Marc Brazeau is the Chief Organizer and Editor at Food and Farm Discussion Lab, a food system think tank and online magazine for people within the agriculture industry to share evidence-based solutions, ideas, and concepts related to sustainable agriculture, hunger and food security, and public health and nutrition concerns. With previous experience as a chef and restaurant owner as well as organizing unions within the agriculture space, he brings a unique perspective to the food-to-table movement. He is passionate about helping others form their opinions regarding agricultural issues based on evidence, science, and facts.

Marc joins me today to share how he became interested in evidence-based agriculture concerns, what inspired him to create the Food and Farm Discussion Lab, and how his views of food sustainability have evolved. He explains the variables that affect the global sustainability of food, why he believes scalability is a critical factor to consider when addressing food sustainability matters, and the issues that he believes have become over-hyped within the industry.

“If you’re not dealing with corn, soy, wheat, forage crops, or meat, then you’re not really having a serious conversation about sustainability.” - Marc Brazeau

This Week on the Future of Agriculture Podcast:

• What inspired him to start the Food and Farm Discussion Lab.
• The pivotal moment that lead him to begin searching for evidence-based information regarding sustainability issues in agriculture.
• How agriculture professionals currently view the term “sustainability” and how we should transition to more productive views.
• The variables that create the most impact on the global food sustainability crisis.
• Why corn, soy, wheat, meat, and forage crops are critical to the overall scalability factor of food sustainability.
• Over-hyped technologies and initiatives within the agriculture industry related to food sustainability.
• How his views and opinions regarding food sustainability have evolved since starting the Food and Farm Discussion Lab.

Resources Mentioned:

• Bio Fortified
• Tomorrow’s Table: Organic Farming, Genetics, and the Future of Food book by Raoul Adamchak and Pamela Ronald
• Accountable Ag blog post by John Phipps

Connect with Marc Brazeau:

• Food and Farm Discussion Lab
• Food and Farm Discussion Lab Forum

Join Our 100th Episode Celebration!

We are celebrating the Future of Agriculture Podcast’s 100th episode - and we want to celebrate with you! Visit SpeakPipe.com/FutureofAg to record your voice and tell us which Future of Agriculture Podcast episode was your number 1 favorite - and why! Who knows? We may even play your voice in a future episode! Head over to SpeakPipe.com/FutureofAg today to record your voice and share your favorite episode with us.

We Are a Part of a Bigger Family! 

The Future of Agriculture Podcast is now part of the Farm and Rural Ag Network. Listen to more ag-related podcasts by subscribing on iTunes or on the Farm and Rural Ag Network Website today. 

Share the Ag-Love! 

Thanks for joining us on the Future of Agriculture Podcast – your spot for valuable information, content, and interviews with industry leaders throughout the agricultural space! If you enjoyed this week’s episode, please subscribe on iTunes and leave your honest feedback. Don’t forget to share it with your friends on your favorite social media spots! 

Learn more about AgGrad by visiting: 

Future of Agriculture Website

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Richard Lackey is the Chairman and CEO of the World Food Bank, an organization founded in 2015 to provide sustainable solutions to the food security and hunger issues around the world. He is a highly-regarded expert in the trading and securities industry and is passionate about finding solutions that will help end world hunger.

Richard joins me today to share the driving force behind World Food Bank, their mission, and how their unique program is designed to significantly impact the food security and hunger issues we currently face worldwide. He explains how his systematized approach helps impact the world from an economic standpoint and why systematic approaches are more sustainable solutions to combating world hunger and poverty. He explains how they use model farms to help farmers in third-world countries gain access to the tools, techniques, and strategies that can improve their crop grades, quality, and profits. He also shares his prediction for investors considering food as a future asset commodity and the potential impact that a single 5,000-acre farm can have on the lives of those living in countries such as Uganda.

“The ability to now store commodities for years and years - and maintain grade - is a game-changer.” - Richard Lackey

This Week on the Future of Agriculture Podcast:

• The food security issues that the World Food Bank focuses on solving.
• What is post-harvest loss and how it impacts the export market worldwide?
• How they use model farms as an educational tool within third-world countries.
• Why organizations are beginning to shift their focus from project-based programs to systematic solutions.
• How the company works with investors and creates profits.
• The technology they use to store commodities and remove the calendar risk associated with long storage periods.
• How his organization helps third-world countries mitigate and control price volatility.
• How the systematic approach is impacting the lives of farmers as well as the poverty crisis within third-world countries.
• His prediction on investors considering food commodities as an asset class in the future.
• The potential impact that one sustainable farm can have in a third-world country.
• How they determine how well crop genetics will work within each region.

Connect with Richard Lackey:

• World Food Bank
• The Case for Food as an Asset Class - Whitepaper

Join Our 100th Episode Celebration!

We are celebrating the Future of Agriculture Podcast’s 100th episode - and we want to celebrate with you! Visit SpeakPipe.com/FutureofAg to record your voice and tell us which Future of Agriculture Podcast episode was your number 1 favorite - and why! Who knows? We may even play your voice in a future episode! Head over to SpeakPipe.com/FutureofAg today to record your voice and share your favorite episode with us.

We Are a Part of a Bigger Family! 

The Future of Agriculture Podcast is now part of the Farm and Rural Ag Network. Listen to more ag-related podcasts by subscribing on iTunes or on the Farm and Rural Ag Network Website today. 

Share the Ag-Love! 

Thanks for joining us on the Future of Agriculture Podcast – your spot for valuable information, content, and interviews with industry leaders throughout the agricultural space! If you enjoyed this week’s episode, please subscribe on iTunes and leave your honest feedback. Don’t forget to share it with your friends on your favorite social media spots! 

Learn more about AgGrad by visiting: 

Future of Agriculture Website

AgGrad Website

AgGrad on Twitter 
AgGrad on Facebook 
AgGrad on LinkedIn 
AgGrad on Instagram 

Tom Bottoms earned his bachelor’s degree in Plant Sciences from the California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo and in 2013, he received his Ph.D. in Horticulture and Agronomy from the University of California. He currently works as an employee of a large farming operation based in Northern California with the intention of eventually accumulating his own farm land and building his own operation.

Tom joins me today to share what inspired him to work in the agriculture industry and what motivated him to continue his education in agriculture. He shares why he decided to pivot his career from agriculture academia to work in the private sector, his experience while working with the African Leadership Partners in Swaziland, Africa and the challenges he has faced and overcome while helping a small farm operation significantly grow during his missionary operation in Africa. He also explains the importance of networking and building relationships within the farming industry to help you achieve your goals as a professional, the importance of self-awareness and professional development, and tips on how to get started in farming.

“You’ve got to continue to develop yourself - to put yourself in a situation where you’re learning about the industry.” - Tom Bottoms

This Week on the Future of Agriculture Podcast:

• Tom’s experience as a missionary in Africa.
• How he helped the African farm operation become successful.
• How he balances his personal life while advancing his career.
• The importance of networking with others in the industry and how it has impacted his career.
• The farming operation he is currently working with.
• Why he believes setting firm, inflexible deadlines on certain goals is dangerous.
• The importance of focusing on improving processes more than the financial opportunities available when you are just starting out in farming.
• The importance of building trust within your farm operation.
• How to get started in farming.
• Assets that young professionals can offer to established farming operations.

Resources Mentioned:

• Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap…And Others Don’t book by Jim Collins
• Built to Last: Successful Habits of Visionary Companies (Harper Business Essentials) book by Jim Collins
• Traction: Get a Grip on Your Business book by Gino Wickman

Tom Bottom’s Tips for Getting Started in Farming:

1. Try to keep your day job as long as you can while you are trying to get started.
2. Ask yourself what you are doing now to make it possible.
3. Read and understand how basic farming operations work.
4. Question everything.

Connect with Tom Bottoms:

• Email: Tommy@TVFarming.com

We Are a Part of a Bigger Family! 

The Future of Agriculture Podcast is now part of the Farm and Rural Ag Network. Listen to more ag-related podcasts by subscribing on iTunes or on the Farm and Rural Ag Network Website today. 

Share the Ag-Love! 

Thanks for joining us on the Future of Agriculture Podcast – your spot for valuable information, content, and interviews with industry leaders throughout the agricultural space! If you enjoyed this week’s episode, please subscribe on iTunes and leave your honest feedback. Don’t forget to share it with your friends on your favorite social media spots! 

Learn more about AgGrad by visiting: 

Future of Agriculture Website

AgGrad Website

AgGrad on Twitter 
AgGrad on Facebook 
AgGrad on LinkedIn 
AgGrad on Instagram 

Rob Saik is the founder of the Agri-Trend® group of companies whose primary goal is to help farmers grow food through agriculture consulting services in areas such as agronomic production, carbon-offset trading, grain marketing strategies, and data management systems for producers around the world. He is the creator of The Agri-Prize contest series, a TEDx and keynote speaker, and the author of the book The Agriculture Manifesto - 10 Key Drivers That Will Shape Agriculture in the Next Decade which has earned an Amazon 2014 Best of Books award. Additionally, he is the Executive Producer of the movie KNOW GMO as well as the webisode series LEARN GMO.

Rob joins me today to discuss the mission behind The Agri-Trend and the connection between the organic movement and the non-GMO movement. He explains how he believes GMOs can impact the future of agriculture, sustainability, and the food supply around the world as well as the impact they can have on the health of consumers. He also shares why he believes many consumers refuse to use GMO-friendly products and the importance of due diligence when educating yourself about organic and genetically engineered crops.

“Most of what you are reading about GMOs on social media are an absolute distortion of the truth.” - Rob Saik

This Week on the Future of Agriculture Podcast:

• How Agri-Trend helps farmers allocate scarce resources.
• The impact that banning GMO products have had on certain countries and cultures.
• The connection between the organic movement and the non-GMO movement.
• What farmers should consider to grow more crops organically.
• Why farmers shouldn’t be at odds when deciding to grow organically or become GMO-friendly.
• Why he believes many people think GMOs are bad or unhealthy.
• How “organic” and “non-GMO” food labels are misleading consumers.
• How GMOs can contribute to the agriculture industry’s long-term sustainability.
• The impact that embracing genetically modified food can have on the world’s starvation crisis and consumer health.

Connect With Rob Saik:

• KNOW Ideas Media
• KNOW Ideas Media on Facebook
• KNOW Ideas Media on YouTube
• Will Agriculture be ALLOWED to Feed 9 Billion People - Rob Saik’s TEDx Talk

We Are a Part of a Bigger Family! 

The Future of Agriculture Podcast is now part of the Farm and Rural Ag Network. Listen to more ag-related podcasts by subscribing on iTunes or on the Farm and Rural Ag Network Website today. 

Share the Ag-Love! 

Thanks for joining us on the Future of Agriculture Podcast – your spot for valuable information, content, and interviews with industry leaders throughout the agricultural space! If you enjoyed this week’s episode, please subscribe on iTunes and leave your honest feedback. Don’t forget to share it with your friends on your favorite social media spots! 

Learn more about AgGrad by visiting: 

Future of Agriculture Website

AgGrad Website

AgGrad on Twitter 
AgGrad on Facebook 
AgGrad on LinkedIn 
AgGrad on Instagram