Sarah Compson, Marco Schlüter and Paul Holmbeck candidates for IFOAM World Board election

Chairing of IFOAM Organics Europe’s Interest Group of Organic Processors and Traders, Sarah is currently the International Development Manager at Soil Association (UK), as well as a member of the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) standards committee and the Organic Cotton Ambassador at Textile Exchange.

Sarah is a passionate advocate for organic, with a strong track record of convening and collaborating with a wide range of stakeholders across the globe to support and develop the organic movement. Her experience helped her gain philosophical and technical knowledge of matters affecting the organic sector, covering a wide range of organic topics both in relation to principle and practice, including GM, social justice and regulation.

“I believe that the organic movement can play a critical role in informing and improving the environmental and social impacts of agriculture worldwide. I would relish the opportunity to represent the movement and would bring my energy, enthusiasm, passion and commitment to advocate for the solutions that organic can deliver”, says Sarah.

A trained biodynamic farmer, Marco Schlüter is a strong advocate for organic food and farming. Following a master’s in agriculture science, he became assistant to a Green member of the Bundestag before being appointed as IFOAM Organics Europe’s Director in 2003. In his time as Director, Marco helped build the advocacy organisation and give a voice to the organic movement in the EU. After 13 years, he stepped down and took on new challenges as Head of the Organic Fruit Advisory Service. He is now Head of Strategy & International Affairs and a Member of the Management Board at Naturland.

Marco Schlüter believes that “in times of fundamental global crisis, the world depends urgently on an effective and good governed organic movement where the regional and global level go together hand in hand.”

Paul Holmbeck is an emblematic figure of the European food and farming movement, who spent more than 20 years as Director of Organic Denmark. As such, he contributed to forge strong organic policies and broad political and civil society alliances in favour or organic, thus building one of the world’s leading NGO in the organic food sector. In 2020, he launched Holmbeck EcoConsult to focus on advising leaders in government, business and NGOs on the global challenges we face (climate, biodiversity, hunger, social justice).

If elected to the World Board, Paul will be dedicated to strengthening IFOAM Organics International’s members capacity to drive change through organic policy, market development and work with organic farmers and allies. He also believes in the need to position organic farming and food in the sustainability agenda and will have a specific focus on organizational development and fundraising activities.