Dry problems such as proprietary programs and data silos are slowing down food systems reform. Can companies embrace open approaches, turning competitors into collaborators?

As public awareness of our climate and social justice crises rises, food organizations — large and small, nonprofit and for-profit — rush to transform their operations and supply chains. This momentum has resulted in a countless array of regenerative agriculture programs, food rescue platforms and imperfect produce marketplaces. It’s a dream come true, right?

Not for Emily Ma, who leads Google’s Food for Good work. She views the current landscape of climate-friendly food technologies as a maze of confusing standards, expensive integrations and destructive competitions. And she’s not the only one struggling. Farmers faced with an overwhelming number of potential carbon markets to enroll in report decision paralysis. Food manufacturers can’t keep up with their buyers' diverging data disclosure requirements. Corporate cafeterias get overrun with surplus food donation requests, each one requiring a different integration process.

What can we do to streamline these well-meaning efforts and accelerate impact? This workshop led by Emily and other transdisciplinary leaders will unlock a new era of sustainable food practice.

Companies have understood the urgency of cutting food waste. Now, how should they measure their baselines and progress and use data to drive action plans?

Many food companies have adopted the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal of halving food waste by 2030. But the road towards achieving this target remains unpaved. For example, agreements on measuring food waste and establishing baselines are still absent. But this isn’t an excuse for inaction. Businesses should start using smart tools to measure food waste and collaborate with others in pre-competitive forums to refine their understanding of waste hotspots and focus efforts on the most effective reduction strategies. The Pacific Coast Food Waste Commitment (PCFWC) is one of the largest public-private partnerships in the world dedicated to targeting, measuring and acting to reduce food waste. The organizers, participating businesses and public entities will discuss their best practices for measurement and data sharing to improve their own operations and influence partners along the value chain.

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.

How can you identify, fund and build systems to deal with your waste — all without undermining food waste reduction efforts?

Despite food waste reduction efforts across the value chain, food and agricultural waste remains abundant and causes significant methane emissions in landfills. In response, a suite of strategies to repurpose and divert waste is emerging, from upcycling and composting to anaerobic digestion. How can you engage at local, regional and national levels to scale the infrastructure needed for your waste stream? What measures should companies take to respect the needs and rights of marginalized communities when planning and operating recycling plants? And how can we ensure that diversion investments won’t stand in the way of ultimately getting rid of waste?

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.