Sustainable Foods Summit goes online

The 2021 Sustainable Foods Summit will discuss the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic on production and consumption of sustainable foods. COVID-19 is changing the way we shop and eat; it is also influencing raw material supply chains and distribution of food products. The sustainability implications will be discussed at the 11^th North American edition, hosted on an online platform on January 25-28, 2021.

Major discussions in this virtual edition include…

1. Transition to a new green new deal. Winona LaDuke, the renowned Native

American activist, environmentalist and writer, will share her views on moving to a green economy.

2. Rise of regenerative agriculture. There is a growing realization that regenerative

agriculture can help resolve many of the environmental & social issues faced by the agrifood industry. Diana Martin from The Rodale Institute will give an update of the new Regenerative Organic Certified scheme and its three pillars of soil health, animal welfare, and social fairness.

3. Sustainable food retailing. Consumer demand for organic & sustainable foods has increased during the pandemic. Alan Lewis from Natural Grocers will share the retailers’ experiences.

4. Marketing to the post-COVID consumer. Apart from changing the way we shop, COVID-19 is also changing the products we buy, as well as perceptions of brands. According to Signal Analytics, Trader Joe’s is one of the brands that has resonated strongly with consumers during the pandemic. The research agency will be presenting its latest consumer and market trends at the summit.

5. Plastics in a circular economy. Although there is a growing call to move away from single-use plastics, some organizations are finding new applications for plastic waste.

6. Future of sustainability schemes. The number of sustainability schemes and ethical labels continues to proliferate in the food industry. Industry experts will discuss the merits and drawbacks of sustainability schemes, as well as give their perspectives on future developments.

7. Merits of organic farming. Fernando Alfonso from Native Products will show how organic agriculture is encouraging biodiversity on its farms. Native Products is one of the leading organic food brands in Brazil, starting organic farming in 1987.

8. Widening range of plant proteins. A wide range of plant proteins are now being used to make plant-based foods. Michelle Wolf, Co-founder and CTO of New Wave Foods, will show how the company has developed plant-based shrimp using sustainably sourced seaweed and natural flavors.

More information is available from http://www.sustainablefoodssummit.com/northamerica/