New Food Order
Debating Infinite Growth on a Finite Planet
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Episode notes
Is exponential growth possible on a finite planet? How might we balance growth and profit with maximum social and ecological benefit?
This is a huge topic that we’re just beginning to scratch the surface of. In today’s bonus finance episode, we share two differing viewpoints on growth from regenerative economics pioneer John Fullerton and venture capitalist Manuel Gonzalez.
We also include a discussion with Sara Eckhouse, executive director of Foodshot Global, about using Integrated Capital investment models that combine funding from multiple types of financial instruments to fund solutions that address social and environmental issues.
Topics covered in this episode include:
- The failures of the current financial system and the business models within it
- The potential benefits of restructuring the ownership of large multinational food companies
- The failure of the growth and efficiency principles in our current financial system to account for their impact on people and planet
- Whether we need to build a new system from the ground up with alternative principles and priorities to cope with our current crises
- What those principles might be
- The potential negative impacts of a model that doesn’t center growth
- How Integrated Capital works and is able to develop novel ideas that could be missed by other financing structures
John Fullerton is the founder and president of Capital Institute. He is also an active impact investor and co-founder and director of holistic ranch management company Grasslands, LLC; a director of New Day Farms, Savory Institute, and the New Economy Coalition; a trustee of the V. Kahn Rasmussen Foundation; and an advisor to Armonia, LLC, the UNEP Finance Inquiry, and Richard Branson’s Business Leaders' initiative. Previously, he was a managing director of JPMorgan where he worked in capital markets and venture investment.
Manuel Gonzalez is General Partner at AgFunder, one of the world’s most active foodtech and agtech VC investors. Manuel was formerly the global head of innovation for Rabobank, the world’s leading food and agriculture bank, and founder of its two startup engagement platforms: FoodBytes! and Terra. Prior to that, he was general manager of Rabobank West Coast in the US, and general manager of Rabobank Mexico. He was an advisor to MISTA, a multi-dimensional innovation platform with members including many of the world’s leading food and agriculture companies such as Danone, Givaudan, and Conagra Brands.
Sara Eckhouse is Executive Director at FoodShot Global, whose mission is to empower bold ideas and innovative companies to accelerate the transformation to a healthy, sustainable, and equitable food system. Before founding FoodShot Global, she held several roles in the US Department of Agriculture. During the Obama Administration she was senior advisor to Secretary for Agriculture Tom Vilsack and Chief of Staff for the Agricultural Marketing Service.
Show notes:
FoodShot Global - Precision Protein Challenge
Donella Meadows: Limits to Growth
David Deutsch: The beginning of Infinity.
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This series is sponsored by:
New Hope Network
New Hope Network is a media, events and business intelligence company, covering natural products trends, industry insights and marketplace data that educate the industry about key issues, like regenerative agriculture, sustainability, responsible sourcing and more. Visit newhope.com.
FoodShot Global
FoodShot leverages resources from investors around the world to provide non-dilutive, equity, and post-investment capacities to innovators. Find out more at foodshot.org.