Food and farming charity The Soil Association has announced that His Majesty King Charles will retain his patronage of the charity as part of his long-standing support for organic and nature-friendly farming.
Confirmation that His Majesty will remain patron of the Soil Association, which has been campaigning for sustainable food and farming since 1946, comes as we celebrate the first anniversary of the King’s coronation this week.
He has supported the charity since first becoming patron as Prince of Wales in 1999 and he has also supported hundreds of farmer-led research trials with the charity’s Innovative Farmers network, a platform that helps farmers to test sustainable solutions on real farms. Launched 12 years ago, Innovative Farmers has been funded by the former Prince of Wales Charitable Fund since it was launched 12 years ago. This support is continuing via the King Charles III Charitable Fund.
Soil Association Chief Executive Helen Browning said: “We are delighted that His Majesty King Charles will remain our patron. At the Soil Association we have been very fortunate to have worked closely with King Charles during his many years of extraordinary charitable work as the Prince of Wales.
“I feel privileged to know him as a fellow organic farmer with a lifelong dedication to healthy, sustainable food, and as a champion for nature, the countryside and its people.
“His Prince of Wales Charitable Fund has supported more than 120 farmer-led research trials with our Innovative Farmers network – but his support goes far beyond financial generosity.
“He follows the work of pioneering farmers with avid fascination and takes inspiration from them. We look forward to sharing more with the King as the Soil Association pursues a nature-friendly future with his support.”
Speaking at a 10-year anniversary event for Innovative Farmers held in 2022, the former Prince of Wales said he was “very proud” to have been able to support Innovative Farmers.
