Climate Day Plenary Programming

Tuesday, March 4, 2025 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM · 4 hr. (America/Los_Angeles)

Marriott, Marquis Ballroom Center

Climate Action

Expo West Conference ProgrammingClimate Day

Information

Connect with inspirational leaders at Climate Day and discover the information, innovations, and community your company needs. We’ll discuss key initiatives for the natural products industry and how to support your climate goals in 2025 (and beyond!) From keynotes to an interactive Community Resource Fair & Reception, you'll experience it all at Climate Day!

Climate Day Agenda

8:55 - 9:00am Welcome

9:00 - 10:00am Morning Breakout Sessions

10:15 - 11:15am Morning Breakout Sessions

11:15 - 11:45am Lunch (On Your Own) & Community Resource Fair

11:45 -11:55pm Afternoon Welcome

Courtney Pineau, Climate Collaborative

Danica Cullins, New Hope Network / Informa Markets

11:55 - 12:40pm From Chaos to Coherence: The Aligned Reporting Initiative's Work to Streamline & Standardize Sustainability Disclosure

Climate and sustainability reporting has become increasingly complex and burdensome, with companies fielding diverse stakeholder requests, navigating incomplete information, and working to comply with an evolving regulatory landscape. In this session, join industry leaders from the Aligned Sustainability Reporting Initiative (ASRI)—a coalition of 20 companies spanning the food service and grocery industries—as they share their efforts to bring greater coherence to the reporting landscape. This panel will explore key reporting challenges, present findings from an industry-wide survey on the state of reporting, and highlight exciting next steps for the initiative and the broader industry.

Courtney Pineau, Climate Collaborative

Julien Gervreau, Sensiba

Kayalin Akens-Irby, Planet FWD

Nijia Zhou, Whole Foods Market

12:40 - 1:20pm Strengthening the Case for Regenerative Agriculture: Emerging Opportunities in Nutrient Density, Consumer Engagement & Biodiversity

In this forward-looking session, leaders from Edacious, Applegate, and NIQ will explore developments at the leading edge of regenerative agriculture. As companies face increasing pressure to demonstrate strong returns on regenerative agriculture investments at scale, a clear path to value creation is becoming more critical. Through analysis of current market data and targeted case studies, speakers will examine how enhanced biodiversity, improved nutrient density, and deeper consumer engagement have the potential to inform a stronger case for regenerative agriculture. Attendees will gain actionable insights into recent developments that can inform strategies for scaling regenerative practices in today’s dynamic market environment.

Anthony Corsaro, Regen Brands

Carolyn Gahn, Applegate

Eric Smith, Edacious

Sherry Frey, NielsenIQ

1:20 - 1:35pm Break

1:35 - 2:10pm Keynote: Presencing - Seven Practices for Transforming Self, Society & Business

We can all agree that we are in times of turbulence and profound transformation. What is not clear is how we, a community of climate and sustainability practitioners, food leaders, and engaged citizens, navigate these times. How do we hold this moment in context? How do we design for a future that feels so uncertain? And perhaps most importantly, how do we collectively continue to trust that we have the capacity to navigate these times and to source the will to do the hard work of climate action and regeneration? In this session, we will hear from Otto Scharmer, founder of the Presencing Institute, about what he looks to in these moments of turbulence. This session will support attendees in making sense of the moment we are in, while providing actionable practices for transforming self, society, and business.

Otto Scharmer, author of Theory U, and co-author of Leading from the Emerging Future: From Ego-system to Eco-system Economies, is an action researcher who co-creates innovations in learning and leadership that he delivers through classes and programs at MIT, MITx u-lab, the Presencing Institute, the u-school for Transformation, and through interventions with institutions in business, government and civil society around the world.

Otto Scharmer, Presencing Institute

2:10 - 2:20pm Interactive Welcome Back

Jeff Bos, Foment

2:20 - 2:45pm Keynote: Jerome Foster II

Dani Nierenberg, Food Tank

Jerome Foster II, Waic Up

2:45 - 3:10pm Lightning Round: Industry Innovations & Critical Updates Driving Climate Action

Get ready for a fast-paced exploration of innovative solutions driving climate progress across the food and agriculture sectors. This dynamic Lightning Round brings together industry leaders tackling critical challenges and opportunities in regenerative agriculture, climate-aligned finance, and market transformation. Speakers will share bold ideas on leveraging collaboration to scale regenerative agriculture, the powerful potential of shifting insurance dollars to support the planet, navigating the funding landscape, getting real about the cost of regenerative transition, and the mindset shifts needed to inform a future food system that nourishes life.

Lauren Tucker, The Almond Project

Megan Westgate, Food Integrity Collective

Nick Gardner, Premiums for the Planet

Ryan Pintado-Vertner, Smoketown

Tina Owens, TIFS

3:10 - 3:55pm Tariffs, Trade Wars & Funding Freezes: Navigating Climate Action in this New Era

As the closing keynote of the day, this session brings together thought leaders to reflect on the evolving economic and political landscape and what it means for business leaders advancing climate action. With shifting trade policies, financial constraints, market disruptions, and labor challenges creating new obstacles, companies must adapt with strategic foresight and resilience. In this candid and forward-looking discussion, industry experts will share diverse perspectives on navigating uncertainty, identifying opportunities, and ensuring long-term impact. Attendees will gain critical insights and strategic considerations to help them chart a course for climate action in an era of volatility and transformation.