Sustainable Business Podcast by Innovation Forum

From data gaps to compliance: the role of Geospatial AI in sustainability (webinar recording)

Sustainability claims are facing increasing scrutiny, with rising costs, data uncertainty and growing pressure on businesses to provide verifiable proof of their efforts. Supply chain blind spots, outdated data and manual processes leave sustainability teams struggling to confidently meet compliance requirements.

This webinar, hosted in partnership with Picterra, explored how emerging technologies such as Geospatial AI (GeoAI), remote sensing, and satellite data analytics can empower sustainability teams with trusted insights, enabling them to move from reactive reporting to proactive oversight.

Our panel of experts discussed:

• The key hurdles businesses face in achieving sustainability compliance
• Strategies for moving from outdated, manual processes to more scalable, data-driven solutions
• An overview of Geospatial AI and how it is changing the landscape of supply chain transparency and monitoring
• The role of geospatial monitoring in identifying high-risk landscapes and improving compliance
• The future of AI in sustainability: opportunities, concerns and limitations

Panel:

• Alicia Sullivan, product manager – Earth Engine sustainability solutions, Google
• Pierrick Poulenas, CEO and Co-founder, Picterra
• Andrew Wilcox, associate director for sustainability – procurement strategy & insights, Unilever

The conversation was moderated by Ian Welsh, publishing director, Innovation Forum.

Balancing the critical minerals equation: emissions reduction meets supply security

The race to secure critical minerals is accelerating—but so is the urgency to reduce their carbon footprint. Mining, refining, and processing are energy-intensive, often reliant on fossil fuels, and responsible for significant emissions. Paradoxically, as the demand for net-zero metals grows, so too does their footprint.

This webinar explores the practical pathways for decarbonising critical minerals supply. Our panelists share tangible insights, from electrifying operations and adopting renewable energy sources, to using low carbon mining technologies.

The panel:

• Urishani Govender, chief sustainability officer, Harmony Gold Mining Company
• Arend Van Der Goes, senior sustainability manager, Eramet
• Reza Rahmaditio, critical minerals project lead, WRI Indonesia
• Moderator: Ian Welsh, publishing director, Innovation Forum

Weekly podcast – Inside the Forest 500: who’s failing – and who’s leading – on deforestation?

This week: Emma Thompson, Forest 500 and tracking lead at Global Canopy, talks with Innovation Forum’s Ian Welsh about the newly released 2025 Forest 500 report, a deep dive into how the world’s most influential companies are disclosing and performing on deforestation. They discuss the differences in action across commodities, how regulation is influencing corporate behaviour and expectations for further progress on key climate targets.

 

Plus: gen Z and millennials demand purpose and sustainability; dairy giants lag on methane action; and, Hyundai Motor Group expands mineral tracing amid scrutiny, in the news digest with Ellen Atiyah.

 

Host: Ian Welsh

What it takes to build resilient, sustainable food systems in the US

Ahead of this year’s future of food and beverage forum in Minneapolis, Innovation Forum’s Anamya Anurag talks with some of the participants. She is joined by Julie Kunen from Oatly and Walmart’s Michelle Zackin, and they discuss how food and beverage companies are integrating climate and nature-smart practices into supply chain strategies. They highlight how to align nature-based solutions with regenerative agriculture, and how the industry can drive circularity, risk reduction and collaboration across the value chain.

 

Julie and Michelle will be at the future of food and beverage forum next week in Minneapolis (28-29 May). To continue the conversation, you can find full details on how to get involved.

Monday briefing – Tackling packaging systems and commodity supply chain shocks

This week: Innovation Forum’s Anamya Anurag and Ian Welsh talk about how companies are tackling supply chain volatility and advancing supply chain resilience. They discuss emerging themes including digital innovation, collaborative land-use strategies and the growing role of AI and cybersecurity in sustainability.

 

Plus: Dries Van Aerde from Coca-Cola Europacific Partners talks with Ian at the recent Sustainable Packaging Innovation Forum about how the company is navigating complex investment decisions, scaling refill and reuse models and responding to shifting regulatory and consumer expectations.

 

Host: Ian Welsh

Weekly podcast – On-farm opportunities, and inside apparel industry’s CSRD transition

This week: Thomas Gent, farmer at Gentle Farming talks with Innovation Forum’s Hanna Halmari about the challenges and opportunities facing regenerative agriculture. They explore how innovation, better marketing and strong farmer-supply chain connections can attract younger generations and build resilience in a changing climate.

 

Plus: Anna-Karin Dahlberg, chief sustainability officer at Swedish fashion brand Lindex, talks with Innovation Forum’s Ian Welsh about how the EU's Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive is transforming the way businesses conduct reporting. 

 

And, indigenous rights ignored amid logging; only four nations deemed high-risk for EUDR; online marketplace Vinted tops French fashion sales; and, plastic recycling claims alleged to mislead consumers, in the news digest with Ellen Atiyah.

 

Host: Ian Welsh

Soil, sustainability and stability: the future of US farming

Kevin Burkum at US Farmers and Ranchers in Action, and South Dakota dairy farmer Michael Crinion, talk with Ian Welsh about how regenerative practices such as cover cropping and improved soil health can enhance resilience and reduce input costs. They highlight key challenges including trade uncertainty, extreme weather and inflation, and explore how conservation agriculture can align with long-term farm profitability.

 

To continue the conversation, USFRA will be at the future of food and beverage forum in Minneapolis on 28-29 May. Click here for information on how to get involved.

Monday briefing – Fashion’s circular future and verifying claims with geo AI

This week: Innovation Forum’s Niamh Campbell and Ian Welsh talk about some trends and hot topics in the apparel sector. From major tariff changes reshaping sourcing strategies, to growing momentum behind extended producer responsibility, they explore what’s hot and what’s next.

Plus: Pierrick Poulenas, CEO of Picterra talks with Ellen Atiyah about how geospatial AI helps verify sustainability claims. Ahead of a complimentary webinar on 20^th May, they discuss how to turn remote sensing into real supply chain insight.

Host: Ian Welsh

 

Join the conversation at the sustainable apparel and textiles conference USA in New York City on 24-25 June. Click here for information on how to get involved.

Join our complimentary webinars:

• Click here to join the webinar on geospatial AI with Picterra on 20^th May.
• Click here to join a webinar on critical minerals decarbonisation on 15^th May.

Weekly podcast – Treaty or stalemate? The race to curb plastic pollution

This week: As negotiations for the global plastics treaty continue, Nestlé’s global public affairs lead for packaging and sustainability Jodie Roussell talks with Ian Welsh at the sustainable packaging innovation forum in Amsterdam. They discuss the political will, the regulatory stakes and why time is running short to reach a meaningful agreement.

Plus: pushback against US rollback of climate-focused policy; new BNP Paribas fund for indigenous people-led forest conservation projects with Everland; Coca-Cola and Lavazza UK respond to greenwashing claims; and, circular fashion continues to grow in Europe, in the news digest by Ellen Atiyah.

Host: Ian Welsh

Why leading businesses are treating sustainability as a financial strategy

Ellen McCormack, head of Europe at Watershed talks with Ian Welsh about how sustainability is moving closer to core business functions, the evolving carbon removal market, and why clean energy is increasingly a financial imperative. They explore how major companies are embedding climate strategy into operations, not just for compliance – but to unlock long-term value.