In this episode of the Food Tech Junkie Podcast, host Sharon Cittone speaks with Julia Collins—founder of PlanetFWD and the visionary behind Moonshot Snacks and Zume Pizza—about how we can decarbonize the food industry through data, innovation, and transparency.

Julia shares her journey from food entrepreneur to climate-tech trailblazer, revealing how small brands can drive big change. The conversation explores regenerative agriculture, greenwashing vs. green hushing, data and data-driven storytelling, and the power of community-led food systems. Learn how PlanetFWD is helping companies measure and reduce their environmental impact—and why the future of food must be rooted in truth, not trends.

🌍 She’s not just rethinking what’s on our plates—she’s redefining our path to a cooler planet.

Are you ready? Here we go.

Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction to Green Gushing

00:38 – Meet Julia Collins: Decarbonizing Industries

01:22 – Julia’s Journey to PlanetFWD

04:53 – The Impact of Food Systems on the Planet

07:07 – The Role of Small Brands in Innovation

10:24 – Challenges in Food Accessibility

14:33 – Regenerative Agriculture and Its Benefits

18:38 – PlanetFWD: Data-Driven Environmental Solutions

32:04 – Alternative Proteins and Consumer Engagement

40:39 – Emerging Trends and Technologies in Food Innovation

42:37 – Lightning Round and Conclusion

About Julia Collins

Julia Collins is a serial entrepreneur, sustainability leader, and champion for equitable innovation.

She is the Founder & CEO of Planet FWD, the leading sustainability and supply chain intelligence platform helping global consumer brands reduce their climate impact. Inspired by her own climate-friendly snack company, Moonshot—which she successfully scaled and sold to Patagonia Provisions—Julia launched Planet FWD to empower brands with the data and tools they need to decarbonize their value chains.

Previously, Julia made history as the first Black woman to co-found a unicorn company with Zume Pizza, which reached a valuation of $2.25 billion. Her career began in hospitality, where she co-founded celebrated restaurants including Mexicue and Murray’s Cheese Bar, and was a founding partner at Harlem Jazz Enterprises, the group behind The Cecil—named one of the Best New Restaurants in America by Esquire magazine.

Julia holds degrees from Harvard University and Stanford Graduate School of Business. She serves on the boards of the Climate Collaborative and the Town School for Boys, and is deeply committed to building a more regenerative and inclusive future across food, technology, and climate.

She lives in San Francisco, CA with her partner and two boys.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sharoncittone.substack.com