Innovation Forum podcast

Scaling back or moving forward? The future of sustainable business

In the first installment of a new series on sustainability, business expert and Robertsbridge founder Brendan May joins Innovation Forum’s Ian Welsh to explore the current turning point for sustainable business practices and the reasons behind some companies’ reduced ambitions. They delve into the political factors influencing sustainability efforts, the burdens of extensive reporting demands, and how the roles of NGOs are evolving.

Monday briefing – Prioritising responsible sourcing for resilient supply chains

This week: Innovation Forum's Ian Welsh and Natasha Bodnar introduces the upcoming responsible sourcing and ethical trade forum in London (19-20 March 2025). They discuss details on latest confirmed speakers and 2025 conference themes. Registrations are now open, click here for more information

Plus: Ian Welsh also speaks with Innovation Forum's Hanna Halmari about what to expect at this week's sustainable packaging innovation forum in Philadelphia (29-30 October). Click here for information on how to get involved, registrations are closing soon.

Host: Ian Welsh

How nature-based solutions can deliver corporate sustainability commitments: webinar audio recording

Nature-based solutions (NBS) play a pivotal role in delivering tangible impact and addressing corporate sustainability commitments.

To achieve progress around nature protection, restoration and emissions mitigation at scale, collaboration between industry actors is also key. 

In this webinar, we explored the real-life applications of NBS through the eyes of various stakeholders, to understand how companies can deliver large-scale, long-term solutions that fulfil their sustainability objectives, while also benefitting biodiversity and improving people’s livelihoods.

Our panel of experts included:

• Martin Huxtable, global sustainable sourcing director, Unilever.
• Emily Kunen, senior director, positive agriculture capabilities & forest risk, PepsiCo.
• Michal Zrust, founder and CEO, Lestari Capital.
• Andika Putraditama, director, Rimba Collective.

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

Weekly podcast – Empowering smallholders amid global compliance demands

This week: Innovation Forum's associate Catie Ball, talks with Diana Kim and Emily Heslop about the opportunities and risks the European Union Deforestation Regulation, the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive and the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive pose. In particular, they discuss potential impacts on smallholder farmers and suppliers in less-developed nations, and the unintended consequences from these regulations.

 

Plus: Innovation Forum’s Ian Welsh and Tanya Richard share some reflections from this week’s sustainable commodities and land use forum in Amsterdam. They discuss the challenges and potential benefits from a delay in EUDR’s full implementation, and the importance of aligning value chain sustainability efforts with biodiversity and long-term incentives.

 

Host: Ian Welsh

Driving sustainable development and conservation through transformative partnerships: webinar audio recording

How can companies create value by aligning their business models with the well-being of partner communities? USAID and the private sector are collaborating through the initiative HEARTH to implement sustainable development activities that conserve biodiversity and improve the well-being of communities.

"People flourish in healthy landscapes; conservation succeeds when local people benefit." 

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) launched the Health, Ecosystems, and Agriculture for Resilient, Thriving Societies (HEARTH) program, a pioneering global public-private partnership initiative. HEARTH aligns with USAID’s strategic priorities in Biodiversity Conservation, Climate Change, Private Sector Engagement, Indigenous Peoples, Resilience, Food Security, and Global Health.

 HEARTH activities are currently operating in 12 countries: Angola, Bangladesh, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Ghana, Indonesia, Kenya, Madagascar, Papua New Guinea, Peru, and Zambia, leveraging over $85 million in support from private sector partners. Each project is tailored to specific goals, often involving at least two partners, such as private sector companies and non-governmental organisations, to collaboratively plan, manage, and track results. 

To explore the initiative and its success stories, Innovation Forum and USAID co-hosted a webinar. 

The panel included:

• Dina Esposito, the assistant to the administrator for USAID’s Bureau for Resilience, Environment, and Food Security
• Imam Suharto, head of cocoa sustainability Indonesia, PT. Olam Indonesia
• Jean Luc Ramahavelo, monitoring and evaluation officer, Ocean Farmers
• Elizabeth Daut, natural resources specialist, USAID.

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

Collaboration to drive progress on food value chain transformation: a how-to guide

Niklas Wallsargård, CEO of agri-sector business Improvin', talks with Innovation Forum's Ian Welsh about how agri-food companies can measure, report and reduce greenhouse gas emissions and biodiversity impact of their value chain. They discuss how to best engage with value chain players to go beyond pilot projects and ensure sustainability.

Monday briefing – Collaboration to meet scope 3 targets and supply chain compliance

This week: Innovation Forum’s Ian Welsh and Hannah Oborne look forward to the scope 3 innovation forum, taking place in Washing DC on December 3rd and 4th. They discuss the confirmed agenda and new participants taking part. Click here for information on how to get involved.

 

Plus: Innovation Forum’s Emily Heslop discusses with Ian what to expect at this week’s sustainable commodities and land use forum in Amsterdam. Registrations is still possible, click here for details.

 

Host: Ian Welsh

Weekly podcast – Regenerative agriculture’s role for sustainable drinks brands

This week: Diageo’s head of sustainable procurement, Andy Griffiths, talks with Ian Welsh about the company's rolling out of regenerative agriculture in various supply chains, and the challenges of making packaging more sustainable.

 

Plus: Starbucks acquires more innovation farms to develop climate-resistant coffee; glass bottles will be excluded from the England's deposit return scheme; 225 NGOs urge the European parliament to reject the EUDR delay proposal; and, why natural carbon sinks are no longer effective, in the news digest, with Ellen Atiyah.

 

Host: Ian Welsh

A circular solution for the future of feed

Alternative protein business InsectBiotech’s co-founder Ignacio Gavilan talks with Innovation Forum’s Ian Welsh about the company's approach to turning agricultural waste into protein and fertiliser using black soldier fly larvae. They discuss the potential of insect protein to reduce dependency on soy and fish meal in animal feed industries.

Monday briefing – Collaboration, environmental conservation and community well-being

This week: Elizabeth Daut, natural resources specialist at USAID, talks with Innovation Forum’s Ellen Atiyah about the HEARTH initiative and how it is driving sustainable development on the ground. To find out more, join the complimentary webinar on 16^th October at 2pm CET.

And, Innovation Forum’s Ian Welsh and Hannah Oborne introduce the future of food and beverage forum, returning to Amsterdam on 13th and 14th May 2025. They discuss some of the new agenda points and confirmed speakers so far. Click here for information about how to get involved.

Host: Ian Welsh