The pilots have been done, the evidence collected, the white papers written. Now it’s time to engage farmers at scale.

There are as many types of farmers and ranchers as there are people, so there’s no one-size-fits-all strategy for convincing farmers to participate in carbon markets and other regenerative agriculture programs. Still, regenerative trailblazers have learned valuable lessons while implementing pilot programs and conducting research. What outcomes should you highlight in your communications? Who is best positioned to conduct outreach? And how do you turn initial interest into actual program enrollment? Our experts will answer these questions and more, helping you kick-start your farmer engagement efforts.

Halting deforestation and other illegal land-use changes is imperative for a livable future on this planet. To turn the tide in high-risk areas, agriculture companies must work individually as well as collectively with peers, producers, governments and other sectors.

In Brazil, challenges to sustaining vital natural ecosystems have extended beyond the boundaries of the canopied Amazon rainforest. Brazil’s Cerrado, a vast tropical savannah, has become one of the country’s most watched regions. Over the past decade, global demand for soy, beef, leather and mined metals has skyrocketed increasing pressure on nature and traditional and indigenous land stewards.

The commodity processors handling soy supply chains have long worked to change business practices and promised to incentivize suppliers to follow suit. In the Cerrado, soy buyers have increased traceability and reduced deforestation within their supply chains, but recognize that more needs to be done for the sake of people and the planet. Where must these companies collaborate pre-competitively on improved agricultural practices, technology solutions and financial investments? What additional strategies are needed to accelerate progress?

2:45 pm: Welcome

2:50 pm: Is a Better Blue Food System Possible?

3 billion people around the world depend on aquatic foods as their primary source of protein. But fisheries and aquaculture are rife with challenges, including fraud, overfishing, and worker exploitation. Chefs, companies, and other food system advocates are working to make a more sustainable blue food system that is better for people and the environment. What will it take to produce foods more sustainably while maintaining equitable access?

3:20 pm: Just BIPOC Sourcing in Corporate Supply Chains 

BIPOC producers have long faced challenges accessing mainstream markets. But food service companies, distributors, food hubs, and restaurants can change this dynamic by leveraging their purchasing power as a force for good. Strategic partnerships between food businesses and BIPOC producers can help to ensure mutual economic success while supporting practices that serve people and the planet. Speakers will share case studies to underscore the influence of purchasing agreements and how technology can help these agreements reach their full potential.

3:50 pm: Where Innovation Meets Food Security and Resilience

Technology and innovation are changing how we produce and eat food. They are helping companies and organizations grow fresh produce, keep excess food out of landfills, and ensure that everyone can access healthy meals. Speakers will discuss the unique adaptation strategies their organizations are implementing to mitigate the climate crisis, prevent food waste and develop more just food and agriculture systems.

4:20 pm: Fireside Chat with Impossible Foods’ Founder Pat Brown

It’s well known that the adoption of plant-based proteins around the world, especially so in high-income countries, is a critical climate solution. But the social and economic implications of this transition are less discussed. How does the rise of plant-based meat, dairy and egg consumption affect consumer nutrition and health, rural communities and supply chain workers? During this fireside chat, Impossible Foods’ founder Pat Brown will reflect on how alternative protein companies can ensure that their efforts foster equitable and just food systems, in addition to improving environmental outcomes.

Farming is unpredictable. Droughts and heavy rain can wipe out a season of hard work. Even in good times, margins can be thin. So how can food companies persuade their suppliers, who are understandably often risk-averse, to experiment with the low-carbon techniques needed to reduce food system emissions? The third film premiere on The Climate Pledge Stage reveals how Unilever is partnering with Practical Farmers of Iowa to spread regenerative practices across the state and beyond. Leaders from the company and its non-profit partner will take the stage after the screening to discuss the project. For more on Future Forward, watch the series trailer.

Reducing reliance on industrial fertilizers and pesticides has never been more urgent. These innovators are making it happen.

The Covid-19 pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine disrupted supply chains and sent the price of fertilizers and pesticides sky-high. One side-effect is that this may finally reduce the use of these chemicals, long after it has become clear that the inputs are detrimental to farm workers, ecosystems and the climate. How can we shift to a more sustainable and equitable system of farm inputs while protecting productivity? Get to know the new input ecosystem's leading data-driven, biological and technological solutions, and understand what role you can play in promoting adoption and accelerating the transition.

How can you support promising but often overlooked technologies for cutting methane emissions?

Seaweed feed additives used to reduce methane emissions from cow burps have rightly been embraced as an exciting climate tech innovation. But the quest to reduce methane emissions, which was elevated to a global priority at COP 26, doesn’t stop there. Companies also need to address methane emissions from sources such as manure, rice cultivation and food waste. Gain a holistic understanding of how to build a methane reduction roadmap and discuss opportunities for incorporating them into your sustainability strategy.