In the food industry, we have a trade show called “Expo West.” It’s been happening for over 30 years, and it’s size is massive, with over 80,000 attendees and over 5,000 companies presenting. This year, many commented that “the show has lost its soul.” Others were totally and completely jazzed, a real bifurcation.
Our food system has a systemic, structural problem. In every problem, there is an enormous opportunity to create really smart systems that address the challenges we’re seeing.
A growing number of companies from Danone to General Mills are recognizing that the sustainability of their supply chain does not meet the needs of 21st century families.
Is it any wonder that our farmers are in crisis, that few from younger generations want to take over the farm?
Regenerative agriculture focuses on reinvigorating a food economy that is diverse and polycultural, supporting the regeneration of specialty crops and produce, not only healing the soil, but also serving as a powerful carbon sink that can help tackle our climate crisis.
There are trends coming hard and fast at the food industry that few are discussing and need to be addressed, so we are going to lay them down here.
With all of the talk about organic, few people realize that organic farming makes up a small share of U.S. farmland overall.
WHO is not the only one to sound the alarm on glyphosate, an ingredient found in the world’s most-used pesticide, Roundup.
Many major food companies have now launched a venture capital arm, hoping to catch new trends. But as a former executive at one of the world’s largest food companies recently shared, “That’s a good PR story, but those deals don’t put a dent in earnings.” And the valuations on some of these deals are reminiscent of the tech bubble days.
Researchers report that the costs of food allergies, from medical care to food to pharmaceuticals is $4,184 per child per year, costing our economy $25 billion, including lost productivity.