Innovation Forum Podcast

Amy Yoder, CEO of agri-tech business Anuvia Plant Nutrients, talks with Innovation Forum’s Ian Welsh on how from organic waste material can be turned into fertiliser that develops long term soil health, and allows for more food to be produced on less land. Yoder points out how a lack of focus on health of soil microbes and allowing for natural regeneration has led to decline in soil structure and fertility, and an increased reliance on chemical inputs. Join Innovation Forum in Minneapolis on 27th and 28th May and in London on the 2nd and 3rd of June to debate the future of food

With targets looming and the ever-present reminders of the impact of climate change, 2020 is set to be a pivotal year in sustainability. Fashion, an industry with one of the largest carbon and water footprints, is having to rethink and transform its operations in an effort to stay within planetary limits and keep temperature increases below 1.5°C. In this webinar, discussion focused on: How companies deliver measurable reductions in GHGs across the value chain. How effectively to scale up initiatives that are water efficient, reduce chemical discharge and protect the environment. If sustainability concerns will spell the end of ‘fast fashion’. How brands can leverage climate action to engage consumers. How the new business models of the low carbon economy look set to evolve and grow. Panel: Pascal Brun, head of sustainability, H&M Stefan Seidel, head of corporate sustainability, Puma Group Hosted by Toby Webb, founder, Innovation Forum

Nathalie Walker, director, tropical forests and agriculture, at the US’s National Wildlife Federation, talks with Innovation Forum’s Ian Welsh about why confronting domestic climate change risks in the US means having to engage with international businesses to tackle tropical deforestation and other ecosystem destruction. She argues that, whatever the public stance of the federal government, there is a widespread acceptance of the reality of the climate crisis and the need for urgent action.

Airbus’s head of sales, agriculture and forest solutions, Patrick Houdry, and Earthworm Foundation’s director of technical services, Rob McWilliam, talk with Ian Welsh about how the satellite remote sensing system Starling has developed over the past few years. From an initial project mapping palm oil in Malaysia and Indonesia, Starling now can map entire supply chains worldwide across commodities. They discuss in particular how Starling has helped the SODEFOR organisation in Côte d’Ivoire to tackle deforestation related to the cocoa sector, and why better data has meant improved return on investment and implementation of remediation projects on the ground.

This week: Yuca Waarts from Wageningen University on living income challenges for smallholder farmers and plantation workers, and what agriculture sector companies should be doing to ensure supply stability. Plus, Hugo Boss’s Andreas Streubig on his brand’s striving for more-transparent supply chains. And, why Burberry’s going for insetting; a new sustainability manifesto for luxury UK apparel brands; Delta’s net zero impact plans; and why Kellogg’s updated its global palm oil strategy, in the news digest Hosted by Ian Welsh

Recent years have seen calls for major changes in human rights due diligence and reporting gathering momentum. This tidal wave of governments making legislation that holds businesses legally accountable isn’t stopping any time soon. In addition, NGOs, investors and consumers are demanding more than just the bare minimum when it comes to business and human rights practices. However, with a whole suite of expectations and standards bombarding corporates, the basic question of “what do stakeholders actually want?” is getting lost. This disconnect could be disastrous for business, not only legally, but reputationally. What do investors, consumers, NGOs and government want from business? How have expectations of these groups changed and how are they set to differ as we head into a new decade? What are the incentives for business to go beyond mere compliance? Discussing these questions are: Julie Vallat, vice president, human rights, L'Oréal Adam Schafer, director, supply chain traceability, Intel Mary Francis, se

Over the past decade, various apparel brands have made major commitments to deliver living wages to workers in their supply chains. However, a recent report by the University of Sheffield found that despite these ambitious commitments, low pay continues to be the status quo. And there is still widespread confusion over the definition of a “living wage”, and action on the ground varies greatly across regions. Taking Patagonia as a case study, this webinar examines some of the common pitfalls in implementing living wage policies. How a living wage is calculated and why living wage estimates are critical. What are the main obstacles and challenges in getting to living wages? How can business, government and civil-society groups work together to achieve these commitments? What are the biggest lessons learned from Patagonia’s living wage programme so far? With: Wendy Savage, director, social responsibility and traceability, Patagonia Alex Katz, manager, supply chain social responsibility, Patagonia Hosted by Ian

This week: Forest 500 report authors Sarah Rogerson and Emma Thomson, from Global Canopy, outline what progress companies are making on deforestation, and argue that too many are still failing to recognise their responsibility to act. And, Wendy Savage and Alex Katz from Patagonia discuss the brand’s work to develop living wages for workers in its supply chain. Plus: Uzbek cotton sector progress, more bad news for insect pollinators and Danone’s investment in a hi-tech solution to low-tech food waste, in the news digest. Hosted by Ian Welsh

Jo Griffiths, global food community director for the British Standards Institute – BSI, speaks with Innovation Forum’s Ian Welsh about the challenges in developing sustainability standards for plastic packaging. They debate why the plastics debate has become highly polarised and the dangers in simply stopping using plastics, particularly in food packaging. Griffiths outlines the difficulties around defining what sustainable packaging means across different sectors and argues for combining a systems approach to packaging materials, with development of a circular economy, as a potential solution.

This week: Amy Yoder, CEO of agri-tech business Anuvia Plant Nutrients, on innovation in fertilisers that add organic matter to boost soil health and boost productivity across all crops, without potentially harmful chemical inputs. Plus: why we may dodge the worst case climate change; a call for big hikes in European meat prices; how fermented proteins are bad news for the diary sector; and, US $70m pledge to tackle human trafficking, in the news digest. Hosted by Ian Welsh

Dawn Jutla, founder and co-CEO of blockchain technology developers Peer Ledger, talks with Innovation Forum’s Ian Welsh about how technology is revolutionising consumer engagement with products and supply chains. They discuss some of the challenges in adapting blockchain for agriculture supply chain, and how it can enable full traceability and honest communication with suppliers and consumers. Peer Ledger were a sponsor of Innovation Forum's 2019 future of food conference in Chicago.

In order to limit global temperatures to 1.5C, greenhouse gas emissions must fall 45% from 2010 levels by 2030 and to net zero by 2050, according to the IPCC. This reduction is required at a time of rapidly expanding food production. It is estimated by the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation that food and feed production will need to increase by 70% by 2050 to meet the world's food needs. To meet climate targets and avoid the impending climate catastrophe, food companies must radically adapt practices. And with the clock ticking, the next 10 years will be critical. In this webinar, an expert panel discusses: What leading food brands are currently doing to reduce climate impacts The real-world practicalities: Science based targets are fine, but how can we actually reach them? How to effectively scale up initiatives that absorb carbon, such as land restoration and increasing biodiversity Assess how brands can map the route to 2030 for effective implementation. Panel: Christine McGrath, vice president and chi

This week: Nathalie Walker, director, tropical forests and agriculture at the US’s National Wildlife Federation on why her work preserving natural habitats in the US and beyond means engaging with business to tackle the climate crisis and tropical deforestation. Plus: how PayPal is targeting human trafficking; a new WEF report into how to change incentives in food production and consumption; and, why a circular economy is still a long way off, in the news digest. Hosted by Ian Welsh

Niels Wiellard, managing director of Satelligence, discusses the potential of the new Radar Alerts for Detecting Deforestation initiative with Innovation Forum’s Ian Welsh. Developed by Satelligence and Wageningen University, and facilitated by the World Resources Institute, RADD is designed to allow palm oil companies accurate and up-to-date information on deforestation in their supply chains. With this near real time data, the industry can be more efficient in targeting on-the-ground remediation action. Also involved in the RADD partnership are Bunge, Cargill, Golden Agri-Resources, Mondelēz International, Musim Mas, Nestlé, Pepsico, Sime Darby Plantation, Unilever and Wilmar Satelligence was a sponsor of Innovation Forum’s sustainable landscapes and commodities conference.  

This week: Airbus’s Patrick Houdry and Earthworm Foundation’s Rob McWilliam on the development and implementation of satellite remote sensing system Starling, their joint project to help improve supply chain traceability and tackle deforestation impacts.  Plus: mixed messages from Davos bankers on climate, Coke says plastic’s here to stay, Nestlé’s market-making on recycling, and CDP’s latest A-listers, in the news digest. Hosted by Ian Welsh

At the recent Innovation Forum sustainable landscapes and commodities conference in London, Ian Welsh and Tom Idle spoke to a number of expert participants to summarise some of the panel sessions and capture some key outcomes. Hear from: Justin Adams, executive director of Tropical Forest Alliance Laurence Ruffieux, director, operations, sustainability, Philip Morris International  Nic Sheen, chief technology officer, Athenticate Helen Browning, chief executive, Soil Association  Michael Gidney, CEO, Fairtrade Foundation Frances Way, chief strategy officer, CDP Stephen Donofrio, director, Forest Trends’ Supply Change Initiative  Jonathan Horrell, director, sustainability, Mondelez International  Peter Stanbury, principal at the Frontier Practice 

This week: Dawn Jutla from blockchain technology developers Peer Ledger on how technology is revolutionising consumer engagement with products and supply chains. And, Jo Griffiths from the British Standards Institute (BSI) on the challenges developing sustainability standards for plastic packaging. Plus: WEF annual risks report; Blackrock doubles down on climate, again; the EU’s €1tn climate mitigation plan; UK supermarkets switch from plastic bags to higher impact alternatives; and Quorn’s carbon label plan, in the news digest.   Hosted by Ian Welsh

Anita Neville, senior vice president for corporate communications at Golden Agri-Resources, and Innovation Forum’s Ian Welsh talk about why the palm oil still suffers from negative publicity, despite the progress the sector has made. She outlines how the industry can achieve real traceability, and develop a robust economic model for the future. She argues that this means ensuring that farmer incomes are improved and helped to ensure that they have options beyond simply extended farms by destroying forests. Neville also outlines how the palm oil sector can progress so that future discussion is not always centred on deforestation impacts. Golden Agri-Resources was a sponsor of Innovation Forum’s recent sustainable landscapes conference.

Franco Costantini, managing director of Control Union UK talks with Innovation Forum’s Ian Welsh about why certification can be useful for companies wanting to rationalise their use of plastic and help them satisfy consumers on product impact. They discuss the importance of not dismissing use of plastic out of hand, and examine the drivers for greater use of product plastic-free certification when this is appropriate. Constantini also outlines how certification can also be useful in food and agriculture value chains. Control Union was a sponsor of the recent Innovation Forum future for plastics conference.  

This week: Niels Wiellard, managing director of Satelligence, on how a new satellite monitoring initiative in the palm oil sector – known as RADD – will help the industry monitor deforestation in plantations in near real-time. And Jeff Milder, director of global programmes at the Rainforest Alliance, on his hopes for the implementation of the new multistakeholder Accountability Framework initiative. Plus: Kroger cuts food waste, the Co-op’s recyclable packaging, the 8.4m football pitches problem, and making protein from air in Finland, in the news digest. Hosted by Ian Welsh