Table Talk

The shock of the COVID-19 pandemic has exposed huge inequalities in health outcomes across society. What role has nutrition played in exacerbating the pandemic? How has our nutrition affected susceptibility to COVID-19 and what lessons do we need to learn to protect society in the future? Joining host Stefan Gates to discuss this fascinating subject is Philip Calder, Professor of Nutritional Immunology, School of Human Development and Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, who has recently led a review in the role of nutrition in immunity and host susceptibility to Covid-19. We'll take a look at how the food we eat, our gut microbiome, and the nutrients we consume can impact our health, and what recommendations have arisen from this fascinating research. About Philip Calder Philip Calder is Professor of Nutritional Immunology and Head of School of Human Development and Health at the University of Southampton in the UK. He is currently President of ILSI Europe. Professor Calder is an intern

The UK is world leading in its food standards and laws around animal welfare. However, trade deals with the US and Australia could mean these standards will be lowered to allow cheap imports. From chlorinated chicken to hormone beef this could have a huge impact on the quality of our food and the ability of our farmers to compete on price. About our panel Anna Sands, Trade Policy Specialist, WWF UK Anna Sands is trade policy specialist at WWF UK. She leads on advocacy for the UK’s new independent trade policy to work for climate, nature and people. Prior to WWF, she worked at the Global Economic Governance Programme at the Blavatnik School of Government, a research centre focusing on how the global economy could be governed in a more sustainable and equitable way. David Baldock, Senior Fellow, Agriculture and Land Management Fellow, Institute for European Environmental Policy David's background is in philosophy and economics. He joined the Institute in the mid-1980s to establish a programme of work on ag

Cellular or lab-grown meat is being touted as one of the greatest solutions to environmental and food system challenges. It allows people to enjoy the taste of meat, but without harming animals or increasing the carbon footprint. But how do you convince people to put down the hamburger and pick up the slaughter-free steak? Guests: Che Connon, Co-founder and CEO, 3D Bio-Tissues Ltd Alongside being CEO of 3D Bio-Tissues, I am also Professor of Tissue Engineering at Newcastle University and co-founder of CellulaREvolution which aims to solve critical issues in scale up of cultured meat. Didier Toubia, Co-Founder & CEO of Aleph Farms Didier Toubia is the Co-Founder and CEO of Aleph Farms, a cultivated meat company that is shaping the future of food by growing slaughter-free beef steaks directly from cow cells, preserving natural resources, and avoiding the use of antibiotics. Prior to Aleph Farms, Didier co-founded and led IceCure, which went public in 2010, and served as the CEO of NLT Spine, which was

Plant-based dairy continues to surge. The key motivators of dairy-free diets include health reasons (allergens, lactose intolerance, digestive discomfort), animal welfare, and environmental concerns. However, many omnivores are also attracted to dairy-free options because they want to try and experience something new. How are dairy-free producers reacting to the potential of this growing market? To answer this we're joined by the experts from Cargill once again, who give us their unique insight into the state of the current dairy-free market, and where they see the greatest potential for future NPD and growth. What are the challenges of replacing dairy in products, what products are capturing the most attention from consumers right now, and what will the space look like in the future? Join host Stefan Gates to find out. About our panel Matthias Bourdeau, Marketing Manager Texturizers, Cargill Starches, Sweeteners and Texturizers Europe   Working for the Nielsen Company and other research agencies, Matthias

The world is searching for practical, quality, environmentally friendly foods to sustain the growing population and satisfy surging demand. Food Matters Live Award winner Equinom is paving the way, strategically breeding non-GMO/non-gene edited smarter seeds with super-traits: superior nutrition, improved functionality, enhanced organoleptics and robust yield – for a healthy, nutritious and sustainable food future. In this episode of the Table Talk Podcast we speak to Equinom Founder and CEO Gil Shalev to find out how they're using science and innovation to create smarter seeds. What are the challenges they've faced and what are the opportunities they see for seeds that can support healthy plant-based eating? Join host Stefan Gates to find out. About Gil Shalev, Founder & CEO, Equinom Founder and CEO, Gil Shalev, is the driving force behind food-tech seed innovator, Equinom. He earned his Ph.D. in plant genetics from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem’s Faculty of Agriculture and has expertise in plant

The COVID-19 pandemic has pushed food consumers online in huge numbers, with shoppers moving to delivery services to minimise their trips to supermarkets. Additionally the crisis saw many businesses create their own direct-to-consumer marketplaces, cutting out the middle man altogether. Waitrose polled 2,000 people across the UK and found that 77% now do at least some of their grocery shopping online, compared with 61% the year before. Is your brands e-commerce and direct-to-consumer strategy tapping into this growing marketplace? In today's podcast, host Stefan Gates is joined by Dean McElwee, Integrated Commercial Lead E-Commerce The Kellogg Company and Francis Nicholas, Group Digital Director, Nomad Foods, to hear their experience of e-commerce and direct-to-consumer, and to learn their recommendations for businesses across food and retail. About our panel Francis Nicholas, Group Digital Director, Nomad Foods Francis first got involved in the space more than a decade ago and was responsible for launchi

In this Table Talk Podcast episode we explore why a one size fits all approach to diets doesn't work, and what the latest scientific research tells us about our nutrition, the impact of our gut microbiome, and what this means for a more personalised approach to diet and nutrition. To explain the significance of the research and its findings we're joined by Dr. Sarah Berry, Senior Lecturer from Kings College London and one of the leads on the PREDICT 2 study, to explain what this latest research means for our understanding of our gut microbiome, and the impact it can have on our overall health and well being, and how it debunks the idea of a one size fits all diet. "And actually what our research shows is how little of it is predetermined by our genes. That's actually really exciting because it shows therefore that our response to food is modifiable, that we do, actually, as individuals have control"Dr. Sarah Berry will be presenting a nutrition spotlight session at Food Matters live in March. To find out

The meat alternative market has plenty of burgers, sausages, and steaks to meet the demands of an increasingly flexitarian marketplace. However, seafood alternatives have been scarce compared to the options available for beef, pork and chicken. Why is this the case? Well, seafood presents some unique experiential challenges, primarily with mouth feel and texture, that are part of what we associate with eating fish. In this podcast we look at these challenges, and the opportunities, that seafood alternative producers are confronting to create new and tasty fish alternatives. “Seafood is one of those proteins that is everywhere. There’s an endless amount of applications that you can bring into the mix” CHRIS KERR Joining host Stefan Gates are a panel of global experts in the field, including Tom Johannsson, Co Founder & CEO, Hooked Seafood AB (Sweden), Jen Lamy, Sustainable Seafood Initiative Manager, The Good Food Institute (US) and Chris Kerr, Founding Partner, CIO, Unovis Partners; CIO New Crop Cap

Are you tapping into the the experience economy? Consumers experience brands on a variety of levels, and not all of it is conscious. A great deal of your 'brand effect' will be non-conscious. Specific sensory attributes deployed across your pack and product will be generating deeper, more meaningful levels of engagement. Could creating meaningful consumer experiences help your brand? Host Stefan Gates is joined by a panel of experts including Andy Wardlaw, Chief Innovations Officer, MMR Research, Mike Faers, Founder & Chairman, Cubo Innovation, and Paul Thomas, Director, The Forge to find out how a decision to go beyond 'liking' on your next development project could be the start of your quest to fully realise your brand's sensory power. "We are now entering an era where people's demand for experiences is filtering down to every day it's no longer going to be confined to travel and music concerts. I think there is going to be, first of all, a pent up demand for experiences everywhere and a reevaluatio

Danielle Nierenberg, President of Food Tank, has spent spent two years visiting more than 35 countries, including sub-saharan Africa and Asia, investigating environmentally sustainable ways of alleviating hunger and poverty. She’s also explored extensively the impact of COVID-19 in the US and how the domestic food policy could, and should, change as a result. In this podcast, her unique insight gives us a picture of the global challenges affecting our food system, and the ways in which we can address them. From sustainable farming, to governmental policy changes that can help our environment, to changes we each can make individually that will make a significant contribution to a more sustainable food system, Danielle provides a comprehensive look at how the industry can create a brighter, healthier food future. About Food Tank Food Tank is for the 7 billion people who have to eat every day. We will offer solutions and environmentally sustainable ways of alleviating hunger, obesity, and poverty by creatin

Our world is changing in ways we never imagined. The way we live, work, socialise and entertain ourselves has evolved. During the pandemic, we have collectively experienced life-changing events and circumstances that have caused us to recalibrate and adapt. Whether it’s communicating virtually, working remotely, staying indoors or washing our hands, signs of this new way of life are abundant. Givaudan have conducted in-depth consumer research to find out how their preferences in food and beverages have evolved in recent times – and what this means for our customers. Will these consumer food and drink preferences change for the long-term following the impact of the pandemic? “44% of our Europe, Africa and Middle East consumers have changed their food and beverage consumption since March 2020” This episode of the Table Talk Podcast aims to answer that question, in partnership with Givaudan, the global leader in the creation of flavours and fragrances. A recent Givaudan consumer survey of over 5,000 consumers

For people around the world to be truly healthy, they need access to a balanced diet containing all of the essential primary, secondary and micro nutrients. Where does our food get its nutrients from? The soil. How can we build a sustainable future, feed a growing population, and protect our soil nutrients and arable land at the same time? The key is promoting farming practices that are profitable for farmers, environmentally sound, and good for communities, and the correct use of fertilisers has a key role to play. In this podcast, in partnership with Anglo American’s Crop Nutrients, we look at the challenges farmers face, and how balanced crop nutrition and sustainable crop production offers the perfect solution. About our panel Robert Meakin, Crop Science Director, Anglo American’s Crop Nutrients Robert Meakin manages the research and development, crop science function and the POLY4 global agronomy programme. POLY4 is the trademark name of Anglo American Crop Nutrients polyhalite product. Polyhalite

Like many countries across the world, consumers in the UAE are showing a clear preference for cleaner, more ethical and sustainable food. Eating and consumption habits are changing, what does this mean for the food and drink industry in the region? What food and nutrition trends are growing in the UAE in 2021? In this episode of Table Talk we investigate all this and more, joined by two experts on the UAE and its food supply and consumer habits, Ananya Narayan, Managing Director, Hunter Foods Limited and. Monique Naval, Senior Analyst, Euromonitor International. With host Stefan Gates they'll discuss how attitudes toward health, nutrition and wellbeing are developing, how this is impacting the food and nutrition trends that are growing in the UAE, and how the country intends to become food secure and sustainable. Ananya Narayan, Managing Director, Hunter Foods Limited Ananya Narayan, Managing Director of Hunter Foods, has been recognized in growing his family business rapidly in the Better For You gourmet,

Last year we took a look at the start-up environment for food and agri-tech post-COVID 19, and continuing the series we speak to two leading investors to get a sense of the outlook for food and agri-tech investment for 2021. What challenges and opportunities do investors see in this market, and where will they be looking to invest in the future as they focus on health, nutrition and sustainability? Joining host Stefan Gates are Paul Rous, Director, Open Data Exchange & co-founder, Shake Climate Change and Rogier Pieterse, Managing Director, PYMWYMIC. Together they debate how the investment community will help support the innovators creating solutions to support data-driven agriculture, plant-based meat alternatives, and more. About our panel Paul Rous, Director, Open Data Exchange & co-founder, Shake Climate Change Paul is a Director of the Open Data Exchange, a joint initiative between Yara and IBM to enable data sharing throughout the agriculture sector. He is also a co-founder of the UK’s fir

One year a go, trend forecasters were predicting that food-on-the-go would be the dominant trend for the year ahead but obviously the global pandemic completely changed that. With COVID-19 still out of control in most major countries across the world, we assembled a panel of experts to explain how that will affect which retail trends will grow in 2021, and what the longer post-COVID future looks like. With history showing that ‘black swan’ events like global pandemics can accelerate long-lasting change, how will plant-based food, personalised nutrition, and health and wellbeing and other retail trends in 2021 potentially be impacted? Joining host Stefan Gates are Mark Driscoll, Director, Tasting the Future, Laura Swain, Editor – Food & Beverage and Travel & Hospitality, Stylus and Simon Waring, Managing Director & Owner, Green Seed UK Ltd. About our panel Mark Driscoll, Director, Tasting the Future Mark is Founder and Director of Tasting the Future, a purpose and values driven sustainable fo

The Agriculture Act has been regarded as the first landmark piece of post-Brexit legislation by the UK Government. Passed in November, the act sets out how farmers and land-owners in the country will be rewarded for adopting sustainable food production practices. What impact will it have, and how is the act viewed by farmers and land-owners? Will the new legislation change farming and food production for the better? We’ve assembled a panel to discuss these points and more. Joining host Stefan Gates are Professor Jane Rickson, Professor of Soil Erosion and Conservation, Cranfield Soil and AgriFood Institute, Vicki Hird, Head of Sustainable Farming, Food and Farm Policy, Sustain, Emily Norton, Head of Rural Research, Savills UK and Mark Coulman, Chair, Tenants Farming Association. About our panel Professor Jane Rickson, Professor of Soil Erosion and Conservation, Cranfield Soil and AgriFood Institute Professor Jane Rickson has over 30 years’ experience of research, consultancy and teaching in soil and wat

Meat alternatives continue to increase in popularity, with consumers more likely to choose a flexitarian approach to eating that substitutes alternative proteins for traditional meat products. What are the trends and science behind meat alternatives and how will this growing section of the food and nutrition industry continue to grow? In this episode of the Table Talk Podcast host Stefan Gates is joined by the experts in meat alternatives from Cargill. Together they explore the trends, consumer expectations and science behind meat alternatives, the challenges of developing a product with great taste, appearance and texture, and to find out what the future of the meat alternative market will look like. About our panel Matthias Bourdeau, Marketing Manager Texturizers, Cargill Starches, Sweeteners and Texturizers Europe (CSST) Working for the Nielsen Company and other research agencies, Matthias gained over 10 years of experience in consulting packaged food and beverage manufacturers across Europe and Afri

With the UK leaving the EU on January 1st, what will be the impact on the UK food supply chain long-term? Will new regulations impede deliveries and create new hurdles for producers and manufacturers importing and exporting into the country from Europe? We assembled an expert panel in the run-up to Brexit to find out. Recorded on December 16th, 2020, with the Brexit trade deal hanging in the balance, our panel looks at the future of food in the UK outside of the EU. Joining host Stefan Gates are David Wells, Chief Executive, Logistics UK, Dr Elitsa Garnizova, Director of LSE Consulting’s Trade Policy Hub, Ian Wright, Chief Executive, Food & Drink Federation, and Tony Heron, Professor of International Political Economy, University of York & Co-Investigator, IKnowFood Project. About our panel David Wells, Chief Executive, Logistics UK David Wells is Chief Executive of Logistics UK, representing industry’s freight interests by road, rail, sea and air. Logistics UK has over 16,000 members who operat

The loss of taste and smell have been key symptoms of COVID-19, and many sufferers have had a long-term impact from the illness on their senses. The ZOE COVID symptom app has reported that as many as one in 20 people who have had COVID suffer from symptoms for more than eight weeks. How has this impacted their lives, and what does this sensory loss mean for people’s experience of food, now and in the future? As many sufferers from loss of sense and smell can only experience tastes that are highly salty or sweet, will this lead to a health and nutrition impact that lasts Barry Smith will be presenting a special nutrition spotlight at Food Matters Live in March focused on Evidence based research on changes in smell and taste due to Covid-19. To find out more click here Joining host Stefan Gates is Barry Smith, Professor, Institute of Advanced Studies, University of London. Barry Smith is the UK’s lead for the Global Consortium for Chemosensory Research (GCCR) and is studying the long term impact of loss of

With a small amount of arable land, and a climate that has little rainfall, the UAE faces significant natural challenges standing in the way of its goal to be self-reliant and a champion of food security in the Middle East. In this episode of the Table Talk Podcast, host Stefan Gates is joined by two experts to discuss the efforts the UAE is making, how investment is being utilised and what opportunities and challenges the region faces on the way to meeting its sustainability goals. Joining our panel are Henry Gordon-Smith, CEO and Managing Director, Agritecture and Hina Kamal, PhD Research Scholar, Future Food, Beacon of Excellence Program, Unversity of Nottingham. They’ll explain how behavioural change will be key to overcoming the unique challenges the UAE faces, but if this can be done the opportunities for the region are huge. About our panel Henry Gordon-Smith, CEO and Managing Director, Agritecture Henry is a sustainability strategist focused on urban agriculture, water issues, and emerging techn