Reflections on the future of food and sustainable systems
During Climate Week NYC 2025, ADM with the support of Social Innovation Summit (SIS) convened a VIP dinner that gathered public and private sector leaders, innovators, investors, and advocates around one urgent ambition: to imagine the future of food and sustainable systems.
The evening’s centerpiece was a fireside chat with Katherine Pickus, Chief Sustainability Officer at ADM; Sam Kass, Partner at Acre Venture Partners; and Ambassador Ertharin Cousin, CEO and Managing Director of the Food Systems for the Future (FSF) Institute. Their dialogue set the tone for a night rich with insight, exploring how to nourish a growing population while protecting the planet.
Innovation with Purpose
From carbon-sequestering practices and advanced genetics to new digital tools, the conversation highlighted innovations already reshaping food and agriculture. Yet the excitement wasn’t only about technology. The speakers and dinner guests returned repeatedly to the possibility of solutions that keep food nutritious, affordable, and climate-smart, reminding everyone that creativity and collaboration can power change.
Building Resilience and Changing the Narrative
Resilience quickly emerged as a common thread. With extreme weather, volatile markets, and rising costs, adaptation is no longer optional. As the fireside chat underscored, companies now face an economic imperative to embed resilience into every stage of production.
Speakers also pointed to the need for a new narrative. In contexts where broad climate policy support can be elusive, framing transformation around regenerative agriculture, farmer livelihoods, and community well-being can win wider acceptance and speed adoption.
Finance as a Supporting Pillar
Finance remained essential to the discussion. Questions such as “How do we de-risk capital?” and “Who ultimately pays for transition costs?” reflected the urgency of channeling investment toward long-term sustainability, without simply passing costs to consumers. The consensus was clear: capital must flow differently, rewarding resilience and autonomy over short-term gain.
Human Stories at the Heart
As dinner was served, guests were invited to share who inspires them. Parents, grandparents, and grassroots changemakers all featured, grounding the evening’s big ideas in personal histories and enduring values. The exercise reinforced a quiet truth voiced throughout the evening: food is never only about markets or technology; it is about people and the legacies we carry forward.
Looking Ahead
For FSF Institute, this gathering was more than a conversation. It was a vivid reminder that transforming food systems will require creativity, courage, and partnerships across every sector. The fireside chat and the lively dinner dialogue made clear that the future of food is being written now, in the innovations we scale, the investments we unlock, and the human connections that turn ideas into action.
Editor’s Note:
This piece reflects insights from FSF’s participation at Climate Week NYC 2025.
