8:35-8:55 AM: Opening Address
Governor Glenn Youngkin
Description:
Symposium host and Governor of Virginia Glenn Youngkin will set the stage for the day’s discussions on food security and the future of agriculture. He’ll address the critical importance of creating an ecosystem at the intersection of food and technology, sharing actions the Commonwealth of Virginia has taken to support indoor agriculture – precision fermentation, farming, and more – and demonstrating the opportunity for public and private collaboration to advance indoor food production.
8:55-9:25 AM: State of the Industry
Aakash Doshi, Head of Commodities for the Americas, Citi
Bill Aimutis, Executive Director, NC Food Innovation Lab
Cathy Burns, CEO, International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA)
Description:
As a foundation to the day’s discussions, this session will ground us in the state of food commodities, including production and pricing trends, macroeconomic drivers and supply shortfalls, led by Citi’s Head of Commodities. Experts on produce and protein agriculture will join to share their perspectives on general industry pressures, the need to shift more production indoors and the state of indoor industries in scale.
9:25-9:35 AM: Keynote
Ryan Shadrick Wilson, Founder & CEO, Boardwalk Collective
Description:
Ryan Shadrick Wilson will discuss the urgent needs driving the future of food. Drawing from the significant role she has played in launching many of the innovative ideas and companies shaping the food revolution, she’ll give her insider perspective on the role such companies play in solving public health needs and why this is a critical time to invest in innovation.
9:35-10:20 AM: Investing in Indoor Innovation
Arama Kukutai, CEO, Plenty
Thomas Jonas, CEO, Nature’s Fynd
Uma Valeti, CEO, Upside Foods
Moderator: Adam Bergman, Global Head of AgTech Investment Banking, Citi
Description:
Advancements across cultivation, fermentation and indoor agriculture are leading to the formation of a hybrid agriconomy. A significant scale-up has to follow for indoor food production to play a meaningful role in creating a more resilient food system. Speakers from across the sector will address the driving forces needed to scale successfully, including innovation, infrastructure, investment, consumer adoption, and policy initiatives.
10:45-11:30 AM: Infrastructure: The Industry Linchpin Panel
Robert Blue, Chairman, President & CEO, Dominion Energy
Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet, Senior Partner, Antin Infrastructure Partners
Neil Abraham, President, Realty Income International
Moderator: Caren Merrick, Virginia Secretary of Commerce and Trade
Description:
Infrastructure plays a critical role in allowing indoor food production to grow to a level where it is a viable competitor to outdoor agriculture, from the fungibility and sustainability of assets to the reliability and cost of utilities. Building a new asset class for indoor food production will require diversifying beyond venture capital and private equity to more efficient forms of capital for infrastructure growth.
11:30-12:15: Consumer Trends Presentation
Jack Stout, EVP Fresh Foods, Value Chain & Logistics, 7-Eleven
Jordan Bar Am, Partner, McKinsey
Laura Himes, Vice President of Global Sourcing, Produce, Walmart
Description:
Based on his work across the entire food value chain, McKinsey’s Jordan Bar Am will address food trends, including consumer demands and expectations. He’ll lead a conversation on advancing new categories, including gaining consumer acceptance of new products and production methods, claims about health and nutrition, how product cost will impact demand, and navigating regulatory approval.
1:00-1:45 PM: Progress Through Public Partnership
Jason El Koubi, President and CEO, Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP)
Jason Hickey, President and CEO, Hickey & Associates
Ken Barbic, Former Assistant Secretary for Congressional Relations, USDA
Russ Carnahan, Senior Policy Advisor, Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner
Moderator: Julie Monaco, Global Head, Public Sector Group, Citi
Description:
Partnership with the public sector presents a significant opportunity. Legislation and policy have the power to level the playing field with outdoor agriculture and make government funding accessible to the indoor food industry. Speakers, including past and current officials, will discuss opportunities at the local, state and federal levels for incentives and financial support to fuel the future of FoodTech.
1:45 PM-2:30 PM: Investment to Scale Panel
Aidan Connolly, President, AgriTech Capital
Ellie Rubenstein, Co-Founder and CEO, Manna Tree
Mohan Tavorath, Partner, International Farming
Moderator: Elinor Hoover, Chairman of Global Consumer and Retail Investment Banking, Citi
Description:
Scaling indoor food production is capital-intensive, and for indoor food producers this has been compounded by challenging capital markets. This panel will address opportunities to secure funding and the evolution of what investors are looking for. It will also look to lessons learned from other heavy CapEx industries like energy and transportation that can be applied to indoor food production.
2:30-3:30 PM: Rebuilding the Ag Ecosystem
Dr. Alan Grant, Dean, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Virginia Tech
Holly Freishtat, Senior Director of Feeding Change, Milken Institute
Jenny Cameron, Chief Transformation Officer, Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI)
Phillip Lee, Managing Director, Evolve Growing Solutions Ltd
Moderator: Rob Dongoski, Partner, Food and Agriculture Leader, Ernst & Young
Description:
This interactive session will begin with a thought-starter discussion on what it will take to reinvent the agriculture ecosystem for the 21st century. Panelists will then lead breakout sessions to discuss rebuilding the agriculture ecosystem and designing it to deliver food security and a more sustainable food system.
3:30-3:45 PM: Closing Remarks
Matt Lohr, Virginia Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry
Description:
Secretary Lohr will close out the day with a focus on where we go from here to advance indoor food production.
