Jo Griffiths, global food community director for the British Standards Institute – BSI, speaks with Innovation Forum’s Ian Welsh about the challenges in developing sustainability standards for plastic packaging. They debate why the plastics debate has become highly polarised and the dangers in simply stopping using plastics, particularly in food packaging.

Griffiths outlines the difficulties around defining what sustainable packaging means across different sectors and argues for combining a systems approach to packaging materials, with development of a circular economy, as a potential solution.

This week: Amy Yoder, CEO of agri-tech business Anuvia Plant Nutrients, on innovation in fertilisers that add organic matter to boost soil health and boost productivity across all crops, without potentially harmful chemical inputs.

Plus: why we may dodge the worst case climate change; a call for big hikes in European meat prices; how fermented proteins are bad news for the diary sector; and, US $70m pledge to tackle human trafficking, in the news digest.

Hosted by Ian Welsh

Dawn Jutla, founder and co-CEO of blockchain technology developers Peer Ledger, talks with Innovation Forum’s Ian Welsh about how technology is revolutionising consumer engagement with products and supply chains.

They discuss some of the challenges in adapting blockchain for agriculture supply chain, and how it can enable full traceability and honest communication with suppliers and consumers.

Peer Ledger were a sponsor of Innovation Forum's 2019 future of food conference in Chicago.

Dawn Jutla, founder and co-CEO of blockchain technology developers Peer Ledger, talks with Innovation Forum’s Ian Welsh about how technology is revolutionising consumer engagement with products and supply chains.

They discuss some of the challenges in adapting blockchain for agriculture supply chain, and how it can enable full traceability and honest communication with suppliers and consumers.

Peer Ledger were a sponsor of Innovation Forum's 2019 future of food conference in Chicago.

In order to limit global temperatures to 1.5C, greenhouse gas emissions must fall 45% from 2010 levels by 2030 and to net zero by 2050, according to the IPCC. This reduction is required at a time of rapidly expanding food production. It is estimated by the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation that food and feed production will need to increase by 70% by 2050 to meet the world's food needs.

To meet climate targets and avoid the impending climate catastrophe, food companies must radically adapt practices. And with the clock ticking, the next 10 years will be critical.

In this webinar, an expert panel discusses:

• What leading food brands are currently doing to reduce climate impacts

Panel:

• Christine McGrath, vice president and chief of global impact, sustainability, and well-being, Mondelēz International

Hosted by Ian Welsh

This week: Nathalie Walker, director, tropical forests and agriculture at the US’s National Wildlife Federation on why her work preserving natural habitats in the US and beyond means engaging with business to tackle the climate crisis and tropical deforestation.

Plus: how PayPal is targeting human trafficking; a new WEF report into how to change incentives in food production and consumption; and, why a circular economy is still a long way off, in the news digest.

Hosted by Ian Welsh