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  • Regenerative Agriculture
  • Supply Chain Decarbonization
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  • Shifting Diets
See the Full VERGE 22 Program

Shifting Diets

Tuesday, October 25th, 2022
9:00am to 12:00pm
More Details

Impossible? How Alternative Proteins Will Become a Mainstream Staple

Tutorial
210A

Alternative proteins — meat, dairy and eggs made from plants and cultivated from cells — are one of climate tech’s biggest sources of optimism. They have lower carbon, water, energy and land footprints than animal-based equivalents, are more affordable than many other climate technologies, and can plug seamlessly into people’s lives. No wonder alternative protein companies have gone through a staggering growth period. Still, it’s not a given that the industry will reach its full potential in transforming the global food system. Critical aspects ranging from science and technology to consumer demand, public policy and funding are still in flux.

This tutorial will help explore what it will take for the alternative protein industry to move beyond current roadblocks and seek answers to some of the most pressing questions:
Are plant-based foods replacing meat consumption, or are consumers merely increasing their total protein intake?
How can companies expand their sales beyond climate- and health-conscious consumers?
What are the biggest technological and policy challenges being worked on today that will enable the industry to scale?
How would a large-scale shift away from conventionally produced meat and dairy products affect the livelihoods of farmers and workers in those supply chains?
How can larger food companies best integrate these innovative foods into their existing product portfolios and leverage them for ESG impact and strategies?

Co-hosted by the Good Food Institute, the Breakthrough Institute and GreenBiz, this interactive tutorial will clarify where the field stands today and reflect on where it should go. It will allow entrepreneurs, investors, and business leaders to dig into the industry’s inflection point and collectively workshop strategic paths forward.

Tracks

  • Supply Chain Decarbonization
  • Shifting Diets

Speakers

  • Daniel Blaustein-Rejto
  • Max Elder
  • Ron Shigeta
  • Anthony Kingsley
  • Udi Lazimy
  • Theresa Lieb
  • Emma Stein
  • Caroline Bushnell
  • Priera Panescu
  • Allyson Fish
  • Sarah Sha
  • Anne Greven
  • Karuna Rawal
  • Liza Schillo

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Wednesday, October 26th, 2022
1:30pm to 2:30pm
More Details

Own Your Influence to Shape Consumer Food Choices

Panel
210 A

It’s time to use product portfolios and marketing channels to proactively shape sustainable demand.

The average consumer lacks a clear understanding of climate and nutrition science. Even if they tried to adjust their eating habits to address these issues, they would most likely fail. The challenges of navigating accessibility, personal and cultural preferences and the pressure of advertising are simply too great. Food companies, in return, play a much more significant role in shaping demand than they often admit. It’s time to own up to that responsibility. Learn how to redirect consumption to nutritious and low-carbon meals by redesigning your product portfolios, leveraging marketing channels and supporting consumer education campaigns.

Tracks

  • Supply Chain Decarbonization
  • Shifting Diets

Speakers

  • Gesina Beckert
  • Julia Collins
  • Sara Burnett
  • Rebecca Chesney

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2:45pm to 5:15pm
More Details

Food Tank Summit: Putting DEI Into Practice

Summit
210 B

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.

 

 

Tracks

  • Regenerative Agriculture
  • Supply Chain Decarbonization
  • Emerging Technologies
  • Shifting Diets

Speakers

  • Jennifer Bushman
  • Imani Black
  • Jim Leape
  • Rebekah Moses
  • Heather Frambach
  • Patricia Carrillo
  • Patrick Brown
  • Eve Birge
  • Denise Osterhues
  • Claire Turner
  • Theresa Lieb
  • Deonna Anderson
  • Paul Schiefer

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Thursday, October 27th, 2022
1:30pm to 2:30pm
More Details

Greener by Default: How to Halve Your Kitchen’s Scope 3 Emissions

Case Study
210A

New research shows that nudging diners to eat climate-friendly food is easier than you think.

Can something as simple as shifting the default option from meat-heavy to plant-rich meals really influence consumer choice? Isn’t that too good to be true? Let LinkedIn and Greener by Default — the non-profit behind the new menu concept — convince you otherwise. They will share best practices and lessons from recent pilots, including how to garner buy-in from stakeholders, implement strategies inclusively and measure success. Learn why this shift presents a potent opportunity to decrease Scope 3 emissions in food service while preserving freedom of choice, improving the inclusivity of food offerings and increasing diner satisfaction.

Tracks

  • Supply Chain Decarbonization
  • Shifting Diets

Speakers

  • Katie Cantrell
  • Anna Bohbot
  • Alicia Jenish-McCarron
  • Andrea Learned

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1:30pm to 2:15pm
More Details

Future Forward Film Premiere: The Future of Water

Panel
The Climate Pledge Stage

By 2025, half the world’s population could be facing water scarcity. Existing waterways are also increasingly polluted with plastic waste. And as with so many environmental issues, these problems are particularly acute in developing nations. In the penultimate documentary premiere on The Climate Pledge Stage, director Samia Khan-Bambrah reveals how Multi Bintang, an Indonesian subsidiary of Heineken, is working with local communities to safeguard springs and clear rivers of trash. Following the screening, leaders from Heineken and Matt Damon’s Water.org charity will discuss the future of water. For more on Future Forward, watch the series trailer.

Tracks

  • Food Loss and Waste
  • Shifting Diets

Speakers

  • Jan-Willem Vosmeer
  • Anovia Thomas
  • Nicole Terrizzi

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3:00pm to 4:00pm
More Details

(CANCELED) Moby: From Rock Star to Change Maker. An Interview with Elysabeth Alfano

Interview
210B

How can collaborations with artists help bridge the gap between climate tech and consumers?

Moby is known around the globe for his down-tempo, ambient music. He has famously created soundtracks for huge blockbuster movies and shows such as the Bourne Legacy, the Simpsons and Stranger Things, and prolifically produced his indistinguishable sound. But music isn’t his life’s work. In an interview with investor Elysabeth Alfano, Moby will discuss how he uses his musical success as a starting point for education, impacting the climate crisis and animal welfare. Join this conversation to understand how your company can build alliances with unusual change-makers such as musicians and other artists, bringing new audiences to the climate community.

Tracks

  • Shifting Diets

Speakers

  • Elysabeth Alfano
  • Moby

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