Sustainable Food Systems for the 21st Century: The Challenge for Prince Edward Island
First Annual George McRobie Lecture, at the Macphail Homestead
Wednesday 19th October 2011 13:31 (Updated: Wednesday 19th October 2011 13:34)
The First Annual George McRobie Lecture will be presented by Patrick Holden, CBE, at the Macphail Homestead on Monday, October 24th, beginning at 7:00 p.m., with a reception and cash-bar at 6:00. The title of Mr. Holden’s talk will be “Sustainable Food Systems for the 21st Century: The Challenge for Prince Edward Island.”
This special lecture series is named in honour of Dr.George McRobie, Patron for The Homestead Farm, the new sustainable agriculture component of the Sir Andrew Macphail Homestead.
George McRobie has long been one of the world’s leading proponents of sustainable agriculture and appropriate, small-scale technology. He was a close friend and colleague of the radical economist E.F. Schumacher, whose landmark book Small Is Beautiful made such an impact in the latter part of the 20th century.
More recently, McRobie has served as President of the Soil Association, Britain’s foremost farm organization promoting organic agriculture – with Prince Charles as Patron. Dr. McRobie has been awarded an honorary degree by the University of Prince Edward Island, and is at present a part-time Islander, dividing the year between homes in London and Brackley Beach. Patrick Holden is a noted international authority in the field of sustainable agriculture.
Himself the operator of an organic dairy farm in Wales since 1973 – which now boasts a herd of 75 Ayrshire cows – Holden worked for 20 years with the Soil Association, during the last 15 of which he served as the Director. In 2010 he founded a new organization – The Sustainable Food Trust – with a mandate to provide a global voice for the Sustainable Food Movement. Mr. Holden’s visit to the Island is made possible through the support of the PEI Department of Agriculture.
Since meeting space is limited at the Homestead – capacity about 50 people – you should register in advance by phoning (902) 651-2789, or sending an email to macphailhomestead@pei.aibn.com.
George McRobie has long been one of the world’s leading proponents of sustainable agriculture and appropriate, small-scale technology. He was a close friend and colleague of the radical economist E.F. Schumacher, whose landmark book Small Is Beautiful made such an impact in the latter part of the 20th century.
More recently, McRobie has served as President of the Soil Association, Britain’s foremost farm organization promoting organic agriculture – with Prince Charles as Patron. Dr. McRobie has been awarded an honorary degree by the University of Prince Edward Island, and is at present a part-time Islander, dividing the year between homes in London and Brackley Beach. Patrick Holden is a noted international authority in the field of sustainable agriculture.
Himself the operator of an organic dairy farm in Wales since 1973 – which now boasts a herd of 75 Ayrshire cows – Holden worked for 20 years with the Soil Association, during the last 15 of which he served as the Director. In 2010 he founded a new organization – The Sustainable Food Trust – with a mandate to provide a global voice for the Sustainable Food Movement. Mr. Holden’s visit to the Island is made possible through the support of the PEI Department of Agriculture.
Since meeting space is limited at the Homestead – capacity about 50 people – you should register in advance by phoning (902) 651-2789, or sending an email to macphailhomestead@pei.aibn.com.
