This special edition of The Land Institute’s historic Land Report honors a figure of immense importance not only to the organization but also to the global sustainable agriculture and environmental movements within which The Land Institute operates.

Angus Wright was a key stakeholder in the 1970s environmental movement, a period marked by significant paradigm shifts. During this period, a transition to a more heavily industrialized agriculture and society began to unfold. His involvement in food and agriculture policy and social-environmental activism, through his work with organizations such as the Institute for Food & Development Policy and the Pesticide Action Network, helped shape the framework for The Land Institute’s vision of a just, perennial transition. He also served on The Land Institute’s Board of Directors for 22 years and was the Board Chair for eight of those years. Angus shared his knowledge and tangible experiences working in this field with Prairie Festival audiences on several occasions.

Angus also influenced future stewards of the land and environment through his role as Professor of Environmental Studies at California State University, Sacramento, between 1972 and 2005, and as the author of multiple noteworthy books.

This remembrance issue seeks to highlight both the character and accomplishments of this influential figure in addition to his contributions to the contextual foundation for The Land Institute and its mission. His work has been, and will continue to be, a driving force in our efforts as we strive to promote and facilitate a regenerative agriculture transformation centered on perennial grain crops. Even when Angus was tackling challenging conflicts or topics, his presence brought a feeling of grace and peace to the situation. He was someone you wanted to be around, and he felt settled and clear in the way of a great leader.