Innovation Forum podcast

Uniting farmers, ranchers and stakeholders across the agricultural value chain

US Farmers and Ranchers in Action's CEO Kevin Burkum talks with Innovation Forum's Ian Welsh about the critical role USFRA plays in uniting stakeholders across the value chain to address major global challenges. He emphasizes the importance of collaboration, innovation, and sustainability in agriculture, and addresses the financial pressures on farmers and the need for profitability to ensure the long-term sustainability of farming practices.

How can technology and data help us build more sustainable agricultural supply chains?

On May 21st, IF hosted a free webinar in partnership with Cargill

Food and agriculture industries are facing more pressing and interconnected challenges in their ability to feed the world. Advances in data and technology are one tool to help to transform how farmers grow and produce food through sustainable and regenerative practices. 

Additionally, cross-commodity and cross-supplier sustainability data and insights are enabling better traceability and more sustainable sourcing of commodities in agricultural supply chains; making it easier for brands and customers to understand the journey of their food, from farm to fork.

In this webinar, our panel of experts discussed: 

• How can aligning methodologies and sharing of data and insights across supply chains facilitate greater transparency outcomes?
• How can digitalization enhance sustainable sourcing efforts, and how can we ensure all stakeholders are supported in the digital transition?
• How can digital transformation empower farmers to embrace regenerative agriculture practices that build resilience, increase transparency, and protect the future of our food systems?

Hear from the panellists:

• Joanna Fowler, IT Sustainability Manager, Nestlé
• Allison Kopf, CEO, TRACT
• Matt Wood, Senior Director, Sustainability Digital, Data & Analytics, Cargill

This discussion was moderated by Ian Welsh, publishing director, Innovation Forum.

This webinar was hosted in partnership with Cargill.

Weekly briefing – On the road to sustainable, resilient, regenerative food systems

This week: At the recent future of food and beverage forum in Amsterdam, Ian Welsh spoke with Unilever’s global food sustainability director Dorothy Shaver about how the company prioritises sustainability within its business strategy. They discussed some causes for optimism to deliver resilient food systems.

 

And Innovation Forum’s Emily Heslop talks about what to expect at the future of food and beverage USA forum in Minneapolis this week. Click here to view the agenda.

Weekly podcast – How business can benefit from engaging in landscape approaches

This week: Patrick Mallet, director for innovations at ISEAL Alliance, and Rachel Wall, project manager for landscapes and collaboration from Proforest, talk with Innovation Forum's Ian Welsh about how companies can put into practice landscape approaches to environmental and social challenges. They discuss why investing in landscape initiatives is important and how they can benefit from it.

 

Plus: the International Energy Agency warns of insufficient investment to meet critical minerals demand for renewable energy; one fifth of Shell's shareholders back stronger emissions reduction targets; UK supermarkets Co-op, Tesco and Sainsbury’s among the retailers looking to partner with Fairtrade Foundation on ethical sourcing ; and, Ellen MacArthur Foundation launches the Fashion ReModel initiative to scale up circular fashion business models, in the news digest.

 

For more on ISEAL Alliance's position papers, click here.

Have we become too carbon-focused?

Raviv Turner, founding member of the Nature Tech Collective and member of the nature data working group at the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures, talks with Innovation Forum's Ian Welsh about current trends in nature-based disclosure and highlights best practices the transition from non-disclosure to disclosure. They discuss key regulation coming up such as the EU deforestation regulation and Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive. They also talk about how business engagement on biodiversity could develop in future.

Ensuring quality food and business: how to navigate incoming legislation

Lisa Spicka de Bevacqua, global director of sustainability consulting at auditor and certifiers NSF, talks with Innovation Forum's Ian Welsh about the rise in impact of sustainability-related regulation on business in Europe and globally. They discuss practical steps companies should take to engage on the new and increasingly due diligence-related legislation, and how quality assurance processes can help.

Monday briefing – Sustainable food for thought: next steps towards regenerative transition

This week: Mars Petcare's chief sustainability officer, Marika McCauley Sine, provides some reflection on the future of food and beverage, speaking at Innovation Forum’s recent conference in Amsterdam with Ian Welsh. They talk about the importance of absolute reduction and understanding carbon and biodiversity impacts as regenerative agriculture is put into practice.

 

Plus: Innovation Forum's Catie Ball shares further updates about the upcoming sustainable apparel and textiles conference taking place in New York on 25th-26th June. Register now and save $200 on your conference passes, click here for more information.

Weekly podcast – Brazil's soy sector amid climate transitions, and US farmer voices

This week: Niamh McCarthy, director of climate-related risk at Orbitas, shares findings from a recent report on the impact of climate transitions on Brazil's soy sector with Innovation Forum's Ian Welsh. They discuss the current state of Brazil's soy sector and the potential drivers of positive change in future.

 

Plus: Kevin Burkum, CEO of US Farmer and Ranchers in Action talks with Ian about the importance of farmer voices in developing sustainable food systems. They discuss how the US agriculture sector is adapting to the shift to regenerative agriculture.

 

For information on Orbitas' cattle report, the podcast interview is available here.

What certification can do for apparel brands and consumers

John Murphy, technical director for Europe at Hohenstein Laboratories, talks with Innovation Forum's Ian Welsh about the benefits of certification systems for the apparel sector and how they protect companies and consumers. They discuss the risks within the sector such as fraud, and the current trends in material certification amid incoming legislation.

Financial risks and opportunities in the age of global climate action: a Brazilian agribusiness case study

On 30th April, IF hosted a virtual event in partnership with Orbitas, a Climate Advisers Initiative, to discuss the financial risks and emerging opportunities that current actions to transition to a low-carbon future will bring. We focused on Brazil and the effects on the country’s key agricultural sectors, cattle and soy, and to wider global value chains.

We heard valuable insights from: 

• Niamh McCarthy, director of climate-related risk, Orbitas, a Climate Advisers Initiative  
• Dr Gracie Verde Selva, executive sustainability manager, Minerva Food
• Wei Peng, Global head of sustainability - grains & oilseeds, Louis Dreyfus 
• Yara De Gues, Brazilian farmer  
• Vicente Bissoni, Brazilian farmer  
• Martha de Sá, founding partner, VERT Capital 
• Veronica Valentini, sustainable innovation manager, Santander

This discussion was moderated by Ian Welsh, publishing director, Innovation Forum.

Click here to listen to Niamh McCarthy talk with Ian Welsh about the launch of Orbitas Initiative's new report on the Brazilian cattle sector and Brazilian soy sector. 

Thank you to the Global Farmer Network for their continued partnership to help amplify farmer voices.

This webinar was held in partnership with Orbitas, a Climate Advisers Initiative.