Dirt to Dinner: Digging In

Brennan, an FFA member of the Hanford Chapter in California, loves soil science. His particular interest is examining the effect of fumigating soil to manage plant parasites called nematodes. His research involves examining orchard soils that were previously planted with an orchard to determine the soil's current health. Brennan's previous research focused on examining the health of pruned trees i...

Based in Sydney, Megan joined Mintel in 2018 with over 26 years experience in the food and drink industry. In her current role as Senior Food and Drink Analyst, Megan's expertise gives her unique insight into consumer demands, industry trends and key market developments across the protein sector. She also specialises in the Mintel Purchase Intelligence tool helping clients understand what drives c...

Richard will introduce us to the wonderful world of peanuts – and the important role they can play in helping the world satisfy its hunger for more protein. Listen to him explain the different kinds of peanuts, and the amazing nutritional benefits of this plant protein. Hear him describe how the peanut industry is working to find more ways to deliver peanuts to kids and adults around the world. If...

Steve McMenamin is the manager of Versailles Farms , a Connecticut-based market-garden operation at the forefront of regenerative agriculture.  Versailles Farms' mission is to grow food for the community with an emphasis on nutrient density, flavor, and good digestion.  Steve and his wife, Ingrid, started the farm in 2013 after selling Versailles Bistro, a local institution, taking it out of bankr...

In our discussion, Curt will outline some of the things he and other smart, innovative farmers do to get ready for the worst. We'll talk about the efforts being made to improve water management as a key element of farm management. We will hear about new technology and the enormous investments being made in tools for reducing water use, and relying on crops with greater drought resistance. We might...

iSelect was created to help solve a complex web of interrelated challenges with food and human health. By connecting investors with the innovative companies fixing these industries, iSelect provides the network to create investment opportunities that are making a real impact on the future of our world. Mark has over 25 years of experience in investing, executive leadership and business development...

Prior to TNC, Jack Bobo served as CEO of Futurity, a food foresight company and is the author of the 2021 book, " Why Smart People Make Bad Food Choices ". Recognized by Scientific American in 2015 as one of the 100 most influential people in biotechnology, Jack is a global thought leader who has delivered more than 500 speeches in 50 countries on the future of food. He previously served as the Ch...

High food price inflation isn't here to stay. And even with recent price increases, we're still getting an exceptional deal on the food we buy today – and a much better deal than we did in the past. While some surprising factors will continue to place upward price pressure on certain parts of our food system, consumers still have the power to manage their food costs to avoid the worst effects of h...

What strikes us about Dr. Goldberg's passion is his desire to unite the food system, as evidenced in his most recent book, Food Citizenship. It highlights a series of interviews asking pertinent questions to those who think about health, nutrition, sustainability, food safety, and governance. He doesn't believe there has to be a 'winner' or a 'loser.' He believes in capitalism which proves that co...

As the granddaughter of a farmer and growing up in California's Central Valley, one of the nation's most productive agricultural regions, Hayley applies her industry knowledge and natural curiosity to unearth the food myths traveling around today, including debunking popular fad diets, fast-nutrition, and myths about 'quick' dietary fixes. Hayley also researches and writes about the intersectional...

Hillary believes in the power of research to substantiate sound decision-making, especially when it comes to learning about our food system. Hillary's earlier career centered on forecasting consumer trends and researching potential investment ideas in the healthcare and consumer goods spaces. But as her family grew, Hillary's priorities shifted. So, in 2017, she enthusiastically joined D2D. Given...

Over his career, Garland has applied his academic training in journalism to coverage of agricultural, environmental, and trade policy in Washington and Europe for clients that include major corporate leaders and prominent global consulting firms. His resume includes postings in Washington, Minneapolis, London, New York, Chicago, and Detroit, both as a corporate executive and president of his own c...

We will be talking with everyone in the food system, from farmers to scientists and nutritionists, to discuss important issues in their field. And we'll connect the dots along the way by asking how these experts see the food industry working together to provide safe, nutritious food for all. Please enjoy visiting our site to listen, and send us your thoughts as we embark on this new platform. Happ...

It may be the single biggest question facing agriculture today:  How do we find a sustainable way to provide all the food we need and still protect our environment for future generations? Dirt to Dinner: Digging In talks with Mark Stoermann and Jamie Vander Molen about the approach to answering that question taken by Newtrient – a midwestern team of experts focused on helping producers find innova...

Lucy's passion for ensuring people everywhere have access to healthy, safe, and sustainable food began when her first child of three was born. Lucy and two of her sons have a unique blood disorder which encouraged them to 'eat well' and live a healthy lifestyle. She began researching which foods are the most nutritious. What the young, working mom discovered was a vast and complex food system. The...