EDF’s Eric Holst Appointed to California State Board of Food & Agriculture

(SACRAMENTO – December 13, 2012) Eric Holst, a senior director of Environmental Defense Fund’s working lands program, was appointed to the California State Board of Food & Agriculture by Governor Jerry Brown.

“Eric is a terrific choice for the California Board of Food & Agriculture,” said David Festa vice president of EDF’s Land, Water and Wildlife Program. “He is leading the way in developing innovative partnerships with farmers, ranchers and foresters to improve environmental and economic performance on working lands.”

According to its website, the California State Board of Food and Agriculture is a fifteen-member state board, appointed by the Governor, and carefully selected to represent a broad range of agricultural commodities, a variety of geographic regions and academic systems. The board encourages public participation and input in all matters concerning agriculture and food policy within the state.

“It is an honor to be chosen to participate on the California State Board of Food & Agriculture,” said Holst. “California’s farmers, ranchers and foresters provide numerous benefits to the people of California including food, fiber and numerous ecosystem benefits such as clean water and clean air and wildlife habitat. I look forward to representing these interests and to bringing wider-recognition to the multiple environmental benefits provided by California’s working lands.”

Holst has been senior director for working lands at the Environmental Defense Fund since 2006. He was principal at Holst Conservation Consulting from 2004 to 2006 and served as executive director of the Resources Legacy Fund in 2004. Holst was program officer at the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation from 1999 to 2003 and was a manager at Conservation Agriculture Program at the Rainforest Alliance from 1996 to 1999. He earned a Master of Science degree in environmental management from Duke University.