Award recognizes Brinkley’s longstanding efforts to advance regenerative organic agriculture as a climate solution.
Hopland, Mendocino County, Calif. May 31, 2023 – Bonterra Organic Estates, the largest Regenerative Organic Certified® winery in the United States, proudly announces that Joseph Brinkley, Director of Regenerative Farming, earned the esteemed 2023 BICEP Climate Smart Agriculture Groundbreaker Award from the nonprofit organization Ceres. This recognition highlights Brinkley as a vital member of the Ceres Climate Smart Agriculture and Healthy Soil (CSAHS) Working Group, as well his impassioned advocacy for regenerative organic agriculture.
The BICEP Climate Smart Agriculture Groundbreaker Award exemplifies Brinkley’s commitment to advancing environmentally sound and regenerative organic farming practices. Brinkley’s active involvement in the CSAHS Working Group has been instrumental in driving tangible policy changes that significantly impact the agriculture and viticulture communities. Through collaborative efforts with Ceres, the Organic Trade Association, and other stakeholders, he has played a pivotal role in championing organic priorities on a broad scale while raising awareness about the vital role of regenerative organic farming methods as a climate solution.
Moreover, Brinkley is active in legislation advocacy, meeting with bi-partisan lawmakers to support an upcoming 2023 U.S. Farm Bill that prioritizes regenerative organic agriculture and promotes equitable agricultural practices. Recently, he dedicated two weeks on Capitol Hill engaging in meaningful discussions with members of Congress and the White House, highlighting the critical need for increased funding for organic agriculture.
Cindy Clark, senior manager, regenerative agriculture policy at Ceres commended Joseph’s award, stating, “It is our pleasure to present Joseph and Bonterra Organic Estates with our Climate Smart Agriculture Groundbreaker award. Joseph has represented Bonterra extremely well as an integral member of the Ceres Climate Smart Agriculture and Healthy Soil Working Group, and we have been deeply impressed by his abilities as an enthusiastic and highly educational participant in meetings with lawmakers from both parties. We look forward to our continued work with Joseph and Bonterra this year in support of a 2023 Farm Bill that equitably prioritizes regenerative agriculture.”
ABOUT BONTERRA ORGANIC ESTATES
The United States’ largest Regenerative Organic Certified® winery, Bonterra Organic Estates is an award-winning purveyor of multi-origin wines, selling in over 50 countries worldwide. Founded by Barney Fetzer in Mendocino County, CA, in 1968 as Fetzer Vineyards, and today part of global powerhouse Viña Concha y Toro, Bonterra Organic Estates remains driven by excellence, innovation and longstanding commitments to the environment and responsible business practices. With a focus on crafting wines made from sustainable and Regenerative Organic Certified grapes, Bonterra Organic Estates is a leading U.S. marketer of wines and the nation’s primary importer of South American wines. As a B Corp recognized as “Outstanding” by the nonprofit B Lab, Bonterra Organic Estates is grounded in the transformational goals of regenerative business.
