Heidi Spurrell, MSc, PGDip, BEM’s Post

A teaspoon of rich soil contains more bacteria than there are people on Earth. Although we don't recognise it day to day, soil health is so critical that is it becoming a key issue highlighted and prioritised by industry leaders. This is why transparency in the supply chain is more critical than ever. Reap by Farming Carbon helps agri-food industry businesses understand their sustainability requirements and requests, from farm to retailers and then to table, ensuring ethical practices and building consumer trust. To find out more, join our waitlist or reach out to the team at Reap. ———————————————- 🐝Reap is an online product to increase transparency in the agri-food supply chain We provide an innovative resource for agri-food adjacent businesses across the UK & Europe. Formerly known as Farming Carbon 🌾 We have a free to access marketplace specifically for environmental impact on farms. We work to develop ways to empower and educate farmers to increase their access to opportunity. 🗓️ We post about sustainable farming, including insight on why this is relevant to society in a more general way. 📈 Follow for farm & food focused conversations

Last Thursday, we hosted another inspiring session in our Voices from the Field webinar series, discussing the case of #circularity in agricultural practices ♻️ Erik is the Co-Founder of Oyster Mushroom Farm, where they grow oyster mushrooms with used coffee grounds from the community, and recently also with our macrocystis biostimulant: StimBlue+ 💡 Some takeaways from the webinar: 👉 Community is key. Building a more circular society starts with local alignment. 👉 Shift the mindset. "Waste" should not be seen as waste. For instance, did you know that only 6% of coffee grounds actually make it into your cup? The rest can be used to grow oyster mushrooms (or something else)! 👉 Give it a try! Just like Erik, give circular materials a shot and see what works. Whether it’s apple pulp or StimBlue+ (or both!), the results can surprise you. We’d like to extend a huge thanks to Erik Boele - de Zeeuw Co-Founder of De Oesterzwammerij 🍄 for his insights and passion in driving these changes. And thank you to Kelpies Julien Winkel and Michael "Maik" Mwinga for the interesting side stories, and webinar. Missed this webinar? Watch the full episode in the comments below. #CircularEconomy #Agriculture #Innovation #oyster #mushroom #webinar #voicesfromthefield

Developing a more sustainable food system is becoming a top priority for many companies that are now investigating new and better approaches like regenerative agriculture. Cargill is helping farmers adopt these practices with a program called RegenConnect® that determines the measures that will work best for each farm and compensates farmers for their positive environmental impacts. In this Supply Chain Sustainability Story, learn how Cargill is promoting farmer resilience and extending those impacts to help brands meet their Scope 3 emissions. #SustainableFoods #RegenerativeAgriculture https://ow.ly/sAfp50SECWP

Will you be attending Prosper Forum next week? If so, say hello to the Datassential team Megan Lynberg and Shara Orem, and join us during "The Ingredients are Key: Building a Regenerative Food System" panel discussion to hear from industry experts, including our very own Shara Orem! From adopting regenerative agriculture practices on the farm to driving collective action along the value chain, this panel discussion will dive into what it takes to accelerate the transition to a more sustainable food system, how sourcing ingredients fits in, and the importance of creating shared value to drive meaningful progress. Learn more about the event here: https://hubs.la/Q02KSwzM0 #Datassential #ProsperForum #foodservice #foodindustry #sustainability #regenerativeagriculture

MOUO Sips - Weekly Specialty Coffee Curiosities Journal. 3. The Impact of Sustainability on Specialty Coffee.    Many specialty coffee producers prioritize sustainable farming practices. But what does that really mean? From reducing pesticide use to implementing regenerative farming techniques, sustainability in specialty coffee not only improves the quality of the bean but also protects local communities and the environment. Choosing specialty coffee isn’t just about exquisite taste—it’s an ethical decision! How do you incorporate sustainability into your daily life? Let’s talk in the comments!  

How will the United States reconcile the growing demand for food with the equally urgent need for environmental stewardship? At our Sustainability Week US, Pratima S., Principal, Economist Impact and The Food Imperative Lead moderated an insightful conversation with leaders from across the global food system to explore what solutions for organic farming, soil longevity, food economics, and feeding both the under- and over-nourished, could mean for business. Catch up on the full session: http://econimpact.co/wa #TheFoodImperative #foodsystems #sustainablefood

Our next episode of Shout About Farming has landed and we’re excited to introduce you to Jack, the visionary behind Mootrition! 🥛   Jack started the business to connect and educate consumers about dairy farming. He is passionate about transparency, ensuring you know exactly what you’re buying and where it comes from.   Bring your reusable bottle and enjoy milk and milkshakes with zero plastic waste. And discover the benefits of milk, our very own superfood, and get a sneak peek into the exciting future of Mootrition. ♻️🐄   Join us in celebrating farming, sustainability, and community! Watch the full video now. #SAF #ShoutAboutFarming

#DYK? Better seed allows farmers to grow more, using less land & fewer resources. Professionally produced & processed seed provides consumers with access to a wider variety of safe, affordable & nutritious food. This #EarthDay24, learn more about the role seed plays. #JustGrowIt https://lnkd.in/e_N87cNn

Love such events! Attending these events always feels like a breath of fresh air, providing us with incredible networking opportunities and a chance to learn from the best in the industry. It’s like having access to a treasure trove of expert advice right at our fingertips! So many points and perspectives we gathered on sustainability and applying analytics in food waste reduction, food security and sovereignty. Some of the facts we learned were shocking, especially the amount of fresh produce wasted due to imperfections. Can you believe that salads with arugula leaves, if they have holes, often get returned and go to waste? There’s so much to take away from this event, and we’re still digesting all the information we gathered. Good stuff! #GOC2024 #foodwastereduction #dataforgood

I have a favour to ask. 🙏 I hesitated before writing this post, as I have always struggled asking for favours, and opening up about challenges isn't actually that easy. But, if I have learned anything over the last year, is that to drive change we need support and a collaborative approach. So here is my favour: At Morrow (Nihilo Food Systems) we are dedicated to sourcing ingredients for our bean-less coffee from sustainable food production systems. In an ideal world, we'd love to source all of the crops and plants we use from regenerative farming 🌱 and circular production systems (up-cycled ingredients) ♻ . We had a lot of conversations recently with stakeholders across the food production value chain, that have been super supportive and fruitful, but we are still looking for growers and suppliers who share our mission and can supply some of our ingredients (including pulse and grain crops, from chickpeas, fava beans, lentils to upcycled ingredients like fruit stones, pips, and peels). This has been quite a challenge! If you are reading this post and you know someone or might be someone, who: - can supply or grow ingredients from regenerative farming systems, - wants to upcycle their food side streams, - is open to having a conversation about this, Then please get in touch, you'd help drive our mission forward 🙌 Tagging a few of those that have been helping on our journey for reach below. Belinda Clarke OBE Agri-TechE Processors and Growers Research Organisation Lara Dunnett Tahnee Knowles Hugh Griffiths Nick Hunt Danni Brotherston Phil Howell Rusha Mondal Sarah (Pilch) Morison Ailsa Kiely #sustainableingredients #regenerativeagriculture #upcycling #foodinnovation #circularsystems #coffeewithoutcoffeebeans