On October 6, the award-winning Food and Environment Reporting Network (FERN) will host FERN Talks & Eats Silicon Valley, which will bring together leading entrepreneurs and investors to discuss how sustainability can become a critical mandate for food and ag tech businesses. Proceeds from the evening will fund FERN’s new food and ag tech reporting efforts. For tickets to this event, which includes a beer & wine reception, two panel discussions and a VIP dinner, please visit ferntalkseats.com.
Led by FERN, the first and only independent, nonprofit news organization producing in-depth and investigative journalism in the critically underreported areas of food, agriculture, and environmental health, the evening will focus on exploring the potential for food start-ups and investors to positively impact the food system, public health, the environment and their businesses by investing in sustainability. Through thoughtful panel discussions, entrepreneurs and investors will consider how sustainability can become more than just a buzzword for the “new food” and ag tech businesses of tomorrow.
Panelists include Stephen DeBerry/Bronze Investments, Anya Fernald/Belcampo Inc., Sam Fromartz/Food & Environment Reporting Network, Kat Taylor/Radicle Impact, Josh Tetrick/Hampton Creek, Rob Trice/Better Food Ventures, Sarah Vared/MissionPoint Partners/ReFed, and Vishal Vasishth/Obvious Ventures. A seasonal, organic VIP dinner by Chef Tim Edmonds at Domenico Winery will follow the evening panels.
“After decades of negative public health consequences and high environmental costs, it’s clear that urgent work is needed to reshape the food system,” said FERN Editor-in-Chief Sam Fromartz. “But are ‘new foods’ and ag tech the answer? And if so, what needs to be on the agenda? We’re looking forward to bringing together Silicon Valley’s brightest minds to help answer these important questions.”
“FERN is producing some of the most important in-depth investigative reporting in the areas of food, ag and environmental health,” said Kat Taylor of Radicle Impact. “This is a tremendous opportunity for Silicon Valley’s food and ag tech community to gain exposure to some of the nation’s leading experts on sustainability and provide insights into why and how to build a sustainably-driven organization that delivers value to investors and customers.”
In two engaging panels, FERN will help frame the issues facing food and ag tech entrepreneurs and investors, looking to offer comprehensive solutions to the following questions:
- Can sustainability be a core principal in a disruptive venture and what measurements can be used to track success?
- Can investors ensure that sustainability is a mandate?
- Can these metrics go beyond marketing?
“There’s so much energy and excitement around food and ag tech,” continued Fromartz. “As part of FERN’s journalistic watchdog mandate, we’re paying closer attention to this space and are excited to host an event in the heart of it all.”
FERN Talks & Eats Silicon Valley will take place on October 6 at Domenico Winery at 1697 Industrial Rd, San Carlos, CA 94070. The format for the evening is as follows:
Reception with beer, wine & bites: 5:30pm
Panels: 6:15pm to 8:30pm
VIP Dinner to follow
Purchase tickets below!
Beer, wine & bites reception and panel: $175
Reception, panel & dinner: $500 (includes a copy of FERN’s new anthology, The Dirt)
Panel discussion only: $50 (Limited supply; ticket holders may not enter until 6pm)
Proceeds from the evening will go to FERN’s new food and ag tech reporting efforts.