Jack Bobo

With the global population expected to reach more than nine billion in less than 30 years, the sustainable production of agriculture will be increasingly on the minds of governments, industry, and even many consumers. There is no activity that humankind engages in that has a bigger impact on the planet than agriculture. Not only do we have to increase the amount of food available, but we also have to find ways to minimize its footprint on the planet. Therefore, one of the great challenges that confront all of us in the next 30 years is how to maximize the production of food while minimizing the negative consequences of agriculture — from polluted waterways to disappearing rainforests. The choices people make about the food they eat at home and in restaurants will play a critical role. In a hot, flat hyper-connected world public perception of risk, not science, may ultimately determine if agriculture saves the planet by 2050 or destroys it. This presentation will examine global trends in food and agriculture, the interplay between science, consumer behavior, and public perception of risk, and how farmers, food companies, and food retailers build trust to navigate these trends.

The food industry is experiencing rapid changes as consumer demands are driving new products to the market. From plant-based burgers to beverages enriched in phytochemicals, emerging companies clearly reflect consumer demand and interest. Food purchases are an extension of consumer values. But what are the drivers behind these trends and what do they mean to farmers and established food companies? Jack looks beyond the headlines and the sound bites to examine the forces that shape the decisions consumers make and how to harness these trends to deliver a more sustainable and nutritious food supply.

The global food supply chain is undergoing the greatest disruptions in the last hundred years. From COVID-19 to climate change and ever changing consumer demands, it has never been more difficult, nor more crucial for businesses to understand these changes and how they impact their bottom line. This presentation will explore the forces that underly the trends discussed in the media so help companies get ahead of the trends before they get run over by them.

Pesticides, chemicals, cancer – the world is a scary place and our dinner plate even more so. Or so it seems. Despite what we hear in the media and find in our Facebook feed, food in the United States has never been safer. Why is it then that American consumers have never been more worried about the safety of the foods they eat? Jack Bobo travels the world discussing the future of food and how to sustainably and nutritiously feed the world in 2050. In his talk, Jack reveals a startling truth about why we fear the food we eat and how the choices we make affect our personal health and the health of the planet. By recognizing the ways our mind misleads us, we can improve our choices, which might just help us save the planet.