CIRCULAR ECONOMY -
We continue to go round and round about shifting to a circular economy — discussions throughout the week at SB’24 San Diego helped provide brands much-needed clarity about the ways forward.
IS REGENERATIVE AG VIABLE AT SCALE? -
One can’t help but wonder how organic farming in the US would be different if we
had continued to let farmers define and protect organic through regional
certification bodies.
MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS -
A new report highlights the public’s lack of understanding of regenerative agriculture
and its benefits; illycaffè and Kiss the Ground continue to help scale messaging
that fills this gap.
MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS -
While no single set of policy interventions should be applied globally, the research reveals a universal need to optimize land use and restore biodiversity, improve education on healthy and sustainable diets, and redesign financial subsidies and incentives.
IS REGENERATIVE AG VIABLE AT SCALE? -
Despite their benefits for soil and ecosystem health, regenerative practices are
not going to make a positive dent in the food system long term unless there is a
true economic case for farmers and others in the value chain. And there is.
SUPPLY CHAIN -
Balancing productivity with sustainability will be crucial to ensuring the
long-term viability of olive farming in Spain amidst changing climate
conditions.
SUPPLY CHAIN -
World Coffee Research and its partner brands are directing vital investment and
R&D into this globally popular yet critically underfunded, climate-vulnerable crop.
SUPPLY CHAIN -
From food and beverages to apparel, more commodity supply chains are getting a resilience boost through a transition to regenerative-agriculture practices. Join us in October as forward-thinking brands from these industries come together to discuss the significant environmental, economic and social benefits being reaped.
INNOVATION & TECHNOLOGY -
Aspen Distillers’ new, carbon-negative facility — the world’s first LEED Platinum-certified distillery — includes a parcel dedicated to regenerative agriculture and pioneering water re-entry processes, and is designed for net-positive energy use.
INNOVATION & TECHNOLOGY -
The researchers think adding glass to soil could help prevent wind erosion in
coastal regions and ecosystems whose preservation is an increasingly valuable
aspect of climate resilience.
SUPPLY CHAIN -
The Farmer Thriving Index — a holistic, standardized way of understanding farmer
wellbeing that is grounded in farmer voice — set out to answer a simple
question: Are farmers in coffee supply chains thriving, or barely surviving?
COLLABORATION & CO-CREATION -
Climate change requires rethinking agricultural practices; and a collaboration
between Certified Origins and one of Catalonia, Spain’s oldest environmental
NGOs is a model for enhancing conservation efforts and sustainable practices in
the olive oil industry.
INNOVATION & TECHNOLOGY -
University of Maryland researchers have developed a new type of porous material
made of chitosan and copper to spray on fresh produce that absorbs chemical
pesticides, extends shelf life and easily washes off.
SUPPLY CHAIN -
Discovery of three new species in the Western Amazon could pave way for more
climate-proof cacao production — and shows how many treasures are still yet to
be discovered in Earth's biodiversity.
CIRCULAR ECONOMY -
The retail giant recently launched two partnerships aimed at recycling food
waste and enabling better-informed food-sourcing decisions.
SUPPLY CHAIN -
R-ainbow connects small food producers around the world with nearby buyers in real time — reducing logistical expenses and emissions, and boosting prices for farmers and transparency and trust within the food supply chain.
MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS -
While the values-action gap still exists, consumer research helps organizations understand their audience motivations and who is buying their product, or expand their audiences to growing numbers of sustainability-conscious shoppers.
INNOVATION & TECHNOLOGY -
These two startups are fundamentally changing how coffee is produced — by
eliminating the need for beans altogether, and repurposing food waste along the
way.
FINANCE & INVESTMENT -
The USDA's $1.5B investment in the RCPP will advance climate-smart agriculture in the US while expanding the number, reach and variety of conservation programs. Realizing the full potential of this funding requires intentional action and collaboration across the agricultural ecosystem.