An agenda built through deep collaboration with our community to ensure every session delivers substance over soundbites. You’ll hear from true subject matter leaders via candid case studies, collaborative roundtables, and varied panel discussions —providing clarity on what’s driving success across the food & ag landscape.
Kick off the day by enjoying a selection of breakfast refreshments and barista coffee while networking with fellow attendees.
As you collect your badge from the registration desk, pick up your Connection Pin. This simple, visual identifier highlights a key challenge, priority, or topic you're looking to explore during the event, making it easier to connect with peers facing similar opportunities and obstacles.
Later in the morning, join a dedicated networking session and be seated alongside attendees who have selected the same pin, creating an opportunity to exchange experiences, share practical insights, and build valuable new connections.
• How Minnesota is positioning itself as a national hub for growth across food, fuel, and fertilizer, strengthening U.S. global competitiveness while advancing initiatives like the Protein Highway to scale the alternative protein sector in partnership with Canada
• Minnesota’s efforts to strengthen supply chain resilience by applying lessons from recent disruptions, investing in regional infrastructure, and supporting innovation through programs such as the Cottage Food Law
• Minnesota's expanding access for new and underrepresented farmers through targeted programs that improve land access, financing, and technical support to build a more inclusive agricultural economy
Thom Petersen, Commissioner, Minnesota Department of Agriculture
Adam Bergman, Managing Director, EcoTech Capital
• Show how ingredient, commodity, and brand owners are partnering directly with growers to make regenerative practices work economically at the farm level
• Explore how collaboration, innovation, and industry alignment are enabling regenerative agriculture to move from pilots to commercial-scale adoption
• Connect on-farm outcomes such as resilience and ROI with supply chain security, climate goals, and evolving consumer and brand expectations
Camilla Guiguer, Director, Sustainability, North American Operations, Pernod Ricard
Anna Pierce, Director, Sustainability, Tate & Lyle
Keith Bearden, Chief Executive Officer, Alter Eco
Aaron Magenheim, Chief Executive Officer and Founder, Lighthouse Ag Technologies
• Define what farm-level data is truly necessary for Scope 3, land sector, and resource reporting
• Learn how data can be collected at scale without increasing administrative burden on growers
• Apply insights from carbon measurement systems to future water, biodiversity, and nature metrics
Jay Watson, Senior Director, Sustainability, General Mills
Michel Santos, Senior Director, Global Sustainability, Bunge
Julia Kurnik, Senior Director, Innovation Startups, World Wildlife Fund
Beyond genetics and fertilizer: how biologicals and cutting-edge technology bring a 3rd wave to agriculture development and reduced GHG emissions
• Evaluate how biologicals and physiological crop management reduce input costs and improve nutrient efficiency in real farm settings
• Identify the data and proof points that successfully drive grower confidence and accelerate adoption
• Connect biological inputs, precision agriculture, and seed innovation into an integrated soil and yield strategy
Cristine Handel, Global Sustainability Director, Sumitomo Biorational
Participants will break into small groups to deep dive into the subject matter discussed in the latest sessions. Tables will be guided by previous speakers and key industry voices, giving you the opportunity to explore the theme 'Turn farm and supply chain data into economic value' in more detail, ask questions, and exchange insights with peers.
• Exploring how farm-level data can inform decisions across sourcing, supply chains, and sustainability initiatives
• Determining what information growers need to future-proof their operations and strengthen resilience – and how that connects to buyer needs
• Using data to reduce food loss, improve resource efficiency, and create greater value from agricultural production for farmers, buyers, and end consumers
Julia Kurnik, Senior Director, Innovation Startups, World Wildlife Fund
• Identify how sustainability and supply chain data can pinpoint opportunities for collective investment and landscape-scale impact
• Explore blended finance models that are accelerating regenerative agriculture, restoration, and climate resilience projects
• Understand how food companies, financial institutions, NGOs, and producers can align on measurement, share risk, and attract capital beyond individual supply chains
Christa Essig, Key Account Manager, World Business Council for Sustainable Development
Cross-sector partnership (food, fuel, and feed) to unlock economic value from regenerative agriculture data
• Understand the impact 45Z legislation could have on a food and feed company’s regenerative agriculture goals
• Explore benefits of food, fuel, and feed partnerships to accelerate a transition to regenerative agriculture
• Define success of a regional approach to food, fuel, and feed partnerships to unlock landscape-level impact
Jenny Kramm, Partnership Director, Midwest Row Crop Collaborative
Metabolic health has become one of the defining pressures on the global food system. Fiber and protein sit at the center of it, as nutrients for which the public health case is well established and consumer interest is growing. Yet progress in reformulation and product development remains slow. Not because of a lack of intent, but owing to challenges that span sourcing, processing, sensory performance, and consumer demand.
Anchored in a Swiss case study, this interactive working lunch is designed to move the conversation from ambition to execution. Bühler and SV Group's joint employee nutrition program in Bühler's canteen, which measures and aims to increase fiber intake, provides a practical example of how organizations can turn nutrition goals into measurable outcomes.
Building on that example with a short expert-led narrative and facilitated table discussion, workshop participants will work through the questions that matter most to their businesses, including:
• Define measurable targets: How nutrition ambitions become operational goals that teams can act on.
• Strengthen sourcing and supply: What it takes to secure fiber rich and protein rich inputs at the quality and scale required.
• Optimize processing and technology: Where current systems and specifications limit what is possible, and where that could change.
• Unlock value across the chain: How side stream valorization and upcycling can contribute to better nutrition outcomes.
• Enhance taste and texture: What determines whether a nutritionally improved product succeeds commercially.
• Accelerate consumer adoption: Where intake can shift fastest, and what drives consumers to consistently choose nutritionally improved products.
Manuel Haymoz, Trade Commissioner and Director, International Expansion, Business Location Switzerland
Jenni Harrington, Director, Innovation, Bühler
As water scarcity, declining water quality, and increasing competition for resources reshape global food and agriculture production, water risk is emerging as a critical business concern. Leading companies are recognizing that water stewardship is no longer solely a sustainability issue but a strategic lever for strengthening supply security, operational resilience, and long-term growth.
This closed-door workshop under Chatham House will explore how businesses can scale water stewardship initiatives to drive both environmental and commercial outcomes.
• Watershed-level action: Identify priority watersheds and sourcing regions where collective action, stakeholder collaboration, and targeted interventions can help secure long-term water availability and build resilience across the value chain
• Integrated nature strategies: Embed water stewardship within broader supply chain management approaches, linking water goals with biodiversity, regenerative agriculture, and ecosystem restoration initiatives to maximize impact and efficiency
• Scaling for impact: Move beyond pilot projects by developing the governance structures, partnerships, financing mechanisms, and metrics needed to scale water and ecosystem initiatives
Kelly Latham, Global Advisor, Climate and Water Resources, Water For People
• Understand how trends in protein, fiber, and hydration are rooted in genuine dietary gaps, and how a human-centric, science-led approach guides when and how consumers can incorporate them into daily routines
• Discover how PepsiCo’s global R&D team turns insights into food and drink innovations that are accessible, enjoyable, and scalable across global markets
• Explore how companies and brands can communicate science in clear and engaging ways that build consumer trust and relevance
Tara Glasgow, Chief Science Officer and EVP, R&D, PepsiCo
Toby Amidor, Owner, Toby Amidor Nutrition
• Identify opportunities to reach an underserved market while advancing your company’s commitment to nourishing communities.
• Learn how HATCH connects available protein with demand and coordinates the logistics that make partnerships work.
• Explore how the Coalition to Close the Protein Gap brings companies together to expand protein access through product, expertise, infrastructure, and investment.
Andrew Howerton, Chief Operating Officer, HATCH for Hunger
• Identify which consumer signals are genuinely driving purchasing decisions as value, price sensitivity, and trade-offs intensify
• Learn how brands are adjusting reformulation and messaging strategies around nutrient-density, ingredient quality, and protein
• Understand how evolving definitions of “healthy” are shifting away from ultra processed and synthetics, combining with regulatory pressure to accelerate reformulations
Heather Anfang, President, Dairy Foods & EVP, Land O'Lakes
Domenic Borelli, EVP, Retail, Hormel Foods
Briana Bennet, Head, Ice Cream R&D, Ben & Jerry’s and NA, The Magnum Ice Cream Company
Edward Fish, SVP, General Manager - Varietal Solutions, Bay State Milling
Kelly Beaton, Chief Content Officer, The Food Institute
Why It Matters: Explore how rising consumer expectations are reshaping food markets and what customers increasingly need from partners who can deliver transparency, agility, and consistent execution in a rapidly changing environment.
Discussion Topics:
• Explore how evolving consumer expectations are reshaping food, from personalized nutrition to transparency, value, and convenience.
• Examine why trust is becoming a competitive advantage, and how transparency, consistency, and execution help build confidence across the food system.
• Discuss what customers need from partners during periods of volatility, and how speed, resilience, and deep market expertise enable growth even amid uncertainty.
Gonzalo Petschen, Group President, Food North America, Cargill
• Reframe what clean label signals to consumers when processing is unavoidable
• Learn how brands communicate ingredient complexity without damaging credibility
• Determine when transparency supports growth and when it introduces friction or delist risk
Sam Khoury, VP, Regulatory, QA & Technical, Refresco
Heidi Teoh, VP, Research & Development, SunOpta
Keith Bearden, Chief Executive Officer, Alter Eco
Aaron Magenheim, Chief Executive Officer and Founder, Lighthouse Ag Technologies
This roundtable explores how organizations are measuring the real impact of regenerative agriculture programs, with a focus on water footprints and carbon sequestration. Participants will share practical examples of what’s working today, where measurement approaches are strongest, and where critical gaps remain.
As the industry shifts towards outcome-based programs, the discussion will examine what evidence is needed to meet stakeholder expectations, build consumer confidence, and support credible, scalable implementation.
Key discussion points:
• How success is currently being measured across regenerative agriculture initiatives
• What decisions and actions current measurement frameworks can realistically support
• Where the biggest data and model gaps exist, and limitations in current approaches
• Barriers to scaling sampling and direct measurement, and whether it is necessary
• How data collection can evolve to strengthen buyer confidence and sustainability targets
Bennett LaFond, Account Manager - Ecosystem Monitoring, Vaisala
Julia Illman, Head of Commercial, Quanterra, Vaisala
Labor shortages, rising operating costs, and productivity pressures are accelerating the need for automation across food and agriculture. Discover where robotics and automation are already delivering measurable business value and how leaders are deploying these technologies to improve efficiency, strengthen workforce resilience, and generate ROI across operations.
Key takeaways:
• Deploy robotics and automation alongside employees to address workforce shortages and improve productivity
• Identify the highest-value automation opportunities across farming, manufacturing, warehousing, and foodservice operations
• Build a compelling business case for automation investments through measurable efficiency, throughput, and labor optimization gains
• Understand how autonomous technologies are performing in real-world operating environments and where adoption is accelerating
Adam Bergman, Managing Director, EcoTech Capital
• Why most F&B teams are still losing weeks to handoffs, re-entry, and disconnected systems, and what that actually costs in speed and quality
• What a connected data layer looks like in practice: real examples of what changes when R&D, PLM, and quality operate on shared infrastructure
• How to build toward AI readiness without skipping steps, and what the leading F&B companies are doing differently right now
Gideon Ze'evi, Enterprise Account Executive, Uncountable
Food and agriculture leaders face interconnected challenges across climate, nature, health and farmer livelihoods, yet teams and targets often tackle them separately. Through facilitated discussion and peer exchange, this roundtable will explore how to adapt sustainability operating models to organize teams, shape decisions and direct investment to deliver greater impact across interconnected priorities.
Participants will leave with:
• Examples of different team structures that connect sustainability priorities while retaining specialist expertise.
• Practical approaches to building shared ownership with procurement, finance and innovation to “multisolve,” delivering benefits across several priorities at once.
• Specific ideas to adapt decision-making, accountability and investment within participants’ own organizations.
Lauren Meadow, Future Fit Business Lead, US, Forum for the Future
Join Bay State Milling for their networking drinks co-hosted with Reuters Events and Naturally Minnesota at the Mill City Museum. This is a unique opportunity for attendees from Transform Food & Agriculture and Food. Ag. Ideas to come together and celebrate Minnesota's expanding leadership in global food and ag innovation in a networking drinks reception.
As capacity is limited, please make sure to sign up in advance: Connecting the Future of Food & Ag Leadership: Joint Networking Reception.
Kick off the day by collecting your badge and enjoy a selection of breakfast refreshments while networking with fellow attendees.
As you collect your badge from the registration desk, pick up your Connection Pin. This simple, visual identifier highlights a key challenge, priority, or topic you're looking to explore during the event, making it easier to connect with peers facing similar opportunities and obstacles.
Join this dynamic breakfast session featuring a series of short talks and breakout discussions from trailblazing women across food and agriculture. From personal journeys to practical insights, this breakfast offers a rich tapestry of experiences designed to empower and engage professionals at every stage of their career. Let's build a dialogue that celebrates resilience, innovation, and the power of female voices.
Lauren Meadow, Future Fit Business Lead, US, Forum for the Future
Anna Pierce, Director, Sustainability, Tate & Lyle
Camilla Guiguer, Director, Sustainability, North American Operations, Pernod Ricard
• Turn stewardship outcomes into measurable value for farmers through procurement, partnerships, and market-based incentives
• Unlock access to financing and land to help producers invest in long-term resilience and generational succession
• Build demand for climate-smart and regenerative products by aligning buyer expectations, stewardship benchmarks, and emerging value chains
Kate Greenberg, Commissioner, Colorado Department of Agriculture
Maggie Hanna, Central Grasslands Roadmap Director, Bird Conservancy of the Rockies & Manager, Hanna Ranches Inc.
• Clarify what “resilience” actually means for global food systems across security, affordability, environmental limits, and farmer viability
• Examine where supply chain partnerships are sufficient, and where policy direction, regulatory clarity, and standardized approaches are essential
• Confront the real cost of inaction, including who ultimately funds transition from the status quo, over what timeframe, and with what accountability
Norberto Chaclin, Chief Research & Development Officer, Mondelēz International
Florian Schattenmann, Chief Technology Officer, Cargill
Amanda Davies, Chief R&D, Procurement and Sustainability Officer, Mars
Douglas O'Brien, President and Chief Executive Officer, U.S. Co-ops
This candid, audience-led session puts the most pressing food system challenges front and center. Drawing on questions raised throughout Day 1, audience members will tackle what's really holding industry progress back. Expect honest perspectives, practical solutions, and fresh thinking designed to move beyond theory and into action. Come ready to challenge assumptions, share hard-won insights, and help shape the conversations that will define a more resilient food system.
Megan Rock, Principal, NextGen Advisory
As demand surges for renewable energy, data centers, housing, carbon sequestration and nature restoration, agricultural land is increasingly being asked to serve multiple purposes. At the same time, landowners are aging and significant portions of the agricultural land base are expected to transfer hands as part of the “Great Wealth Transfer.” For food and agriculture businesses, the loss of productive farmland represents a growing supply chain risk with implications for food security, sourcing costs and long-term resilience.
This workshop under Chatham House will explore how companies can help shape a future where farmers have sound succession plans and can capitalize on new economic opportunities without permanently sacrificing food production. Participants will discuss how to balance competing land-use priorities while ensuring agricultural landscapes continue to support both people and planet.
• Understand what's driving agricultural land loss: Explore how the impending “wealth transfer” and the expansion of data centers, carbon projects, housing and nature restoration initiatives are reshaping land-use decisions and creating new pressures on productive farmland.
• Identify opportunities to keep farmland productive: Examine innovative models that allow farmers to transfer land to the next generation while maintaining agricultural output and protecting long-term food production capacity.
• Turn land stewardship into a supply chain resilience strategy: Discuss how value chain stakeholders can work with suppliers, farmers and landowners to safeguard productive landscapes, manage sourcing risks and advance food security, climate and nature goals.
Jean Brokerish, Midwest Deputy Director, American Farmland Trust
Angie Doucette, Midwest Senior Farmland Program Manager, American Farmland Trust
• How a 115-year-old company is transforming for generational resilience and relevance
• Working through natural tensions internally and externally to drive meaningful change
• Unlocking opportunities at the intersections of R&D, sustainability, quality and sourcing teams
Amanda Davies, Chief R&D, Procurement and Sustainability Officer, Mars
Deepali Palta, VP, Global R&D, Global M&M’S, Mars
• Learn how AgriNovus and RTI International read demand signals alongside policy activity and corporate and philanthropic investment to test whether Food is Health is a lasting market shift
• Understand where those signals align and what that says about the pace of change as GLP-1 adoption and new definitions of "healthy" reshape demand
• Identify emerging market entry points and what they suggest for sourcing, R&D, and innovation strategy
• Explore roles for companies across the value chain, from inputs and ingredients to brands and retail, and how cross-sector partnerships can move the opportunity forward
Christy Wright, President & Chief Executive Officer, AgriNovus Indiana
• Build sourcing strategies that strengthen farmer resilience, secure critical supplies, and reduce exposure to climate and market volatility
• Align procurement, sustainability, and commercial objectives to deliver emissions reductions, operational efficiency, and long-term business continuity
• Create shared-value partnerships across the value chain that improve supplier performance, incentivize innovation, and generate competitive advantage
Arthur Karuletwa, VP, Coffee Procurement, Chobani and La Colombe
Jessica Rivas, Director, Climate & Nature Sourcing Transformation, McDonald's
Lauren Meadow, Future Fit Business Lead, US, Forum for the Future
Peer-led, this session is designed to benchmark how you are investing in and deploying emerging technologies. Engage in audience polling and direct input to explore where businesses are focusing innovation efforts, which technologies – from AI to traceability tools - are delivering the greatest operational and commercial impact, and how leaders are balancing investment, adoption, and scale. Compare priorities, challenges, and success stories with fellow industry leaders, uncovering the practical use cases, investment trends, and barriers shaping the next wave of innovation.
Brett Brohl, Managing Partner, Bread & Butter Ventures
• Assess how AI is transforming agronomy, crop inputs, equipment, and farm operations, and what it means for producer competitiveness in an increasingly digital agricultural landscape
• Navigate growing concerns around data ownership, privacy, and value creation as farmers engage with OEMs, input providers, and technology platforms
• Examine the infrastructure powering agriculture's digital future, including data centers, cloud platforms and connectivity, and discuss how the sector can ensure farmers retain trust and control as data-driven technologies expand
Adam Gittins, Owner, Precision Acres, LLC
Chase Hieneman, Managing Director, Industry Relations, American Farm Bureau Federation
• How to prepare for a future where health, longevity, and personalized nutrition become the primary drivers of food choice, reshaping demand, product development, and value creation across the food system
• Plan for conversations on resource scarcity, where water stress, land constraints, biodiversity loss, and climate volatility increasingly shape sourcing decisions, operating models, and long-term business resilience
• Identify which emerging technologies, from AI and predictive intelligence to biotechnology, biologicals, and advanced breeding, will deliver the next wave of productivity, and separate transformative solutions from overhyped innovation
Megan Rock, Principal, NextGen Advisory
• Show how ingredient, commodity, and brand owners are partnering directly with growers to make regenerative practices work economically at the farm level
• Explore how collaboration, innovation, and industry alignment are enabling regenerative agriculture to move from pilots to commercial-scale adoption
• Connect on-farm outcomes such as resilience and ROI with supply chain security, climate goals, and evolving consumer and brand expectations
Camilla Guiguer, Director, Sustainability, North American Operations, Pernod Ricard
Anna Pierce, Director, Sustainability, Tate & Lyle
Keith Bearden, Chief Executive Officer, Alter Eco
Aaron Magenheim, Chief Executive Officer and Founder, Lighthouse Ag Technologies
• Define what farm-level data is truly necessary for Scope 3, land sector, and resource reporting
• Learn how data can be collected at scale without increasing administrative burden on growers
• Apply insights from carbon measurement systems to future water, biodiversity, and nature metrics
Jay Watson, Senior Director, Sustainability, General Mills
Michel Santos, Senior Director, Global Sustainability, Bunge
Julia Kurnik, Senior Director, Innovation Startups, World Wildlife Fund
Beyond genetics and fertilizer: how biologicals and cutting-edge technology bring a 3rd wave to agriculture development and reduced GHG emissions
• Evaluate how biologicals and physiological crop management reduce input costs and improve nutrient efficiency in real farm settings
• Identify the data and proof points that successfully drive grower confidence and accelerate adoption
• Connect biological inputs, precision agriculture, and seed innovation into an integrated soil and yield strategy
Cristine Handel, Global Sustainability Director, Sumitomo Biorational
Following the earlier panel discussion, participants will break into small groups to deep dive into the subject matter discussed. Each topic will be guided by a moderator, giving attendees the opportunity to explore the theme 'Turning farm and supply chain data into economic value' in more detail, ask questions, and exchange insights with peers.
• Exploring how farm-level data can inform decisions across sourcing, supply chains, and sustainability initiatives
• Determining what information growers need to future-proof their operations and strengthen resilience – and how that connects to buyer needs
• Using data to reduce food loss, improve resource efficiency, and create greater value from agricultural production for farmers, buyers, and end consumers
Julia Kurnik, Senior Director, Innovation Startups, World Wildlife Fund
• Identify how sustainability and supply chain data can pinpoint opportunities for collective investment and landscape-scale impact
• Explore blended finance models that are accelerating regenerative agriculture, restoration, and climate resilience projects
• Understand how food companies, financial institutions, NGOs, and producers can align on measurement, share risk, and attract capital beyond individual supply chains
Christa Essig, Key Account Manager, World Business Council for Sustainable Development
Cross-sector partnership (food, fuel, and feed) to unlock economic value from regenerative agriculture data
• Understand the impact 45Z legislation could have on a food and feed company’s regenerative agriculture goals
• Explore benefits of food, fuel, and feed partnerships to accelerate a transition to regenerative agriculture
• Define success of a regional approach to food, fuel, and feed partnerships to unlock landscape-level impact
Jenny Kramm, Partnership Director, Midwest Row Crop Collaborative
• Understand how trends in protein, fiber, and hydration are rooted in genuine dietary gaps, and how a human-centric, science-led approach guides when and how consumers can incorporate them into daily routines
• Discover how PepsiCo’s global R&D team turns insights into food and drink innovations that are accessible, enjoyable, and scalable across global markets
• Explore how companies and brands can communicate science in clear and engaging ways that build consumer trust and relevance
Tara Glasgow, Chief Science Officer and EVP, R&D, PepsiCo
Toby Amidor, Owner, Toby Amidor Nutrition
• Identify opportunities to reach an underserved market while advancing your company’s commitment to nourishing communities.
• Learn how HATCH connects available protein with demand and coordinates the logistics that make partnerships work.
• Explore how the Coalition to Close the Protein Gap brings companies together to expand protein access through product, expertise, infrastructure, and investment.
Andrew Howerton, Chief Operating Officer, HATCH for Hunger
• Understand how price sensitivity, protein demand, and transparency are shaping purchase decisions, and why eggs are uniquely positioned to deliver
• Tap into the growing MAHA narrative around whole, nutrient-dense foods to reinforce eggs as a credible, accessible, and widely trusted everyday staple
• Explore pathways to integrate eggs into public school meal programs, mirroring milk's success to drive habitual consumption and long-term demand
• Identify which consumer signals are genuinely driving purchasing decisions as value, price sensitivity, and trade-offs intensify
• Learn how brands are adjusting reformulation and messaging strategies around nutrient-density, ingredient quality, and protein
• Understand how evolving definitions of “healthy” are shifting away from ultra processed and synthetics, combining with regulatory pressure to accelerate reformulations
Heather Anfang, President, Dairy Foods & EVP, Land O'Lakes
Domenic Borelli, EVP, Retail, Hormel Foods
Briana Bennet, Head, Ice Cream R&D, Ben & Jerry’s and NA, The Magnum Ice Cream Company
Edward Fish, SVP, General Manager - Varietal Solutions, Bay State Milling
Kelly Beaton, Chief Content Officer, The Food Institute
Why It Matters: Explore how rising consumer expectations are reshaping food markets and what customers increasingly need from partners who can deliver transparency, agility, and consistent execution in a rapidly changing environment.
Discussion Topics:
• Explore how evolving consumer expectations are reshaping food, from personalized nutrition to transparency, value, and convenience.
• Examine why trust is becoming a competitive advantage, and how transparency, consistency, and execution help build confidence across the food system.
• Discuss what customers need from partners during periods of volatility, and how speed, resilience, and deep market expertise enable growth even amid uncertainty.
Gonzalo Petschen, Group President, Food North America, Cargill
• Reframe what clean label signals to consumers when processing is unavoidable
• Learn how brands communicate ingredient complexity without damaging credibility
• Determine when transparency supports growth and when it introduces friction or delist risk
Sam Khoury, VP, Regulatory, QA & Technical, Refresco
Heidi Teoh, VP, Research & Development, SunOpta
Keith Bearden, Chief Executive Officer, Alter Eco
Aaron Magenheim, Chief Executive Officer and Founder, Lighthouse Ag Technologies
• Turn stewardship outcomes into measurable value for farmers through procurement, partnerships, and market-based incentives
• Unlock access to financing and land to help producers invest in long-term resilience and generational succession
• Build demand for climate-smart and regenerative products by aligning buyer expectations, stewardship benchmarks, and emerging value chains
Kate Greenberg, Commissioner, Colorado Department of Agriculture
Maggie Hanna, Central Grasslands Roadmap Director, Bird Conservancy of the Rockies & Manager, Hanna Ranches Inc.
• Clarify what “resilience” actually means for global food systems across security, affordability, environmental limits, and farmer viability
• Examine where supply chain partnerships are sufficient, and where policy direction, regulatory clarity, and standardized approaches are essential
• Confront the real cost of inaction, including who ultimately funds transition from the status quo, over what timeframe, and with what accountability
Norberto Chaclin, Chief Research & Development Officer, Mondelēz International
Florian Schattenmann, Chief Technology Officer, Cargill
Amanda Davies, Chief R&D, Procurement and Sustainability Officer, Mars
Douglas O'Brien, President and Chief Executive Officer, U.S. Co-ops
• How a 115-year-old company is transforming for generational resilience and relevance
• Working through natural tensions internally and externally to drive meaningful change
• Unlocking opportunities at the intersections of R&D, sustainability, quality and sourcing teams
Amanda Davies, Chief R&D, Procurement and Sustainability Officer, Mars
Deepali Palta, VP, Global R&D, Global M&M’S, Mars
• Learn how AgriNovus and RTI International read demand signals alongside policy activity and corporate and philanthropic investment to test whether Food is Health is a lasting market shift
• Understand where those signals align and what that says about the pace of change as GLP-1 adoption and new definitions of "healthy" reshape demand
• Identify emerging market entry points and what they suggest for sourcing, R&D, and innovation strategy
• Explore roles for companies across the value chain, from inputs and ingredients to brands and retail, and how cross-sector partnerships can move the opportunity forward
Christy Wright, President & Chief Executive Officer, AgriNovus Indiana
• Build sourcing strategies that strengthen farmer resilience, secure critical supplies, and reduce exposure to climate and market volatility
• Align procurement, sustainability, and commercial objectives to deliver emissions reductions, operational efficiency, and long-term business continuity
• Create shared-value partnerships across the value chain that improve supplier performance, incentivize innovation, and generate competitive advantage
Arthur Karuletwa, VP, Coffee Procurement, Chobani and La Colombe
Jessica Rivas, Director, Climate & Nature Sourcing Transformation, McDonald's
Melanie Chow Li, VP, Mission and Sustainability, Danone
Lauren Meadow, Future Fit Business Lead, US, Forum for the Future
• Assess how AI is transforming agronomy, crop inputs, equipment, and farm operations, and what it means for producer competitiveness in an increasingly digital agricultural landscape
• Navigate growing concerns around data ownership, privacy, and value creation as farmers engage with OEMs, input providers, and technology platforms
• Examine the infrastructure powering agriculture's digital future, including data centers, cloud platforms and connectivity, and discuss how the sector can ensure farmers retain trust and control as data-driven technologies expand
Adam Gittins, Owner, Precision Acres, LLC
Chase Hieneman, Managing Director, Industry Relations, American Farm Bureau Federation
• How to prepare for a future where health, longevity, and personalized nutrition become the primary drivers of food choice, reshaping demand, product development, and value creation across the food system
• Plan for conversations on resource scarcity, where water stress, land constraints, biodiversity loss, and climate volatility increasingly shape sourcing decisions, operating models, and long-term business resilience
• Identify which emerging technologies, from AI and predictive intelligence to biotechnology, biologicals, and advanced breeding, will deliver the next wave of productivity, and separate transformative solutions from overhyped innovation
Megan Rock, Principal, NextGen Advisory
Metabolic health has become one of the defining pressures on the global food system. Fiber and protein sit at the center of it, as nutrients for which the public health case is well established and consumer interest is growing. Yet progress in reformulation and product development remains slow. Not because of a lack of intent, but owing to challenges that span sourcing, processing, sensory performance, and consumer demand.
Anchored in a Swiss case study, this interactive working lunch is designed to move the conversation from ambition to execution. Bühler and SV Group's joint employee nutrition program in Bühler's canteen, which measures and aims to increase fiber intake, provides a practical example of how organizations can turn nutrition goals into measurable outcomes.
Building on that example with a short expert-led narrative and facilitated table discussion, workshop participants will work through the questions that matter most to their businesses, including:
• Define measurable targets: How nutrition ambitions become operational goals that teams can act on.
• Strengthen sourcing and supply: What it takes to secure fiber rich and protein rich inputs at the quality and scale required.
• Optimize processing and technology: Where current systems and specifications limit what is possible, and where that could change.
• Unlock value across the chain: How side stream valorization and upcycling can contribute to better nutrition outcomes.
• Enhance taste and texture: What determines whether a nutritionally improved product succeeds commercially.
• Accelerate consumer adoption: Where intake can shift fastest, and what drives consumers to consistently choose nutritionally improved products.
Manuel Haymoz, Trade Commissioner and Director, International Expansion, Business Location Switzerland
Jenni Harrington, Director, Innovation, Bühler
As water scarcity, declining water quality, and increasing competition for resources reshape global food and agriculture production, water risk is emerging as a critical business concern. Leading companies are recognizing that water stewardship is no longer solely a sustainability issue but a strategic lever for strengthening supply security, operational resilience, and long-term growth.
This closed-door workshop under Chatham House will explore how businesses can scale water stewardship initiatives to drive both environmental and commercial outcomes.
• Watershed-level action: Identify priority watersheds and sourcing regions where collective action, stakeholder collaboration, and targeted interventions can help secure long-term water availability and build resilience across the value chain
• Integrated nature strategies: Embed water stewardship within broader supply chain management approaches, linking water goals with biodiversity, regenerative agriculture, and ecosystem restoration initiatives to maximize impact and efficiency
• Scaling for impact: Move beyond pilot projects by developing the governance structures, partnerships, financing mechanisms, and metrics needed to scale water and ecosystem initiatives
Kelly Latham, Global Advisor, Climate and Water Resources, Water For People
This roundtable explores how organizations are measuring the real impact of regenerative agriculture programs, with a focus on water footprints and carbon sequestration. Participants will share practical examples of what’s working today, where measurement approaches are strongest, and where critical gaps remain.
As the industry shifts towards outcome-based programs, the discussion will examine what evidence is needed to meet stakeholder expectations, build consumer confidence, and support credible, scalable implementation.
Key discussion points:
• How success is currently being measured across regenerative agriculture initiatives
• What decisions and actions current measurement frameworks can realistically support
• Where the biggest data and model gaps exist, and limitations in current approaches
• Barriers to scaling sampling and direct measurement, and whether it is necessary
• How data collection can evolve to strengthen buyer confidence and sustainability targets
Bennett LaFond, Account Manager - Ecosystem Monitoring, Vaisala
Julia Illman, Head of Commercial, Quanterra, Vaisala
Labor shortages, rising operating costs, and productivity pressures are accelerating the need for automation across food and agriculture. Discover where robotics and automation are already delivering measurable business value and how leaders are deploying these technologies to improve efficiency, strengthen workforce resilience, and generate ROI across operations.
Key takeaways:
• Deploy robotics and automation alongside employees to address workforce shortages and improve productivity
• Identify the highest-value automation opportunities across farming, manufacturing, warehousing, and foodservice operations
• Build a compelling business case for automation investments through measurable efficiency, throughput, and labor optimization gains
• Understand how autonomous technologies are performing in real-world operating environments and where adoption is accelerating
Adam Bergman, Managing Director, EcoTech Capital
• Why most F&B teams are still losing weeks to handoffs, re-entry, and disconnected systems, and what that actually costs in speed and quality
• What a connected data layer looks like in practice: real examples of what changes when R&D, PLM, and quality operate on shared infrastructure
• How to build toward AI readiness without skipping steps, and what the leading F&B companies are doing differently right now
Gideon Ze'evi, Enterprise Account Executive, Uncountable
Food and agriculture leaders face interconnected challenges across climate, nature, health and farmer livelihoods, yet teams and targets often tackle them separately. Through facilitated discussion and peer exchange, this roundtable will explore how to adapt sustainability operating models to organize teams, shape decisions and direct investment to deliver greater impact across interconnected priorities.
Participants will leave with:
• Examples of different team structures that connect sustainability priorities while retaining specialist expertise.
• Practical approaches to building shared ownership with procurement, finance and innovation to “multisolve,” delivering benefits across several priorities at once.
• Specific ideas to adapt decision-making, accountability and investment within participants’ own organizations.
Lauren Meadow, Future Fit Business Lead, US, Forum for the Future
Join Bay State Milling for their networking drinks co-hosted with Reuters Events and Naturally Minnesota at the Mill City Museum. This is a unique opportunity for attendees from Transform Food & Agriculture and Food. Ag. Ideas to come together and celebrate Minnesota's expanding leadership in global food and ag innovation in a networking drinks reception.
As capacity is limited, please make sure to sign up in advance: Connecting the Future of Food & Ag Leadership: Joint Networking Reception.
Join this dynamic breakfast session featuring a series of short talks and breakout discussions from trailblazing women across food and agriculture. From personal journeys to practical insights, this breakfast offers a rich tapestry of experiences designed to empower and engage professionals at every stage of their career. Let's build a dialogue that celebrates resilience, innovation, and the power of female voices.
Lauren Meadow, Future Fit Business Lead, US, Forum for the Future
Anna Pierce, Director, Sustainability, Tate & Lyle
Camilla Guiguer, Director, Sustainability, North American Operations, Pernod Ricard
This candid, audience-led session puts the most pressing food system challenges front and center. Drawing on questions raised throughout Day 1, audience members will tackle what's really holding industry progress back. Expect honest perspectives, practical solutions, and fresh thinking designed to move beyond theory and into action. Come ready to challenge assumptions, share hard-won insights, and help shape the conversations that will define a more resilient food system.
Megan Rock, Principal, NextGen Advisory
The pressures driving farmland and nature loss are no longer confined to agriculture alone. As demand for land grows from food production, nature restoration, carbon markets, renewable energy, housing and rapidly expanding digital infrastructure such as data centres, organizations face increasingly difficult trade-offs. At the same time, biodiversity decline and ecosystem degradation are raising questions about how land is valued, allocated and managed.
This closed-door workshop under Chatham House will explore how businesses can navigate competing land-use priorities and reconcile food security and nature goals.
• Balance competing demands on finite land: How organizations are navigating trade-offs between food production, nature recovery, infrastructure development, data center expansion, carbon objectives and broader land-use priorities
• Understand the true cost of land-use change: How farmland conversion, habitat loss and ecosystem degradation are affecting supply chains, local economies and long-term resilience, and what current trends suggest for the future
• Bridge policy and local engagement: Ensuring rural communities benefit from changing land-use priorities, including new infrastructure and investment, without accelerating farmland loss or undermining the long-term viability of agriculture
Jean Brokerish, Midwest Deputy Director, American Farmland Trust
Angie Doucette, Midwest Senior Farmland Program Manager, American Farmland Trust
Peer-led, this session is designed to benchmark how you are investing in and deploying emerging technologies. Engage in audience polling and direct input to explore where businesses are focusing innovation efforts, which technologies – from AI to traceability tools - are delivering the greatest operational and commercial impact, and how leaders are balancing investment, adoption, and scale. Compare priorities, challenges, and success stories with fellow industry leaders, uncovering the practical use cases, investment trends, and barriers shaping the next wave of innovation.
Brett Brohl, Managing Partner, Bread & Butter Ventures
