An Interview with Ambassador Carol Moseley Braun of Ambassador Organics:
Better Nutrition through Biodynamics
Biodynamics may have its roots in ancient agricultural practices, but for many it is the way of the future. Ambassador Carol Moseley Braun is one of these new modern day pioneers for the biodynamic movement, a farming method that calls for a return to more holistic practices that seek to enrich soil and thus produce more nutrient-rich food. Through her line of organic, biodynamic, fair-trade products, appropriately named “Ambassador Organics,” Braun seeks to bring healthier food to the American People.
For over 30 years, Braun committed her life to public service, representing her country as an Ambassador to New Zealand and Samoa, United States Senator, County Executive Officer, State Representative and Assistant United States Attorney. She was also a candidate for the nomination for President of the United States in 2004. Throughout this time, she devoted most of her professional life to legal issues concerning environmental and social justice. As a United States Senator, Illinois farmers dubbed her the “Ethanol Queen” in recognition of her renewable fuel efforts. Her work has earned her the Attorney General’s Special Achievement Award and more than 200 additional awards and 11 honorary degrees for achievements in the public interest, including the naming of an elementary school in her honor.
In 2001, Braun returned to the private sector and was inspired to take up farming as her great grandmother had done when she was growing up. Health and nutrition are also areas that Braun has always championed and this eventually led her to the doors of the Michael Fields Institute in East Troy, Wis., where she was introduced to biodynamic agriculture.
She incorporated Ambassador Organics in 2005. In addition, she is very involved in the “Healthier Schools” campaign, along with Senator Harkin, to make more fresh fruits and vegetables available in school lunch programs. She hopes to eventually integrate organic food into this system as well. Recently, Braun took some time to chat with OP about her mission to bring healthier food to America.
OP: So for those who may not know, what is biodynamic farming and what are the benefits?
Braun: Biodynamic agriculture employs the most sustainable farming practices and calls for a holistic approach to the entire farm. The products used in producing food are all from the farm, giving the product a “terroir,” a term the wine industry uses to say that the product reflects characteristics from the land it is grown.
Biodynamic farming requires intense attention to the quality of the earth and the quality of the water that goes into food production. Instead of using external fertilizers, the only fertilizers allowed are what are called “preparations,” which are aged compost, with ingredients from the farm. It requires planting at the appropriate times of the season in accordance with the moon, which is believed to have a connection with crops, as it does with the ocean tides.
All of this together creates healthier ground that doesn’t need pesticides or fertilizers because it restores balance to the soil. Biodynamics is very reminiscent of how my great grandmother farmed, how people used to farm before artificial inputs.
In the end the products that are produced are more vital and represent the healthiest, purest agricultural product there is. That is what drew me in the most. For people who are interested in healthy eating it doesn’t get any better than this. We call it the gold standard of organic products.
Biodynamics is about going “back to the future” or reclaiming ancient farming techniques to restore the vitality and health of the food we consume; to have food that tastes like it should and has real nutrition.
One of the best sources to explain biodynamics is Demeter International, (www.demeter-usa.org). Demeter is the leading biodynamic certifier.
OP: As one of the modern pioneers of biodynamics, what are your plans to broaden the spectrum of biodynamics?
Braun: Well, for one, our company along with a number of biodynamic producers, including Frey Vinyards, Café Altura and others, have joined together to create a biodynamic trade association to help get the message out. We will actually have a “biodynamic pavilion” at the All Things Organic (ATO) show, so people can come there and learn about it. I will also be speaking at ATO and several other conventions, however I think my biggest contribution is making the products we offer available.
We are now selling our product through the online grocer, www.peapod.com, and it will soon be in natural food markets and hopefully conventional grocery stores as well one day. Quality is what makes the case for biodynamic. Once people try it they are sold, so we just need to get the product out to market and make it more readily available.
OP: So why did you choose to start with spices, teas and coffee?
Braun: Serendipity, I guess. I knew of producers both here in the United States and around the world and I wanted to be able to source directly at the producer level.
These are all products we can source from the farm gate, which also gives us accountability for quality and worker conditions. We have started with basic commodities, but will move as soon as practical into value added products. It will be great when people can buy a ready to eat biodynamic meal but we are not at that point yet. We’re anxious to add grains and cereals and we also have a fabulous ready-to-drink prototype that we’re looking at. Our plan also includes expanding into food service and eventually more industrial ingredients, but right now we’re focusing on our existing line.
OP: So are biodynamic raw materials pretty limited right now?
Braun: Well, all organic products are limited. There are not as many acres under cultivation in organics as on the conventional side. Biodynamics is a variation on that same theme. There are difficulties in terms of sourcing. That’s one of the values of Ambassador Organics. We are working to locate more biodynamic product around the world and make it available.
OP: You have an incredibly savvy advisory board. What role have they played in your company?
Braun: I have been so blessed to have the absolute best team imaginable to come together for this company. My corporate board of advisors is made up of many of the pioneers of organic. I have made it a point to reach out to what in my former life we called non-governmental organizations (NGOs), or organizations that are supporting and helping the same vision, both in regard to agriculture and sustainability. Besides biodynamics and my company, they have also worked with me on issues involving “food deserts” in inner city communities, education, the anti-genetic-modification movement, raw food, fair trade and other food safety issues as well. We are all just making the case that the American people deserve better food. It’s about doing what we can to get the best quality, most nutritious food out in commerce, particularly, things like school programs. What we’re feeding the kids now is leading to asthma, obesity, diabetes—and even autism is possibly connected. All these issues are related to nutrition. Although this effort is not solely connected with biodynamics, it fits in with the bigger picture of moving our country in a healthier direction.
OP: How does fair trade and the triple bottom line philosophy fit into your plan?
Braun: It’s a core value of our company. We started off with the notion that we were going to go into business in ways that were socially responsible, sustainable, that we would have respect for the environment, as well as for the people who produce food. Biodynamics has the same core values, and takes it to the next level with an added commitment to nutritional value, the vitality of the food we are producing, and the interactions of the people involved in the production.
Even with my board of directors on our corporate side I didn’t have to really even discuss why we’re doing the triple bottom line. They got it, right off the bat. They’re very interested in fair trade and what we can do in underdeveloped countries to create infrastructure. We want to have confidence that no part of our business model is ex-ploitative, of either the environment or the people who produce our products.
Make no mistake, this is a business proposition. Having said that, this is a business that will hopefully prove that we can do good and do well simultaneously, and that these two things are not contradictory.
OP: You’ve termed yourself once as a “recovering politician,” I see that you are recovering very nicely.
Braun: Thank you. I really am enjoying this industry. I’ve had some wonderful teachers and some great introductions. People who have been involved with this industry as pioneers have been willing to reach out and help me get started, and I am really grateful for that. Having arrived, I can tell you I have never worked in a better environment.
