This three day virtual business conference will debate and showcase real world solutions to the most pressing and urgent challenges in commodity supply chains. We’ll look at what’s driving value chain change and how business is working to deliver on increasingly difficult sustainability targets.

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2020 speakers

Barry Parkin

Mars

Chief Procurement and Sustainability Officer

Harold Poelma

Cargill

President, Cocoa & Chocolate

Abyd Karmali

Bank of America

Managing Director, Climate Finance

Kate Schaffner

Kellogg Company

Global Sustainable Agriculture Lead

Sophie Beckham

International Paper

Chief Sustainability Officer

Bey Soo Khiang

APRIL

Chairman of APRIL Group and Vice Chairman of RGE

Frances Seymour

World Resources Institute

Distinguished Senior Fellow, Forest and Governance Issues

Hugo Schally

European Commission

Head of Unit, Multilateral Environmental Cooperation, DG Environment

View all speakers

Agenda highlights

The business case for investing at landscape scale: How to create incentives and rewards for improvements in landscape sustainability performance
2022 as the year of Nature: What does a big focus on nature, biodiversity and natural climate solutions MEAN in practice?
Market access for smallholders: How can sourcing companies really drive impact?
Landscape and forest restoration: Which examples have worked to date, and what is the role of sourcing companies and suppliers?
Zero-deforestation commodities: Practical, cross-commodity case studies that highlight success on the ground and assess the implementation of No Peat, No Deforestation, No Exploitation commitments

Farmer productivity and income diversification: The role of brands to truly improve livelihoods for smallholders and communities
Regenerative agriculture in the supply chain: How do you make it happen, measure, monitor and count the benefits?
Commodity roundtables: Challenges, what they are getting right, and how will they improve?
COP26, green diplomacy and the big picture: What does Glasgow mean for forests, nature and supply chains?
Due diligence in action: How can you respond to regulatory, and investor demands, whilst making a difference in the supply chain?
Leading by example on consumer engagement: Practical examples of how to engage customers and maintain their interest in supply chain stories

View full agenda

Why attend an IF virtual conference?

Discover best practices from industry leaders and get detailed, practical guidance on how to effectively implement policies

Meet & network with an influential audience of key stakeholders through speed networking sessions and pre-planned 1:1 meetings

In-depth problem solving around the key issues within hands-on deep dive workshops and face to face discussion

Making connections at The Sustainable Landscapes and Commodities Forum

How can attendees network virtually?

Speed networking

No need to hang around the coffee cart to begin making connections - join our virtual speed networking for a series of quick-fire 1:1 meetings. Often the highlight of our virtual events, you will have the opportunity to meet a range of attendees within a short amount of time. Then, follow up with new connections and schedule longer, private meetings to continue the discussion.

Group networking

During group networking sessions, attendees are placed in small groups for more relaxed, informal networking. Groups are rotated so you have the chance to meet a variety of people and leave with fresh connections and potential partners.

Schedule meetings

Often at our online events, discussions begin in the chat boxes during sessions and continue behind closed doors for more in-depth conversation between interested parties. Our platform enables you to reach out to other attendees and arrange 1:1 and group meetings. Maximise your impact at the event, and effectively manage your day.

Working groups

During working group sessions all attendees join intimate, face-to-face calls to enable a genuine dialogue and ensure engagement. These sessions are a great opportunity to connect with other attendees who share a common interest and kick-start the conversation.

"It’s hard to imagine a virtual conference running more smoothly or effectively – congratulations to the entire Innovation Forum team."

Kevin O’Donnell / Global Director, Sourcing & Operations Sustainability / General Mills

"The Innovation Forum team practiced what they preached and innovated to create a really excellent virtual event. The diversity of sessions both in terms of content and technical style kept the audience engaged so that there was real user experience of attending a conference. Upsides such as the "speed networking" should remain part of the conference formula if /when we all meet face to face"

James Streeter / Founder and Director / Viridian Advisory

"I very much enjoyed the virtual conference - from plenary sessions to working groups. There was a great variety of topics and such knowledgeable industry speakers."

Jeffrey Engels / Director, Livelihoods & Economic Opportunities / Pact Inc.

"...the team did a fantastic job and I was blown away by how engaging and effective the virtual format was...the virtual speed networking was wildly effective and should be used at all events moving forward. Virtual or in person."

Than Baardson / CEO / Unseen

"The conference was very valuable use of my time; increasing my network, reminding me of some key areas of focus to consider and learning from others."

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What’s different about this forum?

Innovation Forum is:

Candid: Entirely off-the-record discussion that enables open and honest disclosure from speakers and genuine participation from the audience.
Practical: A clear focus on the practical and actionable guidance that can drive change throughout industries and supply chains.
Focused: We provide enough time, resources and expertise to the issues that really matter. We don’t skate the surface, but get to the crux of the issues to provide in-depth, constructive discussion.

Innovation Forum is NOT:

A PR platform: Enthusiastic speakers are NOT given free rein to fill a session presenting their companies, allowing no time to actually get to the crux of the issues.
A talking shop: This is NOT an opportunity for a group people in a room to simply agree with everything said, regardless of outcomes.
All promise, no delivery: We will NOT promise what we can’t deliver. The issues covered are complex. They won’t be solved at a two-day conference. But we will help deliver progress through in-depth, constructive and practical advice around specific issues.