundraising and financial activities.

Before joining the SFT, she spent eight years as Project Manager for Ecoworks, a community urban food and environmental organisation in Nottingham. There, she managed a number of projects including the box scheme and café alongside community horticulture and healthy eating projects.

Richard joined the Sustainable Food trust in 2021 to oversee research activities, including within the Global Farm Metric and across a range of other projects and focus areas.

Since 2011, his research has included applying quantitative and qualitative methodologies to problems as diverse as guillemot breeding productivity, the pollination niches of buttercups and the research priorities for animal health modelling. His current focus is on implementing change towards more sustainable grassland-based livestock farming.

Prior to joining the SFT, Richard was a Lecturer in Sustainable Systems at Aberystwyth University. He has expertise in high nature value and climate friendly livestock farming. Before gaining his PhD in pollination ecology in 2011, he held positions as a countryside ranger at a number of nationally important UK nature reserves. Away from work, Richard is a keen walker, sea swimmer and writer.

Please note, Richard works for the SFT on a part-time basis.

Robert works alongside others in the research team, helping to produce reports and briefing papers on a number of subjects, including the hidden cost of UK food and the role of grazing livestock in sustainable food systems. More recently, he carried out the research behind the Feeding Britain report, which explored the impacts on land use, food production and self sufficiency following a nationwide transition to regenerative, agroecological farming practices.

Robert comes from a hill farming family in Highland Perthshire, producing organic beef and sheep as well as trees. He has always been interested in the relationships between land use and the environment, and it’s an incredibly exciting (if challenging, and sometimes disheartening!) time to be working on these issues.

Imogen supports the research team in keeping up to date with the latest scientific evidence and report writing. She also assists with communications and policy work to ensure our messages are based on current research and policy events.

After completing her Biology degree at the University of Bristol, where she focussed on plant biology, molecular genetics, and the ecology of food production, she spent time volunteering with the Soil Association before joining the SFT as an intern. Imogen is currently studying for a master’s in Food Policy at City, University of London alongside her work.

Imogen is drawn to the link between people, food and nature. She believes that promoting equitable access to land, employment opportunities and food are the strongest ways to ensure that the food system can support the planet and everyone who lives on it.

Marina leads the development, delivery and analysis of the Global Farm Metric’s national trials, assessing farm sustainability across economic, environmental, ethical and social measures, to support the transition to sustainable farming.

She started her career as a chef in Argentina. After working in different restaurants around the world she began questioning her relationship with food and its impact on the planet. Realising the potential of agriculture to address climate change and biodiversity loss, she felt a personal responsibility to help reconnect people with the land, shifting everyone’s relationship with food and fostering a deep understanding of its provenance, which is essential for our shared future.

As Trials Officer, Anna works with Marina to support the development, analysis, and delivery of the national Global Farm Metric trials.

Food and food production has always played a central role in Anna’s life through countless hours spent picking cherries, apples and plums in her family’s orchards, but also through her specialisation in international value chain management. Anna has a BSc in Social Sciences and Economics, and a MSc in Natural Resource Management. She previously worked in the Woodland Trust’s Insight Team to support the leadership team with audience understanding, project evaluation and planning.

Anna then took a sabbatical and spent a year travelling Europe working in olive groves, on vineyards and herding sheep under cork oaks. Sampling great local food (Jamón Ibérico de Bellota, Slovenian natural wines, Portuguese bifana, Poiré Domfront, raw milk cheeses from Grazelema with carne de membrillo) was a highlight of the trip!

Anna returned to the UK and now lives in Pembrokeshire where, prior to starting her current role, she worked for a small community benefit organisation coordinating a citizen science project monitoring the health of the River Nevern catchment. She also led a county wide apple juicing project which turned more than 6 tons of apples into juice.

May works as part of the Global Farm Metric team, focusing on international trials, development and adoption. She enjoys travelling to, working on and learning from different farms around the world – from Georgian homesteads to Malaysian rainforests – and works to align environmental protection and social justice.

May is particularly interested in permaculture and biodynamic farming, as well as cooking, creating and swimming in the sea.

As a Global Farm Metric Trials Officer, Bahareh works with the trials team to support the design, evaluation, and delivery of trials.

Bahareh has a background in public health, food policy, and sustainable agriculture. Holding a Food Policy MSc degree, she has developed a deep understanding of the interactions between food systems, public health, and the environment.

Throughout her academic and professional journey, Bahareh has honed numerical and analytical skills and gained a nuanced perspective on the impact of food production and consumption on society, the economy, and the environment.

Bahareh is passionate about supporting food policy advocacy and driving the transition to sustainable agriculture, and she is eager to bring her perspective and expertise to the Global Farm Metric (GFM) team at the Sustainable Food Trust.

Olivia works in the Global Farm Metric team, her main focus being the international application of the GFM, through her work with Regen10.

Olivia started her career as a farm and equine vet in Cornwall, attending to the varied veterinary needs of large dairy herds, small-holdings of single pygmy goats, and everything in between! Rainy days TB testing provided the perfect conditions for chatting to farmers about the future of agriculture and piqued Olivia’s interest in regenerative and agro-ecological farming. Realising agriculture’s capacity as a solution to, not just cause of, climate change and biodiversity loss inspired her to supplement her practical knowledge of the food and farming industry with rigorous training across the pillars of sustainable development through a Masters in Development Practice from Trinity College Dublin.

Olivia is interested in the social dimensions of agriculture – the farming identity and the need for a just rural transition. Although not growing up on a farm, she has always been most at home surrounded by animals and nature (and preferably the sea) and hopes that the work of the Sustainable Food Trust will facilitate the reconnection to the land and deep understanding of the provenance of food that is necessary for our shared future.

As Communications Manager, Victoria works to spread the word about the SFT’s mission to enable a more sustainable food and farming system.

Overseeing our digital channels, Victoria develops the SFT’s communications strategy, helping to ensure that the importance of our research and projects is recognised and that our content is accessible and engaging.

Having grown up on an organic mixed farm in Cornwall, Victoria spent over 10 years working within publishing and sustainable finance in Oxford, Sheffield, and Bradford, and now lives on the northern edge of Dartmoor National Park. When not busy spreading the word about sustainable farming, Victoria enjoys walking, rock climbing, good food and live music.

As part of the Communications team, Alice helps to get the SFT’s messages across through our content, newsletters, and social media. She’s responsible for other essential daily communications and admin tasks.

Alice has a background in communications and marketing within the charity sector, including Bristol Zoological Society and the National Maritime Museum Cornwall. It was in Cornwall that Alice gained a First Class Bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Communications from Falmouth University. She takes pride in working for organisations that make a positive impact on the world.

Alice grew up in a small village in Cornwall, surrounded by miles of green fields and farm life. Though now living in Bristol, she still enjoys escaping the hustle and bustle of the city and returning to the peace of the countryside. She is excited to be a part of the SFT and to immerse herself in the world of agriculture and sustainable food.

Alicia works as a freelance writer and website editor for the Sustainable Food Trust. She is able to use her understanding of sustainable food from the hands on perspective of growing food on a small organic horticulture farm in West Wales, Troed y Rhiw Organics, which she runs with her partner Nathan Richards.

Born in the United States, Alicia is a long way from home but loves her life in the wild west of Wales. She graduated with distinction from Stanford University and has an MA in the history of photography from the University of New Mexico. Before finding herself a small-scale farmer, Alicia worked for many years in the contemporary visual arts, working closely with artists as a curator, gallery educator and art critic.

Rebecca provides support to SFT’s Founder and CEO, Patrick.

She was brought up on a hill farm in rural Mid Wales which has been in her family for over 4 generations.  She has a passion for nature, conservation and the great outdoors which has led to her spending time living and working in both New Zealand and Canada.

In her spare time Rebecca likes to spend as much time as possible outdoors, walking, studying nature and growing her own food in the garden.

Isabel helps SFT’s Executive Director, Adele, to keep on top of her busy schedule and supports the rest of the team with event organisation, project logistics and comms work.

She studied Italian at university and has since taken on a variety of roles in the UK and Italy, including book editing, EFL teaching and organising tours of Florence.

In 2018, Isabel’s long-standing interest in food and farming led to her spending several months on organic farms and vineyards in France; learning about biodynamics and permaculture, helping to fill 20,000 wine bottles, repairing drystone walls, and enjoying the occasional glass of organic rosé! She continues to volunteer with various projects in the UK and is a keen, although not wildly successful, allotment grower.