Former Washington Governor Jay Inslee shares why food waste reduction is one of the cheapest and most powerful tools we have to fight climate change. He offers a vision of optimism, where state-level leadership, public-private collaboration, and community action can drive real systems change—even in the absence of federal momentum.

Eat Well Global CEO Erin Boyd Kappelhof explains why health and sustainability are no longer separate tracks. From partnering with brands and influencers to supporting companies that are integrating regenerative agriculture and nutrition goals, Erin explores how cross-sector collaboration is shaping the future of food—and what it takes to stay relevant.

Victor Friedberg, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of New Epoch Capital + Founder and Chairman of FoodShot Global, reflects on how food and agriculture investing has evolved—and what’s still missing. From Beyond Meat’s values-driven growth to building systems-level solutions for sustainability-minded consumers, Victor unpacks what it takes to align capital with mission.

ReFED Executive Director Sara Burnett shares why this moment marks a turning point in food waste reduction. With tangible momentum, growing partnerships, and the scaling of the U.S. Food Waste Pact, we’re moving from pilot projects to real impact.

Ida Posner, Founder & Managing Partner of Hawthorne Food Ventures and Strategic Advisor to the Posner Foundation, joins us to explore how venture capital and philanthropy can work in tandem to solve one of the food system’s biggest challenges: food waste.

She shares Hawthorne’s investment thesis and the foundation’s strategy, showing how different forms of capital can unlock scalable solutions across the food loss and waste spectrum.

From farm-level tech to consumer innovations, Ida highlights where progress is accelerating—and why food waste reduction is a powerful lever for climate, health, and economic impact.

Saswati Bora, Global Director of Regenerative Food Systems at The Nature Conservancy, joins us to explore how regenerative agriculture can become a powerful climate and biodiversity solution. They discuss TNC’s global foodscapes strategy, the critical role of philanthropic capital in de-risking regenerative transitions, and why true systems change requires local trust, long timelines, and deep collaboration.

Jessamine Fitzpatrick, Co-Founder & Managing Director of Alder Point Capital Management, unpacks the role of private capital in financing food system transformation. From regenerative ag to sustainable timberland, Jessamine shares how place-based investment can drive impact across climate, water, biodiversity, and rural economies—while delivering strong financial returns.

Sara Farley, Vice President of the Food Initiative at The Rockefeller Foundation, joins us to explore how school meals can be a powerful lever for transforming global food systems. We dive into the Foundation’s bold bet to reach 100 million children with school meals sourced from regenerative agriculture—an ambitious effort to tackle both childhood hunger and climate change in one sweeping move. Sara shares how this vision connects producers and the most vulnerable consumers, why catalytic philanthropy is key to driving systems change, and what it takes to shift to a truly regenerative, equitable food future.

Thomas Crampton — Executive Chair of Crampton-Blackie — joins us to unpack how the right story, told at the right time, can unlock funding and fuel growth for climate and food innovators. We explore why storytelling is one of the most valuable tools for startups — not just for raising capital, but for scaling impact, attracting partners, and shaping the future of sustainable innovation.

Connie Bowen, Founding Partner of Farmhand Ventures — a VC fund building a better future of work in agriculture — joins Eva Goulbourne to unpack the agricultural labor crisis. They explore why there’s no sustainable food future without investing in farmworkers — and how innovation, technology, and funding must center people to build a more just and resilient food system.