

Climate Day: Lightning Round - Critical Updates & Innovations Shaping Climate Action
Tuesday, March 3, 2026 9:55 AM to 10:40 AM · 45 min. (America/Los_Angeles)
Marriott, Grand Ballroom
Climate Action
Expo West Conference ProgrammingClimate Day
Information
This fast-paced Lightning Round brings together short, focused updates on the ideas, innovations, and collaborations shaping climate action across the food and grocery sector. In seven five-minute talks, speakers will share timely perspectives on market conditions, policy developments, and real-world examples of action.
The session will cover macro-economic and market trends, emerging policy opportunities, applied case studies on packaging, waste reduction, and insetting, as well as new approaches to lifecycle assessment and regenerative collaboration. Together, these rapid-fire insights provide a clear view of what is shifting now and where momentum is building.
Speakers

Sherry Frey
VP Total WellnessNielsenIQ
Beatriz Diam
Sustainability SpecialistTradin Organic
Omar de Kok-Mercado
Director of WildingMad Agriculture
Matthew Dillon
Co-CEOOrganic Trade AssociationASP
Amber Sciligo, Ph.D.
The Organic CenterOrganic Trade Association
Alex Schulze
Co-Founder & CEO4ocean
Morgan Drummond
Senior Director, Private LabelMisfits MarketClimate Day Schedule
Climate Day
Tuesday, March 3, 2026 8:00 AM to 6:30 PM
Marriott, Grand Ballroom
Climate Day: Unlocking a Constellation of Regeneration - Innovative Partnerships Enabling Regenerative Transition
Tuesday, March 3, 2026 8:30 AM to 9:15 AM
Marriott, Grand Ballroom
John Strohfus · Field Theory Foods
Emily Lafferty · Seven Sundays
Berklee Welsh · Simple Mills
Adam Kotin · Soil & Climate Initiative (SCI)
Climate Day: Centering Short-Lived Climate Pollutants in Climate Action Strategy
Tuesday, March 3, 2026 9:15 AM to 9:55 AM
Marriott, Grand Ballroom
Courtney Pineau · The Climate Collaborative
Kiff Gallagher · SCS Global Services
Caitlin Leibert · Amazon Worldwide Grocery
Claire Loudis · Lotus Foods
Climate Day: Community Resource Fair
Tuesday, March 3, 2026 12:00 PM to 12:30 PM
Marriott, Platinum Ballroom 6
Climate Leaders Awards Luncheon
Tuesday, March 3, 2026 12:30 PM to 2:00 PM
Marriott, Grand Ballroom
Courtney Pineau · The Climate Collaborative
Paul Lightfoot · Patagonia Provisions
Climate Day Workshop: Developing a Corporate Climate Transition Action Plan (CTAP)
Tuesday, March 3, 2026 3:10 PM to 4:00 PM
Marriott, Orange County Ballroom 3
Ariella Sela · Pure Strategies
Christina O'Keefe · Kerry
Climate Day: Unlocking Capital for Regenerative Agriculture - Financing Solutions for Smallholder Farmers
Tuesday, March 3, 2026 4:10 PM to 5:00 PM
Christopher Gergen · Regenerative Organic Alliance
Andy Thornton · Silvan Ingredient Ecosystem
Amanda Hartt · Sol Organica
Mike Wenrick · PCC Community Markets
Climate Day Community Resource Fair & Reception
Tuesday, March 3, 2026 5:00 PM to 6:30 PM
Marriott, Platinum Ballroom 6
Climate Day Schedule
Climate Day Welcome & Keynote: What Pollinators Reveal at the Intersection of Nature & Climate
Tuesday, March 3, 2026 8:00 AM to 8:30 AM
Marriott, Grand Ballroom
Courtney Pineau · The Climate Collaborative
Samuel Ramsey · Ramsey Research Foundation
Corinne Shindelar · All Natural Strategies, LLC
Climate Day: Leading with Conviction - How Strong Climate Values Can Drive Connection & Growth
Tuesday, March 3, 2026 10:40 AM to 11:25 AM
Marriott, Grand Ballroom
Courtney Pineau · The Climate Collaborative
Brad Liski · Tru Earth
Kate Williams · 1% for the Planet
Keith Bearden · Alter Eco Foods LLC
Lisa Curtis · Kuli Kuli
Climate Day Keynote: From Risk to Resilience - Rethinking Supply Chains for a Changing Climate
Tuesday, March 3, 2026 11:25 AM to 12:00 PM
Marriott, Grand Ballroom
Julia Collins · Planet FWD
Sam Kass · Acre Venture Partners / TROVE
Climate Day Workshop: Navigating Climate Risk with Open-Source Tools
Tuesday, March 3, 2026 2:15 PM to 3:00 PM
Marriott, Orange County Ballroom 3
Sheila Ongie · thinkPARALLAX
Emma Stein · Vita Coco


