Ecotricity talks wind at organic conference

10 December 2002

Ecotricity, the pioneering green electricity company, is a sponsor of the Soil Association's 2003 national organic conference and also running a workshop on wind energy diversification. Delegates at the event, which takes place on 3-5 January at the Royal Agriculture College, Cirencester will be able to learn about all aspects of wind energy development.

The sponsorship is part of The Soil Association and Ecotricity's recently formed partnership to promote an organic way of life. Soil Association members will be among the first people to be able to power their homes from Ecotricity's clean, green electricity. In return, Ecotricity will make a donation to the Soil Association for every member who makes the switch.

The Soil Association's conference will look at how to keep the organic market growing, while remaining true to its founding principles, and ensuring farmers get a fair return.

The Ecotricity workshop will be presented by Dale Vince, Managing Director of Ecotricity and Ian Leonard who is planning to host a wind park on his farm in Norfolk. Dale Vince comments, "We were keen to support the conference as part of our goal to promote organic living and I am looking forward to talking to delegates about how wind energy is a viable farming option. Our contribution to cleaning up the environment is providing electricity made from clean green energy sources which doesn't cost anymore than conventional electricity."

A number of high-profile speakers have agreed to attend the conference including Jonathan Dimbleby (broadcaster and president of the Soil Association) and Eric Schlosser, US author of the best-selling 'Fast Food Nation'. There will also be a specially recorded video message from HRH Prince of Wales.

Patrick Holden, Director of the Soil Association, said: "The food industry is increasingly dominated by industrial agriculture and trading on global markets. Our conference aims to start to tackle how the philosophy and principles of the organic movement can be harnessed to promote socially and environmentally sustainable trading practice."

For further information, or to book a place, contact Catherine Popham, Conference Administrator on 0117 987 4586 or cpopham@soilassociation.org. The conference programme and booking form are available from www.soilassociation.org.