Michaël Wilde
Transform your event with Michaël Wilde!
Booking Michaël makes your event really unforgettable.
For everybody. In every aspect.
Looking for inspiration?
Looking for a speaker to inspire and connect your audience about organic farming in the inescapable agricultural and food transition? Michaël Wilde is the speaker you need!
Vital ideas and solutions
With his in-depth knowledge and experience in bringing local organic food systems and social partners together, Michaël offers vital ideas and fascinating insights and solutions that are directly applicable in the field.
From resistance to enthusiasm
When Michaël speaks in front of an audience, he knows how to turn resistance into enthusiasm and action with his enthusiasm and ‘Bio Bullshit Bingo’.
Whether you are organising a conference or a small internal meeting, Michaël’s energetic and interactive approach ensures that participants not only listen, but are also inspired to continue taking sustainable action.
Looking for inspiration? Looking for a speaker to inspire and connect your audience about organic farming in the inescapable agricultural and food transition? Michaël Wilde is the speaker you need! Vital ideas and solutions With his in-depth knowledge and experience in bringing local organic food systems and social partners together, Michaël offers vital ideas and fascinating insights and solutions that are directly applicable in the field. View more…
What is Michaël talking about?
In his inspiring keynotes, Michaël outlines a positive future perspective for everyone who wants to move along in the food transition. He knows the motives and objections of farmers and companies regarding organic food like no other. He speaks from the heart, with an infectious enthusiasm.
You can find his keynote here. Customization is always an option, please ask for the possibilities.
The future is organic
Discover why organic is an important part of the agricultural and food transition and how you as a farmer, producer or consumer can be part of it.
The future is organic
Discover why organic is an important part of the agricultural and food transition and how you as a farmer, producer or consumer can be part of it.
“We can only feed the world’s growing population if we cooperate with nature.”
Michael Wilde is an expert on organic farming and speaks from the heart.
He entered hotel life after training at the hotel school in Switzerland which fueled his fascination for food and cooking. But being part of a machine and the lack of space for his creativity made him decide to go in a different direction. He studied Commercial Economics in Rotterdam and worked for one company after another in the food industry – including SVZ (part of COSUN).
At EOSTA, where he has worked as sustainability and communications manager for 12 years, he learned a lot about organic farming and how it affects the environment, climate, biodiversity, animal welfare and the farmers themselves. He also speaks to many organic farmers about their motivations, as well as the many hurdles they must overcome to make the switch.
The last three years he has been director of BIONEXT; the chain organization for organic agriculture and food. The experience in the food sector and communications, is a role that suits him well.
“You can do good things, but you also have to communicate it. Especially in the organic sector, where they face a lot of resistance. To change something, you also have to know how to get the message across to people who are not involved in this on a daily basis.”
Michael is good at getting that message across, inspiring and connecting, which is why he often speaks about organic farming. For farms, educational institutions, government officials, supermarkets, banks; it doesn’t matter who the audience is. From every perspective, organic is a future-proof form of agriculture and he knows how to convince his audience of this enthusiastically.
“We cannot leave the transition of our agricultural and food system to farmers and policy makers alone. So, I want to inform as many people as possible about how valuable sustainable food is.”
Michael Wilde is an expert on organic farming and speaks from the heart. He entered hotel life after training at the hotel school in Switzerland which fueled his fascination for food and cooking. But being part of a machine and the lack of space for his creativity made him decide to go in a different direction. He studied Commercial Economics in Rotterdam and worked for one View more…
"Not just farmers and policymakers need to take responsibility in the food transition; everyone!"
“Organic is not only better for people and animals, but the farmer himself experiences more meaning and social appreciation."
Healthy for human, animal, planet, and farm
During a trip to Malawi where his brother worked as a pediatric surgeon, Michael looked back on his working life and questioned it. Was he still on the right track? Yes, food fascinated him immensely, but does what he is doing give him enough satisfaction, or is something gnawing at him? Does something in him yearn for more meaning; doing something that is meaningful? There he realizes that, like his brother, he really wants to make a difference and, in his case, actively contribute to a greener, more sustainable, and fairer food system. A more beautiful world.
“I want to leave the world a better place for my two daughters and all other (future) inhabitants of this beautiful planet.”
We all eat, so with what’s on our plates we cast a vote for what we care about, every day. And that voice for organic farming is crucial as far as Michael is concerned.
“Organic food has a huge impact on your own health, animal welfare, the environment and therefore on society as a whole.”
Michael lists five reasons to choose organic: as a consumer or (agricultural) business.
It is proven sustainable, there are clear regulations, it is an internationally recognized label, consumers are willing to pay a higher price if organic is specifically mentioned in the European agricultural strategy (farm to fork).
But what about today’s farmers who practice traditional agriculture? The image we have of farmers is driven by the media and politics and causes polarization. This is unjustified and unnecessary according to Michael.
“Roughly 15% of farmers already work in a sustainable way such as organic. 60% of farmers are also quite willing to join the transition and understand why it is necessary.”
Although he feels it is important to clear up misconceptions of this kind, Michael prefers to keep himself busy inspiring, connecting, and informing farmers and other companies in the food industry, and activating them to take steps in the organic direction. When speaking before an audience, he knows how to turn resistance into enthusiasm and action with his enthusiasm and “Bio Bullshit Bingo.” And the conclusion is that organic farmers generally experience more appreciation and meaning too!
“Organic farmers experience more meaning and collegiality. They enter a new network where knowledge is exchanged and together, they are part of the solution, not the problem. That connects and gives a good feeling.”
Want to book Michaël as a speaker?
Would you like to book Michaël Wilde for your event? Ask about the possibilities and his availability.
1. Connecting
Michaël stays away from polarizing expressions. Because as he himself says “only parties that do not want to change benefit from polarization, it causes stagnation”. Working together and sharing knowledge only really creates a change in thinking and doing. That starts with removing prejudices about and objections to organic farming.
2. Inspired
Michaël believes in organic farming and food production as a solution to large number of social problems and scenarios. You can feel his passion. He brings his mission from the heart, with a positive enthusiasm that is contagious.
3. Effective
Michaël sees that organic is taking an increasingly central role in the social debate, and he is exactly where the debate is being held. His experience and knowledge comes straight from the source.
4. Empathy
In his career, Michael has spoken with many farmers and companies about their motivations, objections, and barriers regarding organic food. His empathy and experience help him quickly connect with the audience – any audience.
5. Positive
Whether it is consumers, supermarket chains, farms, or students to whom Michael speaks, he always paints a hopeful picture of what their future can look like. He removes prejudices and he draws on theoretical knowledge, but above all, practical experience to create a positive outlook for the future.
1. Connecting
Michaël stays away from polarizing expressions. Because as he himself says “only parties that do not want to change benefit from polarization, it causes stagnation”. Working together and sharing knowledge only really creates a change in thinking and doing. That starts with removing prejudices about and objections to organic farming.
2. Inspired
Michaël believes in organic farming and food production as a solution to large number of social problems and scenarios. You can feel his passion. He brings his mission from the heart, with a positive enthusiasm that is contagious.
3. Effective
Michaël sees that organic is taking an increasingly central role in the social debate, and he is exactly where the debate is being held. His experience and knowledge comes straight from the source.
4. Empathy
In his career, Michael has spoken with many farmers and companies about their motivations, objections, and barriers regarding organic food. His empathy and experience help him quickly connect with the audience – any audience.
5. Positive
Whether it is consumers, supermarket chains, farms, or students to whom Michael speaks, he always paints a hopeful picture of what their future can look like. He removes prejudices and he draws on theoretical knowledge, but above all, practical experience to create a positive outlook for the future.
Five questions for:
Michaël Wilde
What is typical Michael; what makes you happy?
“Cooking and good food, that actually always runs like a thread through my life. I also love nature immensely, and the mountains, my wife, and children. Cliché perhaps, but I’m just a very happy person.”
Walk the Talk - what does 'for good' mean to you?
“That you do everything you can to leave the world better. I am committed to a cleaner, fairer, and greener agricultural and food system every day by speaking out, and of course importantly ‘practicing what you preach’ .. It would be weird if I didn’t buy organic groceries myself. In addition, I travel by train as much as possible; I used to travel by plane more often, but I now limit that to no more than once a year.”
By the way, a word I like to stay far away from is “inspire,” because just by inspiring you don’t improve the situation. In fact, an “inspiration shot” can be deceptive. It can maintain the illusion that leaders are changing the organization, while words are not backed up by actions. Then I miss my goal of actually getting managers and leaders into action mode.”
What is your vision of agriculture in a nutshell?
“A form of agriculture based on important values for a good future, especially care, health, fairness and ecology.”
And why specifically organic?
“Because it is proven sustainable, independently and strictly controlled, AND it is internationally relevant and even part of European policy. The fact that there is a recognized label also ensures that consumers have confidence in it and are more willing to pay the extra price.”
Do you have an example or source of inspiration yourself?
“Nelson Mandela. To give an example why: sustainability is often ‘framed’ as a left-wing theme. I don’t understand that. Everyone should care about climate, water quality and biodiversity, among other things, because it has a huge impact on everyone. Left or right, it makes no difference. I can get angry that if you are concerned, you immediately get a stigma. But then I think of people like Mandela, who did not dwell on their personal injustice and continued to connect in calmness to bridge differences.”
What is typical Michael; what makes you happy?
“Cooking and good food, that actually always runs like a thread through my life. I also love nature immensely, and the mountains, my wife, and children. Cliché perhaps, but I’m just a very happy person.”
Walk the Talk - what does 'for good' mean to you?
“That you do everything you can to leave the world better. I am committed to a cleaner, fairer, and greener agricultural and food system every day by speaking out, and of course importantly ‘practicing what you preach’ .. It would be weird if I didn’t buy organic groceries myself. In addition, I travel by train as much as possible; I used to travel by plane more often, but I now limit that to no more than once a year.”
By the way, a word I like to stay far away from is “inspire,” because just by inspiring you don’t improve the situation. In fact, an “inspiration shot” can be deceptive. It can maintain the illusion that leaders are changing the organization, while words are not backed up by actions. Then I miss my goal of actually getting managers and leaders into action mode.”
What is your vision of agriculture in a nutshell?
“A form of agriculture based on important values for a good future, especially care, health, fairness and ecology.”
And why specifically organic?
“Because it is proven sustainable, independently and strictly controlled, AND it is internationally relevant and even part of European policy. The fact that there is a recognized label also ensures that consumers have confidence in it and are more willing to pay the extra price.”
Do you have an example or source of inspiration yourself?
“Nelson Mandela. To give an example why: sustainability is often ‘framed’ as a left-wing theme. I don’t understand that. Everyone should care about climate, water quality and biodiversity, among other things, because it has a huge impact on everyone. Left or right, it makes no difference. I can get angry that if you are concerned, you immediately get a stigma. But then I think of people like Mandela, who did not dwell on their personal injustice and continued to connect in calmness to bridge differences.”
A selection of companies that Ruud Veltenaar already had impactful collaborations with….
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Enthusiastic speaker with extensive knowledge on the topic of organic farming and sustainability. Fascinating and inspiring!
VLAM
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Gemeente Eindhoven.Gemeente Eindhoven
