Why farmer finance is the missing link in resilient food supply chains

This week: Adam Read, chief external affairs and sustainability officer at Suez UK talks with Ian Welsh about the impacts of extended producer responsibility for the packaging sector, and the real opportunities that this can offer.   Plus: recycled polyester under fire as UK bans fashion adverts; EU backs major rollback of corporate ESG obligations; and, Microsoft leads peers on nature positive data centres, in the news digest by Ellen Atiyah.   Host: Ian Welsh

Cargill's vice president of global core research and development, Cordell Hardy, talks with Ian Welsh about the potential of fermentation in providing scalable solution for food ingredient production. They discuss how integrated fermentation is in our everyday lives, from zero-calorie sweeteners to plant-based materials.

This week: Duncan Warner, senior responsible sourcing and human rights manager at ASDA, talks with Ian Welsh about the role of retailers in driving effective remediation across global supply chains. They discuss how collaboration, transparency, and a growth mindset help address human rights challenges, and why embedding practical frameworks and partnerships is key to meaningful impact. Plus: Innovation Forum’s Hanna Halmari introduces the upcoming 2026 conference series, highlighting themes in food, apparel, tech, and energy transition, focusing on sustainability as a driver of resilience, innovation and long-term business value. Host: Ian Welsh Click here for information on how to get involved in Innovation Forum’s 2026 events.

Liv Simpliciano, head of policy and research at Fashion Revolution, talks with Innovation Forum’s Niamh Campbell about What Fuels Fashion?, Fashion Revolution’s latest transparency report, exploring the power dynamics, environmental impacts and social costs embedded in global fashion supply chains. They discuss accountability, data gaps, and why greater transparency is critical to driving meaningful change across the industry.    

Join Conservation International for the 10-year milestone of the Sustainable Coffee Challenge, marking the transition from our community’s first decade of building partnerships and mainstreaming sustainability in coffee to our next chapter of scaling investment and impact. This virtual event, hosted by Innovation Forum, united coffee actors to explore innovative strategies and finance mechanisms that sustain coffee producing landscapes, tackling supply chain risks and fulfilling ambitious commitments from both government and industry. What we discussed: A look back at how the Sustainable Coffee Challenge has built momentum and trust across the sector, highlighting ‘green shoots’ of collaborative action  Forward-looking insights on what (more) is needed to truly address the dual crises of climate change and nature loss impacting coffee’s long-term resilience Discussion on tackling supply chain risks and unlocking innovative finance through landscape transition, supporting producers and meeting industry and government commitments, as we approach 2030 A meeting point for stakeholders across the coffee value chain to connect on the next chapter of collaborative action The panel: Daniela Raik, interim CEO, Conservation International Laurent Sagarra, vice president, engagement, JDE Peet’s Michael Kobori, former chief sustainability officer for major food, beverage, and apparel brands (Starbucks, Levi Strauss & Co.) and board director, Bunge Global SA (keynote) Niels Haak, director, sustainable coffee partnerships, Conservation International Olivier Laboulle, global head of coffee sustainability and social impact, Louis Dreyfus Company Tessa Meulensteen, director global Markets, IDH  Ruchira Joshi, director global coffee and cocoa Sustainability, Starbucks Raina Lang, senior director, sustainable coffee, Conservation International Wenceslao Apan Salcedo, director of conservation and sustainability, FONCET Tanya Richard, chief operating officer and head of stakeholder engagement at Innovation Forum moderated the session.

This week: Nathan Truitt, executive vice president of climate funding at the American Forest Foundation, talks with Ian Welsh about the evolving role of carbon finance in supporting US family forest owners, and the tension between credit quality and affordability. They discuss what it will take for carbon markets to earn broad credibility as the world moves toward net zero. Plus: Intel retreats from climate goals amid mounting financial strain; US Plastics Pact sets limits on advanced recycling; Lawsuit claims Apple still linked to conflict minerals; and, AFi guidance outlines measurable pathways beyond 2025 deadline, in the news digest by Ellen Atiyah. Host: Ian Welsh

This week: Danone’s senior manager of mission and sustainability, Ginny Maceda talks with Ian Welsh about how the company is scaling regenerative agriculture through long-term, direct relationships with dairy farmers. She outlines why trust-based collaboration, flexible incentives, and farmer-led improvement plans are central to achieving both environmental and commercial outcomes.   Plus: Carlsberg backs regenerative farming and urges unified metrics; new deals speed up West Balkans move to solar and storage; black friday’s record sales hide a growing waste crisis; and, recycling workforce overlooked despite critical role in supply chains, in the news digest.   Host: Diana Kim   We'll be continuing the discussion on scope 3 and climate action at the scope 3 innovation forum in Amsterdam on 16-17 June 2026. Join alongside senior representatives from the likes of Arla Foods, The HEINEKEN Company, SBTi, Cisco, Li & Fung, Made2Flow, the European Commission, Holcim, Kraft Heinz and Ørsted. Click here for information on how to get involved.

Cargill's Leticia Kawanami and Solidaridad's Joel Brounen talk with Ian Welsh about the financial and structural barriers preventing farmers, particularly smallholders, from climate change adaptation and adopting more sustainable practices. They discuss the challenges in corporate commitments in driving meaningful support on the ground, the growing urgency of farmer-centred investment models, and the practical steps companies must take to build resilience across global supply chains.   For more information on the Cargill and Solidaridad partnership in Columbia, click here. Stay up-to-date on our podcasts by following us on PodBean, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Google Podcasts.

As sustainability strategies mature, the pressure is increasing on how companies communicate progress, both within their value chains and to consumers. Many organisations are now asking the same questions: how do we talk credibly about targets, trade-offs and incomplete journeys, without overclaiming or oversimplifying? In response, Innovation Forum is launching the Sustainable Communication and Engagement Series. Across a set of focused events, we will explore how companies can build more honest, evidence-based narratives around sustainability, and how to engage different audiences.  This first webinar in the series explores how B2B companies are working with suppliers, partners and customers to strengthen trust through transparent and authentic sustainability communication. We discuss how businesses are engaging stakeholders around goals, which strategies have worked (and which have not) when communicating across global value chains, and practical steps to keep messaging action-oriented and credible. Panellists include: Nikki Barber, head of corporate communications, ofi Hannah Rizo, director of sustainability communications, Coca-Cola Europacific Partners Enda Buckley, head of sustainability, Carbery Group Sara Neame, sustainability communications lead, Givauda The session was moderated by Tanya Richard, chief operating officer and head of stakeholder engagement & sustainability communications, Innovation Forum The Sustainable Communication and Engagement Series will continue: Building credibility in sustainability storytelling: B2C brands and the consumer trust gap Thursday 22 January 9am EST / 2pm GMT / 3pm CET As consumers pay closer attention to brands’ sustainability claims, the challenge is no longer solely what companies do, but how they explain it clearly and honestly. The second webinar in the series will focus on consumer-facing brands and retailers. We will explore how to talk about complex topics such as supply chains, product impact and targets in a way that makes sense to everyday consumers – without overclaiming or greenwashing.  Discussion will cover what works (and what does not) in campaigns and product communication, approaches to avoiding greenwash and “greenhush” while staying ahead of regulation, and how to measure whether sustainability communication is building trust and influencing behaviour. Panellists include: Sarah Whittaker, head of sustainability communications, Primark Ozlem Senturk, senior partner, global sustainable transformation practice, Kantar The session will be moderated by Tanya Richard, chief operating officer and head of stakeholder engagement & sustainability communications, Innovation Forum with more panellists to be announced

This week: As climate volatility intensifies, UK farmer Thomas Gent discusses with Innovation Forum's Hanna Halmari the operational realities of farming during extreme wet and dry seasons and the measurable benefits of soil health. They highlight the untapped potential of farm-level innovation, calls for stronger links between brands and growers, and warns that real progress must scale far beyond today’s isolated pilots. Plus: Innovation Forum’s Hannah Oborne previews the key forces set to define the 2026 future of food conference, from resilience as a core business strategy to the convergence of personal and planetary health. She explains why farmer engagement remains a non-negotiable priority and how technology and product design are accelerating supply-chain decarbonisation. Host: Ian Welsh Join the conversation at the future of food and beverage forum, taking place in Amsterdam on 12-13 May. Click here for information on how to get involved.