Patrick Holden

"I'm here as a farmer and a father and a citizen of planet Earth"

Patrick Holden, founder and CEO of Sustainable Food Trust, frames progress through collaboration. The Sustainable Markets Initiative gathers CEOs in a pre-competitive spirit, enabling businesses to move faster than politics and to act in the commons on climate, nature and public health. Cross-sector task forces link land use, agriculture and finance, and advance pathways for carbon and nature credits that repair ecosystems while keeping businesses viable.

The focus shifts from commitments to delivery: pilots, clear objectives and transparent measurement over the coming year. Policy remains important, especially in regards to pricing and incentives that reward nature-friendly farming, but is expected to follow where business leads.

Urgency underpins the conversation: the window to avoid irreversible loss is closing, and younger negotiators bring drive to match the scale of the challenge. Yet optimism endures. Shared purpose, practical collaboration and leadership inspired by the King demonstrate how private enterprise and citizens alike can work with nature – and with each other – to accelerate a just transition.