Jeff Halvorson

Such useful insights on regen agriculture.

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As one of the Humane Society International representatives at the Climate Conference, my goal is to show the incredible work we are doing in Brazil by supporting the country's largest cities in implementing sustainable food policies based on protein diversification in municipal schools, popular restaurants and social assistance institutions that currently impact considering the work in collaboration with other organizations more than 34 million healthy meals for more than 572 thousand people, in addition to saving the emission of millions of tons of CO2eq. This work supports the achievement of the National Mitigation and Adaptation Plans, as well as it can and should be included in the NDCs. We are here supporting the inclusion of sustainable food systems in the discussions, understanding the importance of this sector and the urgency of this topic that permeates all areas related in the negotiations about social justice, food security, climate change, agroecology, technology and economic development. In Brazil, our work on diversification of proteins with plant-based options has supported a large increase in public purchases from family farming and the diversity of foods offered in public institutions and we hope that they can increasingly expand. #climatechange #food #sustainable

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New The Breakthrough Institute report launched today from me & Alex Smith. Check it out for a deep dive on: ① Why agrifood tech has received disproportionately little global climate finance to date ② The common technological and financial barriers faced by emerging ag and food industries (from alternative proteins to indoor farming) ③ Policy opportunities for the US government to better ensure needed decarbonization ag technologies can scale from the lab bench to commercial deployment As volatility continues to plague the private-sector finance landscape, the report makes the case for a far more interventionist approach by USDA with programs aimed at research, commercial demonstration, and deployment.

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Speaking of #foodsystems and #foodpolicy transition, see Rooted Research Collective for deep insights and collaborations. Had a fascinating convo with Marlana Malerich yesterday and I am going to keep my eye on their work! #PlantBased #Sustainability #ClimateInfluence https://rootedresearch.co/

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If you are trying to understand climate and investment in agriculture, I recommend you read Emily Bass and Alex Smith's recent report on GHG, Agriculture, and R&D investment. When you add the health benefits of food, climate and health, and the GDP impact of US technology exports, it is worth thinking about how an order of magnitude increase of public and private investment may improve climate, health, and GDP. And may serve as a hedge in global stability.

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FARMERS! You're the critical piece to a sustainable food supply chain. If you're wondering how you can get funding to do all those climate-friendly ag practices, look no further. The RFSI (Regenerative Food Systems Investment Forum) is offering FARMER SCHOLARSHIPS to the conference in Denver on October 9th-10th. They WANT to know what you need. They WANT to talk with you. I know that's harvest time. I know there's no perfect time to be away from a farm. I'm a retired farmer. I get it. But if you're serious about saving our planet, feeding our people, and MAKING A PROFIT through regenerative ag, then you need to take advantage of this offer. Go to their website here https://lnkd.in/gPQhn2xd APPLY FOR A FARMER SCHOLARSHIP What do you have to lose?

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I recently had the honor of speaking at the National Conference RO 3.0 "Leaders for the Future – Sustainability, Vision, Innovation," organized by Antena 3 CNN.   We face significant challenges:   🌳 Biodiversity Loss: 46% of forests destroyed, 60% of wildlife lost, 75% of insects exterminated. 🌡 Climate Change: We have already hit a 1.5°C temperature rise, and 6 out of 9 planetary boundaries have been exceeded. 📉 Resource Depletion: We are using resources at an unsustainable rate, requiring the equivalent of nearly 2 planets today and possibly 3 by 2050. Moreover, 2 million working-age Romanians are not integrated into the labor market or education.   At Ateliere Fără Frontiere, we are committed to offering solutions for these critical issues. Together, we can build a more sustainable and inclusive future.   #RO3.0 #Sustainability #ClimateAction #CircularEconomy #SocialEconomy

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If you work in the seed sector, I encourage you to nominate an impactful leader for recognition as a Management Maverick. This award program, created by Seed World United States, aims to bring recognition to dynamic leaders in the seed industry. Get your nomination(s) in by June 14 using the below link! Award Description: A maverick tends to break away from conventional expectations, showing creativity and originality. This trait can be especially valuable in a seed industry that requires innovation and fresh perspectives. Mavericks are usually unafraid to forge new paths or challenge the status quo, making them pivotal in driving change and progress in their environments. Seed World United States wants to celebrate these dynamic leaders. This fall, Seed World United States will unveil a list of Management Mavericks—those who go beyond the ordinary, those who champion employee well-being and inclusion, those who nurture a culture of mentorship and excel in talent retention and career development. Deadline: June 14, 2024 Nomination Details: https://lnkd.in/gy-7JYGw

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Today in honor of #InternationalSeedsDay we celebrate so many of our grantee partners around the world whose work is rooted in farmer managed seed systems—a necessary ingredient of food sovereignty. Agroecology Fund joins long-term partner Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa (AFSA) a call to amplify the voices of #African #smallholder farmers and help them reclaim and defend their rights for free and unrestricted use of their own #seeds and their long-established seed saving and exchange systems. “Farmers’ seeds are not merely a resource but the lifeblood of Africa’s food sovereignty. They embody reliability, affordability, the ability to adapt to changing climates and stands all stresses” states Mr. Hakim Baliraine, Chairperson of AFSA. “Through the ‘Seed is Life’ campaign, we are championing the resilience and diversity of indigenous farming practices, ensuring that African food systems remain in the hands of those who have nurtured them through the ages.” Read more about AFSA's new “𝙎𝙚𝙚𝙙 𝙄𝙨 𝙇𝙞𝙛𝙚” Campaign To Uphold Farmer Managed Seed Systems (FMSS) https://lnkd.in/gQEwaj3H

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New Innovation Forum podcast – Brazil's soy sector amid climate transitions, and US farmer voices. This week: Niamh McCarthy, director of climate-related risk at Climate Advisers and Orbitas, shares findings from a recent report on the impact of climate transitions on Brazil's soy sector with me. We discuss the current state of Brazil's soy sector and the potential drivers of positive change in future.   Plus: Kevin Burkum, U.S. Farmers & Ranchers in Action CEO, talks with me about the importance of farmer voices in developing sustainable food systems. We discuss how the US agriculture sector is adapting to the shift to regenerative agriculture.

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🌱 Excited to share insights from Nathan McGovern, Co-Founder of Plant-Based Universities, on driving transformative change in sustainable food systems! Here are some key takeaways from todays event: 🔑 Prioritizing Transformative Change: Transformative change seeks to "change what's possible" by introducing symbolic demands that reframe conversations and create moral urgency. In response to climate and ecological crises, Nathan stressed the strategic, practical, and cultural importance of demanding transformative change, inspiring societal shifts. 💡 The Importance of Claiming Wins: Transformative changes take time, so Nathan stressed that it is crucial to define and publicize your wins along the way. Claiming victories helps build belief, buy-in, and a culture of success, ultimately contributing to broader societal change. 🔄 Centralization vs. Decentralization: Nathan discussed the balance between centralization and decentralization in campaign management. Successful campaigns find a middle ground, with clear unified goals while allowing space for innovation and adaptability. 👥 Transformative vs. Transactional Leadership: Nathan contrasted leadership styles, emphasizing the importance of fostering vision-oriented, people-centered cultures over short-term, strategy-focused approaches. ⚖️ Avoiding Binary Thinking: Nathan emphasized the need to recognize nuances in leadership and campaign strategies, steering clear of binary thinking. Thank you Nathan, for sharing your insights and shedding light on the power of transformative campaign asks and the strategies needed to drive impactful results within universities and beyond. Let's keep pushing boundaries and driving sustainability forward! Join us for the final event in our Earth Month series next week on April 23rd to hear from Joost Wouters of The Seaweed Company! #Sustainability #TransformativeChange #Leadership #PlantFutures #PlantBasedUniversities

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World Fair Trade Day was May 11, 2024. This newly launched campaign Fairtrade America is for every day – all year long. See the link below to learn how you can participate in the fair-trade food and beverage - e.g., coffee and tea - movement. Fairtrade America launches a global campaign to make farmers’ voices heard https://lnkd.in/eTGX7n5Q Farmers around the world are struggling with unpredictable weather patterns due to climate change that make it much harder to farm. For the past two years or so, El Niño and La Niña have exacerbated already-abnormal patterns. For example, in Ecuador and Peru, there have been unusually high temperatures and heavy rains, but dry weather in the Dominican Republic and Colombia. Recent news reports have stated droughts across South America resulting from El Niño have led to water rationing, power cuts and forest fires. El Niño weather is leading to droughts and power cuts in South America https://lnkd.in/eSUpFs2S Colombian banana farmer Louis Caldo Verduga gave an urgent warning, “It used to be colder and now it’s much hotter. Bit by bit it has continued to become hotter. This could mean the end of the banana. There won’t be water to irrigate them quickly, as it will take several months before the rain fall. The hot sun dries the wells. Pests and diseases spread more easily, and the plants are smaller and thinner.” Colombian coffee farmer Marlene López Maya, a member of the Red Ecolsierra co-operative said, “[Climate change] makes us feel worried because we don’t have certainty about what will happen with our harvest, and how this harvest we are waiting for will turn out. Receiving fair payment for our coffee means recognition of our work, our effort, recognition of who we are.” In a message to consumers, López Maya said, “It’s not just a cup of coffee they’re consuming; when they drink that cup of coffee, they’re consuming the efforts of thousands of farmers striving to sell the best quality coffee.” #fairtrade #fairtradecoffee #fairtradebananas #fairtradechocolate #workersrights #socialequality #poverty #povertyalleviation #socialjustice #foodjustice #globalfoodsystem #foodsystems #foodsystemtransformation #sustainablefoodsystems #foodquality

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Curious about ingredient trends driving consumer purchasing decisions? Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) member JamesGratzek shared his perspective on the shift toward more natural, nutritious ingredients and what he calls an "anti-ingredient trend" in a new Brain Food Blog. Read on to learn about the latest trends and innovative ingredients and make plans to hear from James live and in person during the IFT FIRST Featured Session, F&B Ecosystem of the Future: Harnessing the Power of Innovation, Collaboration, and Diverse Thinking. https://lnkd.in/ghPcwSn3 #IFTFIRST #IFTSpotlight 

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Today, with our Food Solutions New England Network Leadership Institute cohort we are getting both macro and micro, with a focus on complex systems change and flow dynamics, as well as intra- and inter- personal nervous system regulation and "respectful confrontation." The common denominator? #Energy. How energy moves and the patterns that are held in place by different "structures" has a lot to say about systemic health, whether we are talking about economies our bodies or social groups. From an energy systems/networks perspective, long-term human thriving is rooted in large part in healthy social and socio-ecological webs that are diverse, intricate and dynamic. And more specifically, as Dr. Sally J. Goerner and other colleagues in the Research Alliance for Regenerative Economics highlight, aspects of social systemic health are grounded in: 🍀 Collective and adaptive learning – sharing information, working out loud, group inquiry and processing, prototyping, systemic sensing … 🍀 Collaborative culture – practicing facilitative leadership, weaving and coordination, designing for and engaging in collective innovation, linking and leveraging assets, collective decision-making, aligning practice to values such as trust, transparency, generosity … 🍀 Regenerative circulation – monitoring and tending to velocity, directionality, quality and quantity of flows of different resources … 🍀 Resilient structure – experimenting with fractals, distributed governance, strategic redundancy, subsidiarity … More in this post - https://lnkd.in/eP3cb_G

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Providing future generations with a rich and nutritious food supply will require innovative thinking and creative solutions that bring all stakeholders closer together. It will also require providing farmers with the means to nurture our precious resources through the tests of time and climate volatility. It’s great to see advancement and leadership towards meeting these high expectations.

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"Nature wants to repair itself and to keep moving. And we do lots of stuff to create obstacles. That can't happen." - Jack Algiere, Chief Agroecology Officer at the Stone Barns Center for Food & Agriculture, on this week's episode of System Catalysts. Listen to Jack's conversation with co-host English Sall about what working with nature can teach us about managing an ecosystem of changemakers.🎧: https://lnkd.in/e5srz2Ug

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Adoption of sustainable-farming practices is growing, but penetration remains low; they seek more operational and financial support. Sustainable-farming practices are necessary to meet decarbonization goals and broader environmental targets. Agriculture accounts for nearly a quarter of global emissions, and it was identified as the industry that contributes the most to exceeding planetary boundaries in McKinsey’s 2022 report Nature in the balance. However, average 2021–22 global finance flows for agriculture were only $43 billion, compared with $515 billion for energy systems and $336 billion for transport. And adoption of sustainable-farming practices is not increasing fast enough to meet the sustainability goals of food processors and consumer goods companies. While this is a good report with useful statistics, absent in the consideration is the need to provide access to markets. The magic bullet here is obvious; we want farmers to provide ecosystem services by enriching their soils back to life. Healthy soils yield healthy nutrient rich crops. Why not find a way to pay farmers for value differentiated crops, create the financial incentives to reward the outcomes we seek? To operationalize such a shift will require changes in the supply chain that are disruptive to established business models, yet unavoidable. The longer this transition takes, the more difficult it will get. https://lnkd.in/g7M5muwM

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When I began to work with rubber tappers in Acre, Brazil, and other forest-based communities in the late 1980s, our goal was to increase conservation by making sustainable businesses more profitable. And in just four years, we were able to triple the price paid to Brazil nut collectors in Acre by reducing the waste rate from 40% to 5% by shelling the nuts in Acre rather than selling them in the shell to the family with the shelling monopoly in Belem. We also found that other nut buyers in Brazil and other countries followed our lead and doubled their prices. The rubber tappers used those profits and the 300+ jobs created by shelling the nuts locally to elect their candidates for governor, senators, and deputies in the federal government. It was the government in Acre that slowed deforestation. Fast forward to today, the key issue that has not been addressed is that speculation and land clearing generates wealth. This is a tried-and-true strategy. If forests are going to generate more money, then the markets for carbon sequestration and other environmental services will have to be much stronger and will likely require floors. To date they have not. That is the challenge.

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