Elysabeth Cop 27

Image courtesy Elysabeth Alfano

Politics & Law

A Call for Impact Investing in a Sustainable Food System at COP27

Last Thursday, Elysabeth Alfano, CEO of VegTech™ Invest and Plant Powered Consulting, gave a press conference titled Impact Investing for a Sustainable Food System at the COP27 summit, alongside Raphael Podselver, Director of UN Affairs for ProVeg International. An invited speaker to the Food4Climate Pavilion, Elysabeth attended the second week of the summit to discuss the role of finance and investing in helping to solve some of the world’s most pressing issues. “Public companies and markets, as well as venture start-ups and investors, must step up to the plate for action in developing more sustainable food systems, investment in existing and novel alternative proteins and Plant-based Innovation and immediate work towards supply chain transparency,” Alfano stated. A Boston Consulting Group (BCG) study carried out in …

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Maarten Bosch CEO of Mosa Meat

Maarten Bosch CEO of Mosa Meat, image supplied

Politics & Law

Mosa Meat on Cultivated Beef as Top Discussion at COP27

Mosa Meat, the Netherlands company that famously developed the first hamburger made from cultivated beef back in 2013, is in attendance at COP27 to represent the cultivated meat sector. Maarten Bosch, CEO of Mosa Meat — which has raised over $85M to date from investors including Leonardo DiCaprio — gives his insights into the discussions at the conference and how world leaders are looking towards cultivated meat as a way to feed future generations sustainably, on a planet whose population has already surpassed 8 billion humans. Please tell us, in light of discussions at the conference in Egypt, how the climate crisis is reshaping the global food system Food systems around the world face a lot of challenges including vulnerability to supply shocks like Ukraine, …

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PBFA UK

©Plant Based Food Alliance UK

Sustainability / Environment

Plant Based Food Groups Call for Clear Food System Transition Targets at COP27

The International Plant Based Foods Working Group (IPBFWG) has called on world leaders at COP27 to set clear, measurable targets for food system transition. The aim is to reduce the environmental impact of animal agriculture by shifting towards plant-based diets. The group also recommends that nations should: Support farmers in transitioning to more sustainable methods, including moving from animal agriculture to crop production. Educate the public about plant-based diets. Label plant-based foods appropriately to encourage sustainable choices. Make plant-based foods available in institutions such as schools and hospitals, along with recommending them as part of dietary guidelines. Ensure sustainable foods are affordable. Fund research into plant-based foods and climate-friendly crops. Present plant-based foods as the sustainable choice in environments such as retail stores. IPBFWG is …

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Plant-rich food at COP27

Image: Unsplash / Edgar Castrejon

Sustainability / Environment

COP27: Programme for the Food4Climate Pavilion Revealed

The programme for the Food4Climate Pavilion, which will appear at this year’s COP27 summit for the first time ever, has been published. The Pavilion is supported by a range of organisations, including ProVeg International, Compassion in World Farming, and Food Tank. It will highlight the need to change the food system in order to meet climate targets. The venue will host daily talks, with opportunities for delegates from UN member states to network with NGOs, the commercial industry, academic institutions, and researchers. The following themes will be discussed: Interaction of science and policy-making to guide food system change Voice of young people on food systems and climate change Just transition for farmers and farming communities Food innovation and protein diversification Adaptation and Agriculture Day: an …

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Plant-rich food at COP27

Image: Unsplash / Edgar Castrejon

Sustainability / Environment

160 NGOs Urge Egypt to Serve Plant-Rich Food at COP27

Food awareness organisations ProVeg International and 50by40 are leading a group of 160 NGOs which is calling for Egypt to serve plant-rich food at COP27. The NGOs have sent a joint letter to the Egyptian COP27 steering group suggesting that delegates attending the ten-day climate conference should be served plant-based meals throughout. They emphasise that Egyptian cuisine would be ideally suited because it is rich in plant foods. “In a time of climate crisis and growing hunger, exacerbated by the war in Ukraine, it is a moral imperative to serve food that has the least climate footprint and allows for global equitable food distribution,” said Lasse Bruun, CEO of 50by40. Food pavilions at COP27 For the first time ever, this year’s COP summit will feature …

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COP27 Food Systems Pavilion

Image: UN

Sustainability / Environment

COP27 Food Systems Pavilion to “Put Food Centre Stage” in Fight Against Climate Change

A coalition of 15 food organisations has announced it will be hosting a Food Systems Pavilion at COP27, the United Nations’ climate change conference. The diverse group features policymakers, scientists, farmers, youth, and more, with the public, private, and nonprofit sectors all represented. The co-hosts are Clim-Eat, Coalition of Action for Soil Health (CA4SH), EIT Food, Environmental Defense Fund, FOLU, Good Food Institute, Infarm, SNV, and Yara International. Session partners are Aleph Farms, Food Tank, Just Rural Transition, One Acre Fund, and Rabobank, while supporting partners are World Farmers’ Organisation, World Food Forum, YPARD, IAAS World, and YOUNGO. COP and food system change Despite the huge proportion of emissions that originate from the food industry, this will be the first year that COP has featured …

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ProVeg Food4Climate Pavilion

Image: ProVeg International

Sustainability / Environment

“Tectonic Shift” as ProVeg is Granted 130m² Food4Climate Pavilion at COP27

This year, food awareness organisation ProVeg International is set to host its Food4Climate Pavilion at COP27, the United Nations’ climate change conference. Organised in collaboration with 15 partners, the 130-square-meter pavilion will feature ten food and agriculture topics. This will be the first time COP has hosted pavilions dedicated to food system change, highlighting the environmental impact of the food industry to delegations from over 200 countries. According to ProVeg, it will be impossible to meet climate targets without addressing agricultural emissions. Using the banner Diet Change Not Climate Change, the organisation will encourage UN member states to make plant-based food systems a part of their climate policy. COP26 and the food industry At last year’s climate conference, COP26, there was considerable criticism of the …

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