Ctrl-Alt-Meat

Cristina Figaredo is the Research & Engagement Manager at FAIRR, one of the world’s fastest-growing networks of investors focused on ESG risks in the global food sector. As Research & Engagement Manager, she is responsible for managing engagements between investors and industry stakeholders with the intent of addressing risks and opportunities in the protein supply chain. Cristina is also currently leading FAIRR’s engagement in working conditions in the animal agriculture industry.

Cristina joins me to discuss the labor risks involved in working in the meat processing industry. She explains the work condition lapses that the pandemic exposed and how companies addressed them. She describes the role of market consolidation in worker protection and the factors involved in labor risks. Cristina also shares some of the reasons why working conditions in the animal agriculture industry are still not up to standards.

"Companies maximize efficiency and output volumes to reduce costs. In that process, they sometimes overlook working conditions and expose employees to risk." - Cristina Figaredo

This week on CTRL-ALT-Meat:

• How the pandemic exposed the dangers of meat processing facilities to workers
• Why working conditions aren't faring any better in the animal agriculture industry
• Why worker representation in the sector remains poor
• The role of market consolidation in worker protection
• Different factors that influence labor risk

Connect with Cristina Figaredo:

• FAIRR
• Protein Producer Index
• Cristina Figaredo on LinkedIn

Resetting the Food System for a Better Tomorrow

Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of Ctrl-Alt-Meat. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.

Apple Podcasts | TuneIn | GooglePlay | Stitcher | Spotify | iHeartRadio

Be sure to share your favorite episodes on social media to help us reach more listeners, like you.

Join us on LinkedIn and for more exclusive content and information, visit our website.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Temple Grandin is an American scientist and industrial designer who was diagnosed with autism. However, instead of letting her condition define her, she reasoned that people with autism can relate to the intense fear animals experience in slaughterhouses. She used her experience with autism to create systems that can help with the anxiety of both people and animals. Temple’s condition allowed her to possess a high IQ and obtain a Master’s degree and a Doctorate in Animal Science from Arizona State University. She is also the author of Thinking in Pictures, where she talks about how being autistic made her brain process information as if she were looking at pictures.

Temple joins me today to discuss how autism lets her develop efficient farm systems, especially those concerning animals about to be slaughtered. She explains why previously-believed abnormal animal behaviors are now seen as normal today. She explains why engineering systems will only solve half the problems slaughterhouses experience every day. She shares the benefits and drawbacks of lab-grown meat and vegan alternatives. Temple also discusses how her passion for writing allowed her to educate beyond those who take her classes.

"A big centralized supply chain is very cheap and efficient, but when you break it, you have a ton of problems." - Temple Grandin

This week on Ctrl-Alt-Meat:

• Who Temple is and how autism allowed her to think outside the box
• Temple's initial observations regarding cattle handling and slaughtering
• Why building good facilities will only fix half the problem
• The changes made in slaughterhouses as a result of Temple's work
• Temple's thoughts on the slaughterhouses in the US
• The biggest issues in slaughterhouses and how people are desensitized to them
• How COVID-19 disrupted the global supply chain
• The pros and cons of lab-grown meats and vegan alternatives regarding sustainability
• How the industry can better apply humane slaughterhouse practices
• Why many great thinkers were likely autistic
• What inspired Temple to write about autism and the cattle industry
• What young people will no longer consider abnormal in the future
• How writing helped Temple find growth and success in her career
• Her advice to those who want to help the world realize how we can do better

Connect with Temple Grandin:

• Temple Grandin official website
• Book: Thinking in Pictures, Expanded Edition: My Life with Autism
• Book: Improving Animal Welfare: A Practical Approach
• Book: The Autistic Brain: Thinking Across the Spectrum
• Book: The Way I See It: 5th Edition: Revised & Expanded
• Book: Temple Grandin's Guide to Working with Farm Animals: Safe, Humane Livestock Handling Practices for the Small Farm

Resetting the Food System for a Better Tomorrow

Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of Ctrl-Alt-Meat. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.

Apple Podcasts | TuneIn | GooglePlay | Stitcher | Spotify | iHeartRadio

Be sure to share your favorite episodes on social media to help us reach more listeners, like you.

Join us on LinkedIn and for more exclusive content and information, visit our website.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Eline Reintjes is a Programme Officer at FAIRR Initiative, a collaborative investor network that promotes investments in companies that raise awareness for ESG risks. As Programme Officer, Eline is focused on sustainable agriculture and finance policy in China and the EU. Before joining FAIRR, she worked at the B Team as their Junior Strategist, primarily focused on climate change advocacy. Eline holds a Masters with Honors degree in Economics and Chinese from the University of Edinburgh and an MSc in Sustainable Resources: Economics, Policy, and Transitions from the University of California, Los Angeles.

Eline joins me to discuss the popularity of plant-based alternatives in China as well as across Asia in general. She explains the strict policies regarding plant-based products in China and what A-listed companies that offer plant-based products and services are required to disclose. She describes how China became one of the world’s leading solar energy producers and why the Chinese are more likely to consume plant-based meat than Americans. We also discuss the potential for alternative protein production throughout the Chinese market.

"Increasing government support and funding for alternative protein could bring down the cost of alternative protein products.” - Eline Reintjes

This week on Ctrl-Alt-Meat:

• The popularity of ESG investments in China
• The growth of ESG investments in Asia
• Stringent requirements for specific issues for a state-owned enterprise in China
• Chinese consumer reception of plant-based protein products
• The potential of alternative protein production in China
• How China became one of the world's largest producers of solar energy

Resources Mentioned:

• Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference

Connect with Eline Reintjes:

• FAIRR Initiative
• Eline Reintjes on LinkedIn
• Coller FAIRR Protein Producer Index

Resetting the Food System for a Better Tomorrow

Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of Ctrl-Alt-Meat. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.

Apple Podcasts | TuneIn | GooglePlay | Stitcher | Spotify | iHeartRadio

Be sure to share your favorite episodes on social media to help us reach more listeners, like you.

Join us on LinkedIn and for more exclusive content and information, visit our website.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Carl Safina is the Founding President of the Safina Center, a nonprofit organization that supports advocacies and programs that spearhead wildlife preservation and conservation and raise awareness for species endangerment. Carl also hosted the PBS series Saving the Ocean, where he shows the beauty of Mother Nature and unseen societies and cultures to engage viewers into taking action in preserving what we have for future generations.

Carl joins me today to discuss what makes people and animals alike in terms of consciousness and culture. He explains how animals also have culture and how the way they live is not so different from our own. He shares where his passion for wildlife conservation started and the different pets he’s cared for throughout his childhood. He discusses why he disagrees with ascribing human behavior to everyday animal activities. Carl also shares the positive changes he sees regarding conservation efforts.

"People and animals are living the same life in different ways." - Carl Safina

This week on Ctrl-Alt-Meat:

• What inspired Carl's fascination with animals from a young age
• The different pets Carl raised growing up
• The similarities between animals and humans on how we live our lives
• Comparing and contrasting human consciousness and animal consciousness
• What it means for animals to have a culture
• Why humans developed culture and its significance in how we make sense of the world
• Why Carl is not a fan of anthropomorphizing animals
• The two mistakes people make when assuming animal intelligence
• The extinction crisis and how we can improve our conservation efforts
• Addressing the species imbalance that the world is facing today
• The role of animal agriculture in the endangerment of animal populations
• Countries with generally good farming and fishing practices
• Why Saving the Ocean is a more optimistic program on environmental conservation
• The best ways to tackle environmental issues
• What the average person can do to boost conservation efforts
• Positive changes regarding various conservation programs

Resources Mentioned:

• A Sand County Almanac by Aldo Leopold

Connect with Carl Safina:

• Carl Safina official website
• Saving the Ocean documentary
• The Safina Center

Resetting the Food System for a Better Tomorrow

Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of Ctrl-Alt-Meat. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.

Apple Podcasts | TuneIn | GooglePlay | Stitcher | Spotify | iHeartRadio

Be sure to share your favorite episodes on social media to help us reach more listeners, like you.

Join us on LinkedIn and for more exclusive content and information, visit our website.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Alice Di Concetto is the Founder and Consultant at Animal Law Europe, a consulting firm dedicated to helping organizations make longer strides regarding European law and policy and animal welfare. Alice is a French and US-educated lawyer with over ten years of academic and professional experience in animal law. Alice’s experience working with various government and non-government organizations has allowed her to gain considerable wisdom in EU public affairs.

Alice joins me to discuss animal law, what it’s about, and the different ways countries apply their version of animal law. She shares the growing awareness of the link between agriculture and greenhouse gas emissions and explains why a country’s animal welfare laws are not good markers for how animals are actually treated. Alice also shares various resources for those who want to learn about animal law in greater detail.

"The study of animal law goes beyond studying animal welfare and legislation." - Alice Di Concetto

This week on Ctrl-Alt-Meat:

• Why animal laws have recently been a hot topic
• What exactly is "Animal Law"and what it's really about
• The differences in animal laws across different countries
• Comparing animal welfare in Guatemala versus France

Resources Mentioned:

• Coller Animal Law Forum
• ANIMAL LAW Monthly Podcast with Mariann Sullivan
• Paw & Order Podcast
• Harvard Law School Animal Law & Policy Program
• Lewis & Clark Law School Center for Animal Law Studies
• New York University Center for Environmental and Animal Protection
• Tel Aviv University Environmental Justice and the Protection of Animal Rights

Connect with Alice Di Concetto:

• Animal Law Europe
• Alice Di Concetto on LinkedIn

Resetting the Food System for a Better Tomorrow

Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of Ctrl-Alt-Meat. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.

Apple Podcasts | TuneIn | GooglePlay | Stitcher | Spotify | iHeartRadio

Be sure to share your favorite episodes on social media to help us reach more listeners, like you.

Join us on LinkedIn and for more exclusive content and information, visit our website.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Andrew Wasley is an investigative journalist who specializes in food production and how it contributes to environmental problems. He is a member of the not-for-profit Bureau of Investigative Journalism, an organization that firmly believes in the vital role of investigative journalism in keeping a strong democracy. Andrew is also the author of The Ecologist Guide to Food, where he talks about the dark side of the food we eat with stories involving animal suffering, the destruction of ecosystems, pollution, and human rights abuses.

Andrew joins me today to discuss how food industries are contributing to antibiotic resistance and creating superbugs. He describes his investigative work and how his research changed the way people perceive the food they eat and explains why regulation is not always practical when it comes to preserving our natural resources. Andrew also shares facts about antibiotic overuse, its short and long-term consequences, and describes why he’s not overly optimistic about the future of food production.

"Ultimately, it's about stopping and thinking where your food is coming from." - Andrew Wasley

This week on Ctrl-Alt-Meat:

• Andrew's research on deforestation and antimicrobial resistance
• How the pandemic made politicians talk about major food problems
• How mass food production and consumption negatively impact our forests
• Why reducing meat consumption won't really fix the deforestation problem
• How soy consumption and production contribute to global deforestation
• Why a "clean" supply chain is no longer free from "dirty" sources
• Is regulation the best way to improve our conservation efforts?
• The overuse of antibiotics in the food supply and the spread of superbugs
• Why it's the less developed countries that will suffer when antibiotics no longer work
• The best way to effect change in the awareness of the overuse of antibiotics in food
• The consequences of antibiotic overuse
• Positive results of the investigations and research Andrew and his team have done
• The ethical and hygienic practices for food safety and abattoirs
• Why Andrew is not optimistic about where the food industry is going

Resources Mentioned:

• UN Climate Change Conference COP26

Connect with Andrew Wasley:

• Andrew Wasley Official Website
• The Bureau of Investigative Journalism
• Blog: Eating the Earth: Our Investigation of Industrial Farming
• Book: Ecologist Guide to Food
• Andrew Wasley on Twitter

Resetting the Food System for a Better Tomorrow

Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of Ctrl-Alt-Meat. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.

Apple Podcasts | TuneIn | GooglePlay | Stitcher | Spotify | iHeartRadio

Be sure to share your favorite episodes on social media to help us reach more listeners, like you.

Join us on LinkedIn and for more exclusive content and information, visit our website.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Helena Wright is the Policy Director at FAIRR, a global network of investors that promotes responsible investing with ESG risks in mind. As Policy Director, Helena focuses on policy solutions related to opportunities and threats surrounding intensive animal agriculture. She regularly engages with people from the government, regulators, major industry bodies, and their respective investors. Before joining FAIRR, Helena was the Vice President for the World Wildlife Foundation in Singapore.

Helena joins me to discuss the things that will likely come up during COP26 and the UN Biodiversity Summit. We discuss why the commitment to keep rising global temperatures at a steady 1.5 Celsius is critical for many life forms in the ocean as well as the rest of the ecosystem. Helena also shares her thoughts on climate change funding and describes why governments will likely realign their climate finance goals.

"Climate stability and biodiversity are important for the preservation of the ecosystem that we rely on for life." - Helena Wright

This week on Ctrl-Alt-Meat:

• The environmental significance of stabilizing rising temperatures
• Countries that are committed to reducing agriculture emissions
• The importance of reconsidering biodiversity
• Is Helena optimistic about reaching climate change goals?
• Why governments will agree on a new climate finance goal

Resources Mentioned:

• UN Biodiversity Summit 2022
• COP26 Summit

Connect with Helena Wright:

• FAIRR
• Helena Wright on LinkedIn

Resetting the Food System for a Better Tomorrow

Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of Ctrl-Alt-Meat. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.

Apple Podcasts | TuneIn | GooglePlay | Stitcher | Spotify | iHeartRadio

Be sure to share your favorite episodes on social media to help us reach more listeners, like you.

Join us on LinkedIn and for more exclusive content and information, visit our website.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr. Lance Price is a co-director at the Antibiotic Resistance Action Center—or ARAC—at the Milken Institute School of Public Health at George Washington University. ARAC was formed to research and educate people about the use and overuse of antibiotics in our food. Dr. Price’s research revolves around retracing the ecology, epidemiology, and evolution of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and has been cited as a great resource in peer-reviewed journals.

Lance joins me to discuss antibiotic resistance and how it can become a global threat to public health. He describes possible ways humans can prevent antibiotic resistance, including regulating antibiotic use in agriculture. He shares where his passion for researching superbugs stemmed from. He explains how governments all over the world are imposing laws on antibiotic use. Dr. Price also discusses why he prefers to add humor each time he’s asked to present his thoughts on antibiotic overuse.

"Antibiotics aren't a zero-risk category of drugs." - Dr. Lance Price

This week on CTRL-ALT-Meat:

• Why antibiotic resistance is the most significant public health crisis
• Solutions to fixing antibiotic resistance
• What antimicrobial resistance is and the scale of the problem
• What motivated Dr. Price to study the use of antibiotics in farm animals and their dangers
• The strict regulations applied to antibiotic usage in animals
• Mainstream food industries and their commitment to antibiotic-free sources
• How bacteria can become resistant to antibiotics.
• Price’s thoughts on public health being politicized
• What we learned from the pandemic and the steps we need to take regarding healthcare
• Why Dr. Price uses humor to communicate his ideas
• What Dr. Price wants users to take away from this episode

Connect with Dr. Lance Price:

• Antibiotic Resistance Action Center
• Antibiotic Resistance Action Center on Twitter
• Lance Price on LinkedIn

Resetting the Food System for a Better Tomorrow

Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of CTRL-ALT-Meat. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.

Apple Podcasts | TuneIn | GooglePlay | Stitcher | Spotify | iHeartRadio

Be sure to share your favorite episodes on social media to help us reach more listeners, like you.

Join us on LinkedIn and for more exclusive content and information, visit our website.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Philippa Thornton is an ESG Analyst at FAIRR Initiative, a network of investors worldwide with a mission to implement strict ESG investing practices across the global supply chain. Philippa is responsible for creating ESG Analysis within FAIRR’s Sustainable Proteins team. She obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Geography from Hertford College, Oxford, and has extensive experience working with environmental NGOs.

Philippa Thornton joins me to explain the dangers of antimicrobial resistance and why it is called a silent pandemic. She describes statistics regarding antimicrobial resistance and how it contributes to higher deaths per year. She discusses the link between agriculture and antimicrobial resistance and how humans can acquire this condition. Philippa also shares ways we can all help reduce the spread of antimicrobial resistance and the innovations and policies she is hopeful for in the coming years.

"Antimicrobial resistance can actually spread to humans directly through eating animal products and through the environment." - Philippa Thornton

This week on CTRL-ALT-Meat:

• What antimicrobial resistance really means and the key points we need to know
• How antimicrobial resistance is currently contributing to more deaths in recent years
• The connection between antimicrobial resistance and animal agriculture
• What we can expect in the future if antimicrobial resistance becomes more prominent
• Moving forward to reduce the likelihood of widespread antimicrobial resistance
• Countries prone to high levels of antimicrobial resistance
• What Philipa feels hopeful about and examples of silver linings

Resources Mentioned:

• Superbugs Unplugged podcast

Connect with Philipa Thornton:

• FAIRR
• FAIRR on LinkedIn
• Philippa Thornton on LinkedIn

Resetting the Food System for a Better Tomorrow

Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of CTRL-ALT-Meat. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.

Apple Podcasts | TuneIn | GooglePlay | Stitcher | Spotify

Be sure to share your favorite episodes on social media to help us reach more listeners, like you.

Join us on LinkedIn and for more exclusive content and information, visit our website.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Decoding the Language of Dolphins with Diana Reiss

Diana Reiss is a cognitive psychologist whose research focuses on the communication and cognition of marine animals. The core of her specialization revolves around dolphins and the evolution of their intelligence and sense of self. She is the author of The Dolphin in the Mirror where she talks about how dolphins possess the rare ability to recognize themselves in front of a mirror - once thought to be exclusive to apes and humans. She is a strong advocate for preserving aquatic life, spearheading environment preservation programs and protesting against industrial practices that destroy oceanic habitats. Diana is also a core member of Interspecies Internet, a global think-tank that seeks to accelerate interfaces that facilitate interspecies communication.

Diana Reiss joins me today to discuss her passion for dolphin research, where it all began, and when her advocacies for animals started. She discusses how her research on dolphin intelligence changed what we know about them and explains the similarities between dolphins and humans regarding self-awareness and learning techniques. Diana also shares her experience with filming The Cove, a documentary about Japan’s dolphin hunting practices, and explains the goal of Interspecies Internet.

“By decoding, we could converse with animals. By decoding, we can understand what they are saying.” - Diana Reiss

This week on CTRL-ALT-Meat:

• Why Diana made the switch from arts to studying dolphin cognition
• Diana's history of rescuing animals in her youth
• How Diana's studies have changed the way the scientific community viewed dolphins
• What Diana discovered about the first stages of dolphin interactions between mothers and calves
• The different ways dolphins communicate with each other
• How Diana gives dolphins a means to communicate with them
• Why dolphins are like humans when it comes to vocal learning
• Diana's findings regarding dolphins' sense of self and social awareness
• Diana's opinions on dolphin hunting and her advocacies
• What really goes on during a dolphin hunting expedition
• Using stories over facts to convince people to care for dolphins
• What they learned when they taught dolphins how to use touchscreens
• Rescuing a whale in 1985
• Why we have to rethink our industrial fishing practices
• What Diana would encourage people to do to improve environmental conservation practices

Resources Mentioned:

• Peter Gabriel
• Alex the Parrot
• The Rescue of Humphrey, The Humpback Whale

Connect with Diana Reiss:

• Interspecies Internet
• Book: The Dolphin in the Mirror: Exploring Dolphin Minds and Saving Dolphin Lives
• The Cove

Resetting the Food System for a Better Tomorrow

Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of CTRL-ALT-Meat. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.

Apple Podcasts | TuneIn | GooglePlay | Stitcher | Spotify

Be sure to share your favorite episodes on social media to help us reach more listeners, like you.

Join us on LinkedIn and for more exclusive content and information, visit our website.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.