Fork The System

Our thirteenth guest is Tina Owens, the lead of the Resilience and Agriculture Lending and Insurance Coalition (RALIC) for the Transformational Investing in Food Systems (TIFS), an organization aiming to bridge capital markets with the strategies, tools, and financial innovations to direct financing towards regenerative and agro-ecological food systems. Welcome to Fork The System — a podcast spotlighting the innovators, researchers, and advocacy leaders reimagining how we feed the world.Resources:Website: https://www.tifsinitiative.org/ralic/ White paper on RALIC: https://www.tifsinitiative.org/resilience-in-agriculture-lending-insurance-coalition-ralic/ JP Morgan report on transitional investing: https://www.jpmorgan.com/content/dam/jpm/cib/documents/Agriculture_Soil_and_Trade_The_Fates_of_Food_in_a_Warming_World.pdfTina's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tina-owens/Feedback Form: bit.ly/forkthesystemfeedbackTranscript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1rXjg_BuimU1vO_2d9cHfzNFJ7A0j0n34yrhLRlfzh1o/edit?usp=sharing

Our twelfth guest is Kari Snorek, the Director of Operations at Shrimp Welfare Project, a non-profit organization that guides the shrimp farming industry towards higher welfare practices for a more sustainable and ethical future. The Shrimp Welfare Project collaborates with global producers, seafood suppliers, and retailers to improve harvest and slaughter practices to impact the lives of over 5.4 billion shrimps per year. Welcome to Fork The System — a podcast spotlighting the innovators, researchers, and advocacy leaders reimagining how we feed the world.Resources:Website: https://www.shrimpwelfareproject.org/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shrimp-welfare-project/Newsletter Sign-Up: https://www.shrimpwelfareproject.org/newsletterRole Postings: https://www.shrimpwelfareproject.org/join-usNote: This podcast was recorded in January, and the role postings for Technical Field Coordinators may no longer be up. Continue checking the page above for the latest updates on any available roles!Kari's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kari-snorek/Feedback Form: bit.ly/forkthesystemfeedbackTranscript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1r0gRR7QFOHLgE0mMMQOf0pldbl0FOLSu4-JDBP9sIs8/edit?usp=sharing

Our eleventh guest is Wasseem Emam, the Founder & Executive Director of Ethical Seafood Research, a non-profit organization focused on improving animal welfare in aquatic food systems globally. ESR focuses its work on fish farming conditions in low and middle-income countries through research, advocacy, and implementation. Welcome to Fork The System — a podcast spotlighting the innovators, researchers, and advocacy leaders reimagining how we feed the world.Main resources:ESR's Newsletter: https://ethicalseafoodresearch.com/ethical-seafood-research-newsletter/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ethical-seafood-researchLinkedIn Newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/waves-of-impact-7143194599308607488/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ethicalseafoodresearch/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@EthicalSeafoodResearchDonate here: https://ethicalseafoodresearch.com/donate/#Feedback Form: bit.ly/forkthesystemfeedbackTranscript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/13d3bcZJxVU4P_7Oz2pUapGUM0xbK9Y0NLgqSvw_0LgY/edit?usp=sharing

Our tenth guest is Albert Tseng, the co-founder of Dao Foods, a venture capital firm that seeks to grow the alternative protein space in China. Dao Foods invests in promising Chinese start-ups, provides mentorship, and builds stakeholder ecosystems to strengthen the Chinese alt-protein industry. Welcome to Fork The System — a podcast spotlighting the innovators, researchers, and advocacy leaders reimagining how we feed the world.Main resources:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/atseng34/Website: https://www.daofoods.com/Feedback Form: bit.ly/forkthesystemfeedbackTranscript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/10uoUfLtScr6VO6w5kX49wz3nz78bE7tQmXKm6Ndg4DI/edit?usp=sharing

Our ninth guest is actually a panel of three guests: Dr. Tawanda Muzhingi, Matt Tom, and Jaishree Singh from the Global Forum for Plant-Based and Alt Proteins. The goal of this organization is to unite and empower stakeholders in the plant-based and alternative protein space, and expand this industry globally to be more inclusive for all.Welcome to Fork The System — a podcast spotlighting the innovators, researchers, and advocacy leaders reimagining how we feed the world.Main resources:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/global-forum-for-plant-based-and-alternative-protein/Website: https://globalforumaltproteins.org/Sign up for their international conference in North Carolina! https://app.swapcard.com/event/global-forum-conference-2025Other:Plant Futures: https://plantfuturesinitiative.org/Talist: https://altprotein.jobs/Food Impact Careers: https://www.foodimpactcareers.com/Feedback Form: bit.ly/forkthesystemfeedbackTranscript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1qQo1Njh8ps4GFMHF4IUoJ855UlW5jfRWNN2LtDIimfk/edit?usp=sharing

Our eighth guest is Jamie Clay. Jamie is an operations, strategy, and fundraising veteran, turned entrepreneur. She’s the founder of two purpose-led businesses: Flora + Fauna Experiences, which creates custom vegan travel itineraries and event experiences, and Build + Bloom Consulting, which offers consulting, operations, and leadership support to mission-driven organizations.Welcome to Fork The System — a podcast spotlighting the innovators, researchers, and advocacy leaders reimagining how we feed the world.Resources:Use the discount code PODCAST100 to get $100 OFF Jamie's upcoming Utah retreat! https://www.floraandfaunaexperiences.com/events/utah-best-friends-retreatFlora and Fauna ExperiencesInstagram: www.instagram.com/floraandfaunaexperiences Facebook: Flora and Fauna Experiences LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/flora-and-fauna-experiencesJoin Jamie's TrovaTrip group if travel with heart speaks to you (she needs 40 more people to complete the interest survey!) https://trovatrip.com/host/profiles/jamie-sros3Build and Bloom ConsultingFollow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/build-and-bloom-consultingFeedback Form: bit.ly/forkthesystemfeedbackTranscript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Xd5R-cDMSrQiheFsE0wdBe9d1Rhi_DTKVYyzutRL4kE/edit?usp=sharingSubstack Recap:  https://open.substack.com/pub/forkthesystem/p/a-recap-of-fork-the-system-episode-383?r=5s965p&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

Our seventh guest is Katy Bluett. Katy has a long and impressive history of working in New Zealand’s foodtech innovation space. She’s the Executive Director of Future Food Aotearoa, a founders collective to accelerate the growth and impact of foodtech businesses. She’s also the Founder of Appetite for Change, a consultancy for innovative food companies.Welcome to Fork The System — a podcast spotlighting the innovators, researchers, and advocacy leaders reimagining how we feed the world.Resources:Katy's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katy-bluett-05353a1b/Future Food Aotearoa: https://www.linkedin.com/company/future-food-aotearoa/?originalSubdomain=nzAppetite for Change: https://www.appetiteforchange.co.nz/Feedback Form: bit.ly/forkthesystemfeedbackTranscript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/14yIlFXcZ-DlFv9PwHUwjGFiFSEWxjaszfffS4g2YPQc/edit?usp=sharingSubstack Recap:  https://open.substack.com/pub/forkthesystem/p/a-recap-of-fork-the-system-episode-e1b?r=5s965p&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

Our sixth guest is Kartic Bajpai. Kartic is currently studying for a Master's in Food Systems at the University of Hohenheim. Kartic has past internship experiences in the traditional dairy R&D space and is interested in applying these experiences to make an impact in the sustainable dairy production space, particularly in India. Welcome to Fork The System — a podcast spotlighting the innovators, researchers, and advocacy leaders reimagining how we feed the world.Feedback Form: bit.ly/forkthesystemfeedbackTranscript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1WboT7eY60yPXzi0rwukUKDbgKDXLrsyVODLJm_YedYo/edit?usp=sharingSubstack Recap: https://open.substack.com/pub/forkthesystem/p/a-recap-of-fork-the-system-episode-dd9?r=5s965p&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

Our fifth guest is Max Tham, a current Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the National University of Singapore. Max started his research journey working on anticancer agents, but now leads a research group investigating the molecular reactions of Heme, a molecule in animal meats that gives meat its distinct flavour. Max is now commercializing this research through the tHEMEat Company, a food tech start-up producing a Heme-based flavour catalyst called Veme to give alternative protein products the same smell and taste as meat.Welcome to Fork The System — a podcast spotlighting the innovators, researchers, and advocacy leaders reimagining how we feed the world.Resources:tHEMEat company website: https://www.themeatsg.com/Max’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/max-tham-891426190Feedback Form: bit.ly/forkthesystemfeedbackTranscript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1WboT7eY60yPXzi0rwukUKDbgKDXLrsyVODLJm_YedYo/edit?usp=sharingSubstack Recap: https://open.substack.com/pub/forkthesystem/p/a-recap-of-fork-the-system-episode-ce5?r=5s965p&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

Our fourth guest is Oscar Barrero Leal. Oscar recently finished his Doctorate in International Economic Law at Middlesex University and is now an Assistant Professor at the University of Ibagué in Colombia. Oscar teaches and conducts research in the intersections of global food systems, food security, public policy, and economic law. Oscar wrote his thesis on the rice trade — specifically, how international policies governing the global rice trade affected domestic Colombian rice markets.Welcome to Fork The System — a podcast spotlighting the innovators, researchers, and advocacy leaders reimagining how we feed the world.Feedback Form: bit.ly/forkthesystemfeedbackTranscript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/15mzuxvfSZW6C5Fv85Bn8pLgqx6OqvGrs_9RdaAqrFFQ/edit?usp=sharingSubstack Recap: https://forkthesystem.substack.com/p/a-recap-of-fork-the-system-episode-4cc?r=5s965p

Our third guest is Rikard Saqe, a current Master’s of Chemical Engineering student at the University of Waterloo. Rikard started off his research journey working on drug discovery and healthcare technology. He has since transitioned into cultivated meat research and is particularly interested in cell-based seafood and potential applications of artificial intelligence in the field. Rikard has received over $700,000 in research grants and has worked with institutions like the Good Food Institute and New Harvest.Welcome to Fork The System — a podcast spotlighting the innovators, researchers, and advocacy leaders reimagining how we feed the world.Feedback Form: bit.ly/forkthesystemfeedbackTranscript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/15vWPLXz-HoRxZ_VQndgcC0jLxUSMVPz73guLzqf4sWc/edit?usp=sharingSubstack Recap: https://open.substack.com/pub/forkthesystem/p/a-recap-of-fork-the-system-episode-b1c?r=5s965p&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=trueResources:The Good Food Institute: https://gfi.org/Plant Futures: https://plantfuturesinitiative.org/Canadian Alternative Protein Symposium: https://canadaaltprotein.ca/New Harvest Canadian Student Activation Fund: https://www.new-harvest.org/canadian-student-activation-fund/Rikard's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rikard-saqe/

Our second guest is Jeffray Behr, an Engineering Project Manager at New School Foods. New School Foods is a Toronto-based company producing whole-cut seafood made entirely from plants, with their inaugural product being a plant-based filet that looks, cooks, tastes, and flakes like salmon. Jeffray graduated with a Mechanical Engineering degree from the University of Waterloo in 2020. Welcome to Fork The System — a podcast spotlighting the innovators, researchers, and advocacy leaders reimagining how we feed the world.NOTE: Since this episode was recorded, New School Foods has recently announced their expansion beyond salmon into steak and ribs! Check out this article to learn more: https://betakit.com/new-school-foods-to-expand-beyond-plant-based-salmon-to-other-meat-alternatives/Feedback Form: bit.ly/forkthesystemfeedbackTranscript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1fVikBLIrEHDuGK0mMHUFvZY2T3J-UlwIUIgobiLJPZw/edit?usp=sharingSubstack Recap: https://open.substack.com/pub/forkthesystem/p/a-recap-of-fork-the-system-episode-9e8?r=5s965p&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true Resources:New School Foods: https://www.newschoolfoods.co/Talist Job Board: https://talist.org/The Good Food Institute: https://gfi.org/Animal Advocacy Careers: https://animaladvocacycareers.org/Cultivating Career in Alternative Proteins (Jeffray's Podcast): https://www.buzzsprout.com/1884302Career Guide for Ending Factory Farming: https://www.altprotein.ca/career-guide-2Jeffray's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffray-behr/

Our first guest is Cogie Cogan, a passionate leader in the animal welfare space. They’re a recent Western University graduate who studied Animal Ethics and Sustainability Leadership, where they took on animal welfare and climate advocacy roles with organizations like the United Nations and ProVeg International. Cogie is also a 2025 Cansbridge Fellow, who will be interning in Thailand this summer for Swees, a plant-based cheese company. They’re currently in the process of launching Prookie, a vegan protein cookie company.Welcome to Fork The System — a podcast spotlighting the innovators, researchers, and advocacy leaders reimagining how we feed the world.Feedback Form: bit.ly/forkthesystemfeedbackTranscript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1QQI_gA8m33LZfEm81tgNxeT-XKr9FgcOJzY4Eu9HT8I/edit?usp=sharingSubstack Recap: https://open.substack.com/pub/forkthesystem/p/a-recap-of-fork-the-system-episode?r=5s965p&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=trueResources:Prookie Instagram: @prookie_proteincookieThe Good Food Institute: https://gfi.org/The Waterloo Alt Protein Project: https://www.altprotein.ca/

Welcome to Fork The System — a podcast spotlighting the innovators, researchers, and advocacy leaders reimagining how we feed the world. Each episode will feature a professional working to build sustainable and ethical food systems. New episodes every other Tuesday with your host, Sherry Shu, an incoming fourth-year student at Western University’s Ivey Business School.Feedback Form: bit.ly/forkthesystemfeedbackTranscript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1F1q4aZdja3_tKoTTs7hGWr_LV1iyM-KniP6US0YZH4w/edit?usp=sharing