Investing in our plate: Solutions for the future of food

2024-10-22T17:30:00+00:00

2024-10-22T21:00:00+00:00

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"Make an Impact for Good" Sustainability ProgrammeInvesting in our plate: Solutions for the future of food  Tuesday 22nd October - 6.30pm UK time | Institut Français du Royaume-Uni Did you know that the food system contributes to a staggering 25% of greenhouse gas emissions, puts immense pressure on land and water resources, and significantly impacts livelihoods and health? From production to waste management, the need to finance innovation is paramount. We must ensure food safety for a growing global population of 8 billion, while simultaneously protecting and restoring soil and water, and enabling healthier diets. The urgency and scale of change required are undeniable. Join us for a thought-provoking discussion on navigating this critical transition, followed by a networking cocktail.FORMAT 6.30pm BST: Welcome7pm BST: Welcome remarks7.10pm BST: Guest speaker (Camelia Ram, Research Affiliate at the EDHEC FIT Chair (Foresight, Innovation, and Transformation)7.25pm BST: Panel discussion 8.10pm BST: Q&A8.30pm BST: Networking cocktailPANELLISTSKatherine Nathan (Panel Chair): CEO of RATCHET, presenter & writer of the Great Taste PodcastHaving trained at the Daily Telegraph and then at the BBC, Katherine seamlessly combines her journalistic editorial values and creative production skills to deliver premium content to global clients. She has represented the BBC as a Creative Director in North America, Australia, Singapore and South Africa. Katherine founded RATCHET in response to the changing needs of customers and the way we consume content today. This strategic expertise in optimising content for the most effective audience reach, forms part of Katherine’s consultancy work. A specialist in impact, presentation and media training, Katherine has coached people at all levels of seniority. This is underpinned by an intrinsic understanding of Diversity and Inclusion challenges, and how to successfully meet these, to bring about meaningful change within business and wider society. Most recently, Katherine wrote and presented the Great Taste Podcast in association with the Guild of Fine Food. This podcast shines a light on why food costs what it does today and explores whether or not our current food system in the UK can create sustainable long-term growth for producers and retailers alike. Antony Yousefian: Partner at The First Thirty Antony Yousefian is a Partner at The First Thirty Ventures, where he specialises in capital allocation, sustainable investments, and agri-food tech innovation. With a track record in founding, operating, and scaling startups, harnessing technology to reveal and capitalise on the economic potential of natural ecosystems. Antony began his career in asset management, where he quickly identified a growing demand for sustainable investments. It soon became apparent that there was a significant challenge: the difficulty of quantifying environmental impacts for effective allocation. This realisation prompted his shift towards angel investing and support for early-stage technologies in the agriculture and food sectors. At The First Thirty, Antony directs investments towards data-driven, deep-tech companies, demonstrating a tangible link between soil health and economic productivity. Beyond his role at The First Thirty, Antony is a nominator for the Earth Shot Prize and serves as an advisor at Agrimetrics and Tech Nation.Liz Genever: Independent sheep and beef consultant Liz Genever is an independent and holistically trained beef and sheep systems consultant working across the UK. She is a third generation farmer in south west Lincolnshire and is transitioning the family mixed farm into a more regenerative and biological approach. She has a strong technical background and works with beef and sheep farmers across the UK. Her knowledge covers livestock production, grazing systems and sustainable farming techniques. She works with farmers who want to challenge their current practices, particularly on grass and forage utilisation. She also specialises in facilitating discussion groups and meetings. Liz is one of the attendees on Integrity Soils’ CREATE UK course, which is intensive programme designed to train and empower consultants and coaches in the theory, principles and practices behind healthy, agroecological systems. She is one of the founders of Carbon Calling CIC, which is building a community of farmers who support and learn from one another to make their farm and themselves healthier and happier. The annual Carbon Calling conference is becoming renowned for its atmosphere and learning experiences. She does a monthly podcast – ReGenAg chat – with the Carbon Calling co-founder Nic Renison, who runs a regenerative farm in Cumbria with her husband Reno. See carboncalling.comCharlotte Ward: Head of Financing & Operations, Climate & Nature Fund at Unilever Investment and development professional with 20+ years experience across impact investment, private equity, venture capital & philanthropy, capital markets and innovative financing strategies for sustainable and inclusive growth. Experienced executive and manager with a demonstrated history of achievement in impact investment, ESG, climate and philanthropy industries, with a passion for purpose, collaboration and learning. Charlotte has strong management, strategy and innovation skills, often working in multi-stakeholder ecosystems. Charlotte's demonstrable strengths include Strategy, Portfolio Management, Venture Capital, Start-up Leadership, Governance and Business Planning, Fundraising and Disruptive technology. Charlotte has worked within emerging and developed markets in Africa, Asia, North America, LatAm and Europe, and across infrastructure, agriculture, financial services, education and healthcare. Benoit Jobard: Head Chef at the Company of Cooks Benoit, a classically trained chef from Ferrandi, blends his culinary expertise with a deep commitment to sustainability. His focus on locally sourced products began at Hackney Coffee Company, where he aimed to source the majority of ingredients from East London. This dedication to local procurement continued throughout his two years at Riverside Studio. Now with Company of Cooks, recently integrated into Compass Group, Benoit brings his approach to large-scale catering. Navigating the complexities of maintaining high standards in quality and sustainability while scaling production. His work is rooted in a profound understanding of the challenges facing modern procurement and the future of food systems. GUEST SPEAKERCamelia Ram: Research Affiliate of the EDHEC Chair for Foresight, Innovation and Transformation Camelia Ram is a Research Affiliate of the EDHEC Chair for Foresight, Innovation and Transformation, where she is responsible for design and delivery of executive education engagements that help to build the organisational capabilities to navigate uncertainty. She has contributed to Winning the Long Game: How Strategic Leaders Shape the Future and Accelerating Performance: How Organizations Can Mobilize, Execute, and Transform with Agility. Camelia holds a PhD in Operational Research from the London School of Economics (LSE).MAKE AN IMPACT FOR GOOD Launched by passionate members of the EDHEC Alumni UK Board in 2023, "Make an Impact for Good" is an ambitious programme of three main activities aimed at raising awareness on the sustainability challenges, connecting generations to find solutions and ultimately making an impact for good on society. The three main activities are as follows:A series of expert panel discussions to highlight the challenges of sustainability. So far, topics have covered the role of the individual, sustainable finance, the circular economy and the transition to green energy.A mentoring programme between Alumni in the UK facing a sustainability-related problem and EDHEC students from the MSc in Global & Sustainable Business and MSc in Climate Change & Sustainable FinanceA bursary scheme to support Bachelor or Master students who meet bursary criteria and work on sustainability-focused projects. If you are interested in speaking at one of our events or becoming a mentor, please contact the UK team of "Make an Impact for Good" at: ukboard@alumni.edhec.edu. We would be delighted to collaborate with you!EVENT PARTNERS The team of EDHEC Alumni UK's "Make an Impact for Good" sustainability programme is very proud to have been one of two winners of the 2024 hackathon launched by the French Embassy in the UK, and consequently benefit from their support to extend their series of events to the entire France Alumni network in the UK.The France Alumni network is a network of former students from the French system of higher education. It allows Alumni from a wide range of schools stay in touch with their classmates, France, and gives professional opportunities.

https://alumni.edhec.edu/en/group/uk-london/86/calendar/investing-in-our-plate-solutions-for-the-future-of-food/2024/10/22/21715