Elysabeth Alfano

Plantbased Business Hour

Friends of the Earth Discuss Who Funds the Most Environmentally Damaging Sectors

Monique Mikhail, Senior Program Manager, Climate and Agriculture Finance Program, and Kelly McNamara, Senior Research and Policy Analyst, at Friends of the Earth join CEO of VegTech Invest, Elysabeth Alfano, on The Plantbased Business Hour to reveal some shocking environmental statistics from the banking industry’s funding of animal agriculture. Specifically, they discuss: What prompted the Bull in the Climate Shop report? How was the study conducted? What were the results? Why would the banks put themselves at this kind of risk? What has been done with the results? Has there been any reaction from the banking industry? From a societal perspective, can the banks stop funding this industry? Is there any kind of mandate to continue to fund them? What are the next steps? Podcast link: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/friends-of-the-earth-discuss-who-funds/id1512473843?i=1000664723594  Below is a highlight clip …

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Plantbased Business Hour

What Can AI do for Food Innovation? Meet LEO, Mattson Co’s New AI Agent, to Find Out

What can AI do for food innovation? Meet LEO, Mattson’s AI Agent and find out! On this episode of The Plantbased Business Hour, Chief AI Officer at Mattson, Steve Gundrum, joins CEO of VegTech Invest, Elysabeth Alfano, to take LEO out for a spin and show us the future of food. Specifically, they discuss: What is Mattson Co. and what do you focus on? Times are changing, and you now have LEO, the AI Agent, and advanced AI tools: what are they and what do they do specifically that couldn’t be done before? How has this changed your business and how will this change the future of food? Below is a highlight clip and transcription from their long-form conversation, including their conversation with LEO and …

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Plantbased Business Hour

How Do We Fight for the Planet? George Monbiot Weighs In

George Monbiot, author, journalist, and environmental activist, joins The Plantbased Business Hour with host and CEO of VegTech Invest, Elysabeth Alfano, to discuss how to best fight for the planet and how to take no prisoners when it comes to taking on the meat industry and its lobby. He goes for the jugular and this is a do-not-miss interview. Specifically, they discuss How does the big meat misinformation campaign differ from big tobacco and fossil fuels’ misinformation campaigns? What do we do against the misinformation campaign, especially if it is protected by certain government organizations? Is there a strategy for impact when we are woefully outspent? What is it going to take to move the needle? For people to be outraged? A health crisis? Another …

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Plantbased Business Hour

The ‘All In’ Podcast’s Sultan of Science, David Friedberg, on the Diversified Proteins Sector

In advance of the All In Summit this September in Los Angeles and as one of the best Plant-Based Business Hour podcasts of 2023, we are here re-running the All-In Podcast’s Sultan of Science: David Friedberg, CEO of The Production Board on The Plantbased Business Hour. David and Elysabeth Alfano discuss how AI can impact the plant-based innovation sector (plant-based foods and alternative proteins) as well as what the sector can do to scale up production and reduce costs. Specifically, they discuss: How the sector can scale to price parity or better and the innovations that will advance the sector, The power of bioengineering and the opportunities that can come from land, water, and forest availability provided by more efficient ways of making protein, Plant-based …

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Plantbased Business Hour

Bezos Earth Fund Recipient: North Carolina State University’s William Aimutis and Rohan Shirwaiker

On The Plantbased Business Hour, Rohan Shirwaiker and Bill Aimutis, co-directors of the Bezos Earth Fund Bezos Center for Sustainable Proteins at North Carolina State University join host and CEO of VegTech Invest Elysabeth Alfano, to share the news about the new $30M grant for the center and its true and fast/slow approach to partnership, marrying food and science and addressing problems like food insecurity, planetary health and human health. It’s a true game changer and market signal. Specifically, they discuss: What is the intention of the first Bezos Center for Sustainable Proteins hosted at North Carolina State University? What are the 3 points of focus for the award? What kind of time frame are we looking at for this to be executed? What partners are …

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Plantbased Business Hour

Bloomberg Analysts Believe the Energy Transition Will Lead to the Food System Transition

Robert Barnett, Bloomberg Intelligence Energy Analyst, and Robert Du Boff, Bloomberg Intelligence ESG Analyst, join CEO of VegTech Invest, Elysabeth Alfano, on The Plantbased Business Hour to discuss the overlap of energy use and food systems and how shifting one can shift another. Specifically, they discuss: What were the outcomes of the Looking Back on Dubai (COP28), Looking Ahead to Baku (COP29) Bloomberg Intelligence summit, and specifically what were the outcomes of the panel on climate, nature and biodiversity? Given the agricultural food system’s large environmental footprint (30% of the world’s GhGE according to the UNEP) why are there not more discussions on food systems as a solution to 2030 goals? Let’s discuss the food/energy overlap and how changing food systems impacts changing energy use. …

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Plantbased Business Hour

Will 90% of Everything Be Made Through Precision Fermentation? Maria Cho, CEO of Triplebar, on The Plantbased Business Hour

Maria Cho, CEO of Triplebar is a guest on The Plantbased Business Hour. She and Elysabeth Alfano discuss the protein supply chain benefits provided by precision fermentation and when scaling will take place. Specifically, they discussed What is Triplebar, and precision fermentation? Why is this a critical pillar in the shift of global food systems transformation? What efficiencies does it allow? What kind of innovation will we see beyond the science? What applications in food will we see? When will this scale and see adoption? What impact will it have on lowering (or raising) the price of protein? We saw precision fermentation having a moment in 2019 with Perfect Day and The Every Company. Is this more advanced, differentiated in some manner? Is this considered clean …

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Plantbased Business Hour

Why Institutional and Philanthropic Investors Are Focusing on Food – the Milken Institute on the Plant Based Business Hour

Caitlin MacLean, Senior Director of Innovative Finance at the Milken Institute, and Holly Freishtat, Senior Director at Feeding Change, join Elysabeth Alfano on The Plantbased Business Hour to discuss blended capital and why institutional and philanthropic investors are using this approach to focus on food. Specifically, they discuss: What is the Milken Institute’s Feeding Change initiative? What does it aim to accomplish? Holly, what were your takeaways from COP28, and have you seen this play out in the finance community thus far? Is investing in food systems transformation considered innovative finance? If so, why? When do we think Wall Street capital, a major component of blended capital, will come into play? How will this transpire? No one knows the future, but if we had to …

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Plantbased Business Hour

What Is Stakeholder Engagement and is it Important for Food Systems Shift?

Chief Investment Officer of VegTech Invest, Dr. Sasha Goodman, discusses the firm’s recent white paper, in conjunction with Harvard University students, on Stakeholder Engagement for Plant-based Innovation & Diversified Proteins. Along with host of The Plantbased Business Hour, Elysabeth Alfano, the two discuss the top 5 findings of the white paper and the impact on the diversified proteins sector. Specifically, they discussed What is the new white paper between VegTech™ Invest and Harvard’s Great Food Systems Transformation Course students? What prompted the White Paper on Best Practices for Stakeholder Engagement for Plant-based Innovation and Protein Diversification? Why is Stakeholder Engagement in Plant-based Innovation and Protein Diversification important? Of the 6 case studies in the paper, is there one that particularly stands out for you? What …

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Future of Protein Production panel

Image courtesy of Nick Bradley
Plantbased Business Hour

Future of Protein Production 2024 on the Plant based Business Hour

Host of The Plantbased Business Hour and CEO of VegTech Invest, Elysabeth Alfano, was recently on a panel at the Future of Protein Production conference in Chicago. Elysabeth was on the panel discussing investing in food systems transformation with Aleh Manchuliantsau, Founder and CEO of Planetarians, Fengru Lin, CEO and co-founder of TurtleTree, and Alex Shirazi, co-founder and director of the Cultivated Meat Symposium. At the links below you can listen to their panel discussion. Audio clip: https://x.com/ElysabethAlfano/status/1787871566950195407 Podcast link: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/future-of-protein-production-2024/id1512473843?i=1000654300710 Below is a transcript of an audio clip from the episode. Alex Shirazi: There have been a lot of discussions about the downturn in investment in 2024, so that’s what we’re going to jump into. You know, have we seen different types of investment come into …

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Elysabeth Alfano impact investing

© Elysabeth Alfano
Investments & Finance

Impact Investment Strategies Unveiled in New GenConnectU Course by VegTech Invest’s Elysabeth Alfano

GenConnectU has recently introduced an on-demand educational offering, “Impact Investing with Plant-based Innovation,” targeted at those interested in sustainable investment practices. The course is led by Elysabeth Alfano, CEO of VegTech Invest, who brings substantial expertise in the plant-based investment sphere. The course curriculum is designed to educate enrollees on how to integrate ethical considerations into their investment choices, specifically focusing on the plant-based innovation sector. It aims to equip participants with the necessary knowledge and skills to navigate public markets with a sustainability-focused approach. Elysabeth Alfano’s professional background includes a start at The Kellogg Company and various executive roles before transitioning to a focus on sustainability investing and consulting. She has shared her insights on global stages, such as the United Nations and Yale …

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Plantbased Business Hour

Why Is a Former Meat Company Owner Investing in Cultivated Meat? With Davide Dukcevich

The former owner of Daniele prosciutto and now cultivated meat investor, Davide Dukcevich joins Elysabeth on The Plantbased Business Hour with Elysabeth Alfano to discuss the outlook for cultivated meat AND the outlook for meat.   Specifically, they discuss: Why would someone whose family founded a meat company, Daniele known for its prosciutto, be interested in cultivated meat? When did you realize that change was afoot in the meat industry and how do you see this transpiring in today’s convoluted world? When will we see the supply chain issues be addressed in cultivated meat and what kind of capital will that take? Will it be blended capital, and if so, how much? Will we see ‘S-curve capital’ before we see ‘S-curve adoption’? What innovations are you most …

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Plantbased Business Hour

Will Investors Embrace Food Systems Transformation? With Mahesh Roy of IIGCC

Will investors embrace food systems transformation? On this episode of The Plantbased Business Hour with Elysabeth Alfano, Mahesh Roy, Investor Strategies Programme Director of the Institutional Group on Climate Change, discusses the IIGCC perspective on investing in food systems transformation to combat Climate Change and partake in the potential growth of the sector. Specifically, they discuss What is the IIGCC? Why do you believe that the global food systems shift is going to happen quickly? Why is the food sector the only sector that can be net zero by 2030? Why has IIGCC expanded to invest in food? What is your most critical tip for institutional and impact investors? Below is a highlight clip and transcription from the long-form conversation. Podcast link is here. Display “Mahesh Roy …

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Plantbased Business Hour

Bloomberg Intelligence’s Jen Bartashus at the Farm, Food, & Fuel Summit

Senior Research Analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence, Jen Bartashus, joins host and CEO of VegTech™ Invest Elysabeth Alfano on The Plantbased Business Hour. Together they discuss the conference and their panel experiences as well as their predictions for the sector in the next five to ten years. Specifically, they discuss: What are some of the hardships that the animal agriculture industry is facing at the moment? Is there a growing interest in protein diversification? Are there financial benefits to protein diversification? What were some key learnings coming out of the Bloomberg Intelligence Farm, Food & Fuel Summit? Below is a highlight clip and transcription from their long-form conversation. Podcast link here. Display “Jen Bartashus Urges the Meat Industry Leaders to Work with the Alternative Protein Industry” …

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Plantbased Business Hour

The Investment Thesis Behind Food Systems Transformation: Lombard Odier’s Thomas Hohne-Sparborth

Thomas Hohne-Sparborth, Head of Sustainability Research at Lombard Odier Investment Managers in Switzerland joins the Plantbased Business Hour with Elysabeth Alfano. They discuss who pays for and who benefits from food systems transformation. From the farmer to the investor and everyone in between, we cover the investment thesis for environmentalists and capitalists alike. Specifically, they discuss: What is Lombard Odier and why do you focus on investments in natural resources as a strategy? What do we mean when we say global food systems transformation? How can investors benefit from this? How do you envision financing the food systems transformation? In what time frame? Are your clients on board? Who is driving the growth behind the global funding? Below is a highlight clip and transcription from our …

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Plantbased Business Hour

How to Raise Capital in This Economy: Jeffrey Harris of Green Venture Advisory

How to raise capital for your startup or existing company in this restrictive economy? This is what is on every founder’s mind. Jeffrey Harris, CEO of Green Venture Advisory, joins Elysabeth today on the Plantbased Business Hour with Elysabeth Alfano to talk about the three things you need to know. Specifically, they discuss What do startups/brands need to focus on to successfully raise capital? What are VCs and angels – if anything – focusing on before they invest? What have founders and investors learned in the past two years? What are the top mistakes on both sides? What deals have taken place and are we coming out of the investment slump? Below is a highlight clip and transcription from their long-form conversation. Podcast here. Display …

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Plantbased Business Hour

How to Get Your Food Business Acquired with Yves Potvin

Three-time founder, Yves Potvin, discusses the current state of the plant-based innovation sector and how to grow a food business to be acquired. Having sold Gardein to Conagra and Yves Veggie Cuisine to Hain Celestial, Yves is now championing Konscious Foods with a plan to be acquired. Learn from this ultra-successful pioneer on The Plant-based Business Hour with Elysabeth Alfano. Specifically, they discuss How to have a successful exit/acquisition for your company. The most important steps in building a robust company. Why, after starting and successfully selling Yves Veggie Cuisine and Gardein, he decided to start Konscious Foods. The common mistakes founders make that can implode their companies. The current state of the industry. Below is a highlight clip and transcription from our long-form conversation. …

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Plantbased Business Hour

How Do We Fight for the Planet? George Monbiot Weighs In

George Monbiot, author, journalist, and environmental activist, joins The Plantbased Business Hour to discuss how to best fight for the planet and how to take no prisoners when it comes to taking on the meat industry and its lobby. He goes for the jugular and this is a do-not-miss interview. Specifically, they discuss: How does the Big Meat misinformation campaign differ from big tobacco and fossil fuels’ misinformation campaigns? What do you do against the misinformation campaign, especially if it is protected by certain government organizations? Is there a strategy for impact when we are woefully outspent? What is it going to take to move the needle? For people to be outraged? A health crisis? Another pandemic? Capitalism and free markets? The ills of big meat are …

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Plantbased Business Hour

Can We Have a Sustainable Future? With Roger Spitz of Techistential

Roger Spitz (M.Sc., FCA, APF) is an international bestselling author, a celebrated futurist, the president of Techistential (Climate & Foresight Strategy), and the chair of the renowned Disruptive Futures Institute, based in San Francisco. In this episode, they discuss how we can prepare for the disruption ahead and come out financially and consciously better. Specifically, they discuss: How do we have strategic foresight for an adaptive and resilient future? What is a virtuous inflection point and how does it help to achieve critical mass adoption? What is transformation innovation and how does it encourage systems change? What levers are the most effective for systemic change: this may be the most holistic point of all and, thus, perhaps the most complex. What does this mean for …

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Elysabeth Alfano speaking at COP28

Image supplied by the author
Guest Posts

Financing Food Fast: Take-Aways from COP28

As I write this, still on the ground in Dubai, I am struck by so many swift moves to bring sustainable food systems change through diversified proteins to the forefront of not just the climate conversation, but the climate strategy and execution conversation. As I come down from my four speaking engagements in the Blue Zone, I can’t believe the rapid zeitgeist shift, writes Elysabeth Alfano. Only last year, when I spoke at COP27, I was pushing to be heard, along with dedicated colleges at the Food4Climate, Food Systems pavilions, The Good Food Institute (GFI), Mighty Earth, Food Tank, FAIRR and so many others that food systems transition was not only key to the climate change conversation, but that we simply couldn’t hold on to …

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