Crusonia Conversations

This Crusonia Conversation features Brian Thompson, CEO of Elemental Enzymes, and Vonnie Estes, VP of Technology, Produce Marketing Association. Brian and Vonnie will be discussing the connection between plant health and the quality, health, and taste of food. Of particular interest in this conversation will be how a field-proven, patented peptide solution called Vimax is showing promise in reversing Citrus Greening which is impacting the citrus industry and citrus quality from grove to grocer.

Bruce German, Professor and Food Chemist, Food Science and Technology Director, Foods For Health Institute at UC Davis, and Carter Williams, CEO, iSelect Fund, discuss how the role of microbiomes from humans to soil health and agriculture is only beginning to be understood. As it becomes more apparent it creates the opportunity for innovation and investor growth as well as holding promise for significant contribution to health through a better understanding of food and data technology.

This conversation takes the long view but the connection between health, microbiome, and diet is a fascinating and emerging area of study and focuses on the journey toward better food and better health.

Erin Fitzgerald who serves as CEO of the U.S. Farmers and Ranchers in Action (USFRA) and Rob Dongoski, partner at Ernst & Young LLP, and founder of the EY Global Agribusiness Center, discuss the need for even greater transparency and sustainability across the food supply chain in the age and aftermath of COVID-19.

Rob and Erin are passionately committed to building a better world through food and agriculture. As USFRA’s CEO, Erin believes America’s farmers and ranchers have a unique ability to spur innovation and provide sustainable, climate-smart solutions. Rob shares this philosophy and drive for transparency and sustainability across our food supply chain and has spent over 20 years working to create financial growth strategies in this sector to fuel both sustainable food and sustainable growth.

Benson Hill CEO, Matt Crisp is joined by Leslie Bonci, Dietitian for the Kansas City Chiefs for an in-depth discussion on the importance of improving the nutritional quality of our food system from plant to plate.

Matt and Leslie discuss how the greatest food challenges we currently face are about nutritional quality, not supply. They discuss how this is improved from the ground up with crops specifically designed to be more nutritious and personal practices that can lead to better food choices and overall improvements in health and well-being.

Our May Crusonia Conversations features Dr. Robert Lustig with Carter Williams, CEO of iSelect Fund. Dr. Lustig has fostered a global discussion of metabolic health and nutrition, exposing some of the leading myths that underlie the current pandemic of diet-related disease. He believes the food business, by pushing processed food loaded with sugar, has hacked our bodies and minds to pursue pleasure instead of happiness; fostering today’s epidemics of addiction and depression. Yet by focusing on real food, we can beat the odds against sugar, processed food, obesity, and disease.

Our first conversation features esteemed economist Tyler Cowen and iSelect Fund CEO and Managing Partner Carter Williams in a discussion on the Coronavirus and how this pandemic relates to and directly impacts the future of Food and Health.