Alt-proteins are rising in popularity as some consumers recognize a need for more planet-friendly diets. With enough investment and research, these proteins might even break out of niche markets to replace traditional farmed meat & dairy in the average American's diet. What does the path to 'mainstream' look like, and what does this mean for society and the environment?
Bruce Friedrich, CEO, Good Food Institute
Bruce is co-founder and president of The Good Food Institute (GFI), a non-profit that promotes plant- and cell-based alternatives to animal products. He is also a co-founder of the alternative protein venture capital firm New Crop Capital. Friedrich previously worked for PETA and Farm Sanctuary.
Jan Dutkiewicz, Visiting Fellow, Harvard Law School
Jan is presently a Policy Fellow at Harvard Law School and has studied the ethical, political, legal, social, and environmental dimensions of economic activity: primarily focused on meat & agricultural products. He is working on a monograph about the politics of corporate meat production and co-authoring a trade book on envisioning a more just and sustainable food system.
Sonalie Figueiras, Founder & Editor-in-Chief Green Queen Media; Co-Founder & CEO, Source Green
2021 Women of Power, 2019 GEN T Honoree, 2 x TEDx Speaker & Asia's Green Queen: Serial social entrepreneur & trends forecaster Sonalie Figueiras is the founder & editor-in-chief of Green Queen, an award winning impact media platform advocating for social & environmental change through inspiring & empowering original content and one of the world's leading outlets for alternative protein news. She is also the founder & CEO of Ekowarehouse, the global sourcing platform for certified organic products and the cofounder & CEO of SourceGreenPackaging.com, the world's first global marketplace for sustainable packaging with a mission to fight single waste (pre-- use plastic seed funded in May 2021). With over a decade of experience in publishing, digital marketing, organic trade, sustainability, alternative proteins and green packaging, she is an eco wellness industry veteran with a keen eye for market trends and a sought after international speaker and moderator, sharing her expertise on stages across Asia and beyond.
Yousuf Ataur-Rehman, Yale School of Management
Yousuf is a first-year MBA student at the Yale School of Management and a leader of the school's Food & Agribusiness Club. His areas of interest include impact investing and venture capital in food & ag startups, as well as political and legal strategies that shape food & ag development. He is currently researching right to farm laws across the U.S. and shareholder litigation strategies as they pertain to large agribusiness companies' climate impacts.
