Founder and CEOPlant for Peace
James is the Founder of Plant for Peace, a global initiative aimed at bringing sustainable stability to countries crippled by conflict by the creation of horticultural cooperatives. It’s a remarkable initiative currently focused on Afghanistan, where James has singlehandedly hosted 7 Tribal Elder gatherings addressing approximately 55,000 Elders convincing the entire farming community of Afghanistan to join Plant for Peace as a positive alternative livelihood subject to necessary support. James also oversaw the burning of $780M of narcotics in Afghanistan, personally lighting the fire.
"For every sale we plant a Tree"
The ‘fruits’ of the Plant for Peace initiative is a range of innovative products the first of which – an organic yogurt covered fruit bar range – can be found in Waitrose and Holland & Barrett stores across the UK from May 2015. In February 2016 Plant for Peace planted 110,000 trees in Afghanistan from fruit bar sales.
But if James had never set foot in Afghanistan, had never toured this troubled country without a bodyguard, badge or gun his achievements would still be mind-boggling, because his life story is truly astonishing.
It’s a story which includes child abuse by his grandfather, the early tragic death of his mother, his subsequent decline into drug addiction, homelessness, prison, betrayal, violence and mental illness. Ultimately it’s a breath-taking story of recovery, hope, humility and remarkable vision supported by a cast of farmers, academics, multinational food companies, government officials, philanthropists, celebrities, military leaders, royal families and the entire nation of Afghanistan.
Cinema movie - The British Film Institute has commissioned the development of a cinema movie of the Life of James Brett which is currently under development.
James is an internationally renowned key note speaker who has received many standing ovations including at the Skoll Centre for Social Entrepreneurship Emerge Conference 2015.
James now lives with his wife Lilit and his two youngest of four children in Armenia.