A FAMILY STORY
Jean-Christophe UPTON
Holding a Master's degree in agricultural and forestry sciences from the University of Oxford as well as a Master's degree in agricultural economics, Jean-Christophe combines a solid academic background with exceptional field experience.
Since the 1980s, he has been involved in numerous agroforestry research programs, the financing of agricultural systems in East Africa, and community-based management of tropical forests in Fiji.
In the 1990s, he specialized in tropical forestry and forest certification. It was in this context that he co-founded, in collaboration with the WWF, the Forest Stewardship Council, now a global leader
in sustainable forest management. He is also co-author of the Forest Certification Handbook, a key reference work in this field.
In particular, it played a pioneering role by issuing, as early as 1997, the very first global carbon offset certificate, granted to the government of Costa Rica as part of a program financed by the World Bank. This innovative initiative was incorporated into the discussions of the Kyoto International Climate Conference, highlighting, well before the issue became central, the positive role that forests and agriculture can play in mitigating climate change.
Today, his commitment focuses on the development of sustainable agricultural systems in England and France with an approach where social, ecological and economic aspects are in harmony.
Anne-Camille UPTON
Anne-Camille Upton is a co-inspirer of les Jardins de Kermeur. Franco-English, she is passionate about transmitting and promoting the nutritional qualities of vegetables grown in a garden managed without tilling, respecting the soil and living things.
After higher education at the London School of Economics, she pursued a master's degree in agricultural economics, during which she gave a very concrete dimension to her reflections by dedicating her thesis to the importance of a national nutrition policy.
Anne-Camille enjoys creating recipes that are both delicious and healthy, bridging the gap between gardening practice and the theoretical foundations of her training. Through cooking, she makes essential concepts of nutrition, sustainable agriculture, and responsible eating accessible.
She tells the story of vegetable garden life as a true recipe for life and strives to demonstrate that growing fresh, local and human-scale vegetables can be both deeply rewarding and economically viable.
