EcoFacilitation’s Origins EcoFacilitation grew out of a group of European and American organic pioneers who in 2003 began researching the factors that influence supply and demand of food in the current supply chain. Andrew (Andy) Cooksey, an American green marketing veteran, who was active in the organic industry since the early seventies, was the catalyst and founder. Also involved were Robert Dax a pioneer in the German organic movement going back over 25 years, Jos Kamphuys, original franchisee of NatuurWinkel the Dutch retail organic food chain and owner of Holland’s largest organic supermarket, EkoPlaza, Tim O’Donnell, currently Senior Vice-President of Marketing for Lundberg Family Farms, the largest producer/grower of rice and rice products in the USA and Brian Leahy, former President of the California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF), a non-profit organization that certifies 1,200 members representing over one billion dollars of organic product sales. The original research showed that as profit margins of retailers decrease, the compensations of farmers and producers spiral down further, forcing them to use harmful chemicals to increase yields. The continual need for more land and more production leads to rapid deforestation and inefficient use of energy resources. Meanwhile, there was a growing recognition that conventional high fat and sugar foods were contributing to major problems with obesity, diabetes and other illnesses. In short, EcoFacilitation was formed because it has long passed the point where we can ignore the problems that plague society. Please continue reading to learn why we believe a new economic model is necessary and what that model might look like.