Introducing: New Food Order

The race is on to tackle our climate crisis through food and agriculture, and increasingly our social crisis. But how do we ensure that the solutions to these challenges truly best for all people and our planet? Is it possible to transform the existing system, or do we need a new food order?

These are some of the the questions Louisa Burwood-Taylor, head of media and research at AgFunder, and I started discussing last year. We were seeing increasing investment in things like plant-based foods, carbon markets, cellular agriculture and regenerative agriculture, which were being touted as climate solutions. We were also closely following the great resignation, increasing unionization and the rise in alternative and shared ownership models that distribute value more equitably across all stakeholders. We were seeing a lot of people evangelizing “solutions,” but the nuance was sorely lacking. 

And so we set out on a learning and unlearning journey to unearth how we might design business and finance to have maximum positive impact for people and our planet. 

This week, we launched New Food Order, a podcast about the business of tackling our climate and social crises through food and agriculture. 

Each week, we’ll be bringing you conversations with nuance, debate and diverse voices that explore questions like:

• Will plant-based, lab-grown meat and regenerative agriculture save the world? 
• What are the most people and planet friendly business and finance models?
• Is carbon neutral enough? 
• How might we best honor and learn from indigenous communities? 
• What are the unintended consequences of these new innovations, and how might we avoid them?

You’ll be hearing from industry leaders like Paul Polman, the former CEO of Unilever, Sam Kass, former nutrition policy expert for the Obamas and a partner at Acre Ventures, Nathalie Kelley, hollywood actress and advocate for regenerative agriculture Indigenous peoples, James Beard Award Winning Chef Sean Sherman, and Oatly’s Julie Kunen and a whole lot more. 

We embarked on this journey with more questions than answers. We checked our egos at the door and questioned everything we held to be true. Now, we’re inviting you to do the same and to join us by subscribing here.

And be sure to check out our trailer and first two episodes:

• Trailer
• Introducing: New Food Order
• Is the world better with your business in it? With Paul Polman

Thank you in advance for subscribing and sharing! This helps us ensure we reach as many people as possible. Together we can play a role in driving this industry forward in a truly positive way for all people and our planet.