On today's episode, we sit down with Cameron Whitehead, the Chief Operating Officer at Pete and Gerry's, a table egg producer known for its focus on pasture-raised birds, animal welfare, and strong relationships with family farms.

The discussion centers around the inflation-driven surge in egg prices, a topic frequently mentioned in consumer discussions but rarely addressed by industry insiders. Cameron shares insights from his unique career path—from corporate law to egg production—and provides an in-depth look at the historical development and current operations of Pete and Gerry's.

He elaborates on the different types of egg production, including cage-free, free-range, and pasture-raised, explaining what each label means for consumers. The conversation also delves into supply chain dynamics, disease management, and new organic initiatives. Cameron stresses the importance of consumer education, highlights ongoing inflationary pressures, and discusses the potential future of biosecurity and vaccination programs in the egg industry.

Guest Quote:

“And on the farm side, better disease management comes into record keeping and data, right? It really does. That's where our focus is, we want to address disease as early as possible for the hens and for the productivity that our family farmers rely on. So we do tracing on our farms of productivity rates of water consumption, feed consumption, temperatures, et cetera.” - Cameron Whitehead

Timestamps:

• * (00:59) A First-Generation “Egg Guy”
• * (02:23) Pete & Gerry’s History
• * (04:18) Which Egg Will They Choose?
• * (07:32) An Egg’s Journey Home
• * (13:43) Inflation’s Real Story
• * (18:42) Avian Influenza
• *(22:12) Protecting Barns
• *(26:30) Is Vaccination the Future?
• *(33:29) Protein by the Pound
• *(37:53) New Organic Guidelines
• *(45:11) “Wingin’ It”

Today's episode is brought to you by Ancera, the company that gives poultry companies a birds eye view into their operations. Find out how Ancera is replacing opinions with objectivity at www.ancera.com.

Links:

Follow Cameron on Linkedin

Visit PeteAndGerrys.com

Follow Ancera on Linkedin

Visit Ancera.com

On today’s episode, we chat with Abbey Thiel, a food scientist who wears many hats in the realm of academia and science communication. Currently, she's delving deeper into dairy processing and products as a postdoctoral researcher. She's also a science writer and content creator as "Abbey the Food Scientist".

Abbey also opens up about her transition into science communication through her YouTube channel. She started creating content during the isolating months of writing her PhD dissertation in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. Her channel quickly became a platform where she demystifies complex scientific concepts, such as pasteurization and bioengineered foods, making them accessible and understandable for the general public. Her clear explanations and engaging style have attracted a dedicated audience eager to learn about the science behind their food choices.

In our conversation, Abbey highlights the varying perspectives on controversial topics, like raw milk. She discusses the science supporting pasteurization and addresses common misconceptions, emphasizing the importance of making informed food choices based on accurate information. Abbey also touches on her current research in dairy products, including her innovative work with precision fermentation to produce animal-free dairy proteins. This episode offers a deep dive into the intersection of food science, consumer education, and the future of sustainable food production.

Guest Quote:

• * (00:33) Abbey’s Food Science Background
• * (04:35) Creating Content for Consumers
• * (05:33) Bioengineering and Pasterization
• * (13:08) Researching Dairy
• * (15:57) What KPI’s are important in Dairy?
• * (18:35) Bioactives in Raw Milk?
• *(20:14) The Salad Bar Incident: Willful Contamination
• *(24:01) Tracking Consumer Trends
• *(30:46) “Wingin It”

Today's episode is brought to you by Ancera, the company that gives poultry companies a birds eye view into their operations. Find out how Ancera is replacing opinions with objectivity at www.ancera.com.

Links:

Follow Abbey on Linkedin

Follow Ancera on Linkedin

Visit Ancera.com

On today’s episode, we sit down with Roger Beers, Director of Global Integrated Food Business at Church & Dwight Co. Prior to this position, Beers served as vice president of sales and marketing at Packers Sanitation Services and in various leadership positions at A&L Laboratories and Ecolab. He’s well-versed in agricultural science, food science and business management, and is a veteran of the United States Army.

Roger sheds light on Arm & Hammer's involvement in the food industry, beyond its well-known baking soda products. He discusses with Arjun the company's journey into animal nutrition and food safety solutions, highlighting their efforts to tackle pathogens like salmonella across the entire food processing chain. With a focus on innovation and collaboration, Roger emphasizes the need for alignment between industry stakeholders and regulatory bodies to address emerging challenges like microplastics in the food supply.

Furthermore, Roger shares insights into redefining the perception of sanitation within the industry. By reframing the third shift as "shift zero," he underscores the critical role of sanitation teams in both preparing for and concluding production cycles. Through this shift in mindset, Roger aims to elevate the importance of sanitation as an essential function within food processing facilities.

Guest Quote:

“Whatever work we do here has to be validated. That's the eighth and final step in sanitation, and until that passes, we can't say that our job is complete.” - Roger Beers

Time Stamps:

• * (00:53) 30 Years of Food Defense
• * (05:10) Baking Soda, and Animal Health
• * (10:10) Overcoming production silos
• * (15:17) Defining American Exceptionalism
• * (17:13) Technology and Policy
• * (20:58) A “Firewall” Protecting Our Food
• * (23:56) Understanding the threat of microplastics
• * (29:48) The “Third Shift” in Sanitation
• * (35:42) Probiotics, or a complete cleanout?
• * (42:28) Wingin’ it

Today's episode is brought to you by Ancera, the company that gives poultry companies a birds eye view into their operations. Find out how Ancera is replacing opinions with objectivity at www.ancera.com.

Links:

Follow Roger on Linkedin

Follow Ancera on Linkedin

Visit Ancera.com

On today’s episode, we sit down with Aaron Schacht, CEO of BiomEdit. With over 30 years of experience, Aaron has served as executive vice president at Elanco Animal Health, and in various research and development positions at Eli Lilly and Company. His expertise extends from R&D strategy to drug development to mergers and acquisitions.

Aaron highlights the strides made in human health due to significant investments and mature risk-taking ecosystems, underscoring the untapped potential for similar advancements in animal health. He speaks how synthetic biology and gene editing offer novel approaches to improving animal health, emphasizing Biomedit's innovative strategies in microbiome editing and microbial discovery.

As the discussion unfolds, Aaron sheds light on pressing challenges facing the food supply chain, such as antimicrobial resistance and the need for sustainable solutions. He emphasizes the importance of addressing these issues proactively, leveraging technologies like probiotics and rapid response engineering to safeguard food security and public health. Additionally, Aaron underscores the significance of policy initiatives, advocating for a comprehensive approach that embraces diverse protein sources while prioritizing sustainability and innovation.

Guest Quote:

" Can I deliver livestock productivity to the livestock producer, and deliver something that society expects? Lower antimicrobial risk, lower food safety risk, lower environmental impact… that to me, is the next era of livestock production. It’s being able to tackle more than one thing at a time, and find technological ways to not have to compromise." - Aaron Schacht

Time Stamps:

• * (00:00) Intro
• * (00:36) Aaron’s Career Journey
• * (02:28) The State of Food Biotechnology
• * (04:46) An Intro to BiomEdit
• * (10:19) Using Tech to Lower Emissions
• * (14:05) Challenges in the Supply Chain
• * (19:30) “Food as Energy”
• * (23:20) Probiotics, and Animals
• * (25:49) The Biggest Threats in Food Production
• * (27:19) What else is possible through partnerships?
• * (30:03) Upcoming Food Bills
• * (33:21) Wingin’ it

Today's episode is brought to you by Ancera, the company that gives poultry companies a birds eye view into their operations. Find out how Ancera is replacing opinions with objectivity at www.ancera.com.

Links:

Follow Aaron on Linkedin

Follow Ancera on Linkedin

Visit Ancera.com

Today, we sat down with Corey Blumenthal, Sustainability Specialist at Shake Shake and Lauren Brown, Senior Program Manager, Carbon Reduction Data & Analytics at Neutral Foods.

Shake Shack partnered with Neutral to source carbon-free milk, initially available in Washington and Oregon, and later expanded to their East Coast locations. Corey's role at Shake Shack involves overseeing sustainability initiatives, while Lauren focuses on carbon reduction strategies at Neutral.

Corey and Lauren highlight the importance of sustainable practices in food production, particularly in addressing emissions from dairy farming. They discuss initiatives such as regenerative agriculture and feed supplements aimed at reducing methane emissions from cows. Lauren explains how technology and innovation play a crucial role in measuring and mitigating methane emissions on farms, emphasizing the need for upfront financial support to incentivize farmers to adopt sustainable practices.

The conversation delves into the intersection of sustainability and productivity, emphasizing the potential for practices like regenerative agriculture to improve both environmental outcomes and farm efficiency. Corey and Lauren also discuss the challenge of balancing sustainability with affordability for consumers, emphasizing the importance of collaborative efforts across sectors to drive meaningful change in the food industry. Overall, the episode provides insights into the practical strategies and collaborations driving sustainability efforts in food production.

Guest Quotes:

“ You know, we've seen it over and over again in surveys, consumers saying, yes, they care about sustainability, but they're not willing to pay extra for a product that's produced sustainably if it costs more. So at Shake Shack, as part of my role as a sustainability specialist, I've been trying really hard to find avenues for us to incorporate sustainability without having to pass that cost onto consumers. ” - Corey Blumenthal

“I think from Neutral's perspective, I mean, we know that 93 percent of households in the United States have some sort of dairy product in their fridges at home. And we also know that dairy has a very significant climate impact. And so we're trying to address that issue. We know that consumer behavior is notoriously difficult to change. So we're meeting them where they're at with a more sustainable option. And so we're doing a lot of that work to really invest in farms, invest in these systems, to set consumers up with a better choice that they can make.” - Lauren Brown

Time Stamps:

• * (00:00) Intro
• * (01:25) Corey and Lauren’s Background in Food Sustainability
• * (06:02) What’s new on the sustainability front?
• * (09:25) Fragility, and Regenerative Agriculture
• * (12:49) Sustainability Leading to Productivity
• * (14:25) Measuring Methane Emissions
• * (17:05) Keeping it Affordable for Customers
• * (24:21) Many Many Microbes
• * (20:44) Challenges in public-private partnerships in food regulation
• * (29:24) Sharing Sustainability Data
• * (34:42) What else is possible through partnerships?
• * (38:11) Neutral’s Carbon Credits Process
• * (41:08) ​​Food Waste vs. Food Productivity
• * (49:11) Wingin’ it

Sponsor copy:

Today's episode is brought to you by Ancera, the company that gives poultry companies a birds eye view into their operations. Find out how Ancera is replacing opinions with objectivity at www.ancera.com.

Links:

Follow Corey on Linkedin

Follow Lauren on Linkedin

Follow Ancera on Linkedin

Visit Ancera.com

On today’s episode, we sit down with Brian Ronholm, Director of Food Policy at Consumer Reports. Brian has a storied career in legislative and regulatory food policy and safety. He formerly acted as the Deputy Under Secretary of Food Safety, at the United States Department of Agriculture, and speaks extensively on emerging technologies and modernization in the food industry.

Brian and Arjun delve into various conversations around food regulation and safety. Touching on Brian’s real world experience, they discuss how to encourage a meaningful conversation between consumers and producers, fostering open dialogue and collaboration between all stakeholders (including government agencies, industry, consumer advocacy groups, and consumers themselves), and how we can work towards a safer and more resilient food supply chain.

Guest Bio:

"Brian Ronholm is the Director of Food Policy for Consumer Reports. He leads CR’s advocacy efforts to advance a safe and healthy food system. Brian brings deep legislative and regulatory experience in food policy to CR. He also writes and speaks extensively on food policy issues, with a particular emphasis on emerging technologies, food safety modernization, and pending regulatory policies facing the food industry.

During his tenure as Deputy Under Secretary, Food Safety, at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Brian provided leadership, management, and oversight of the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), the public health agency with more than 9,000 employees responsible for ensuring the safety of meat, poultry, catfish, and processed egg products.

In addition to overseeing FSIS, he chaired the U.S. Codex Policy Steering Committee, an interagency partnership that engages stakeholders in the advancement of science-based international food safety standards to facilitate fair trade, and served as Chair of the National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods (NACMCF), which provides impartial scientific advice to federal agencies for use in developing integrated food safety systems.

He also served as Agriculture Appropriations Associate in the office of U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut, where he managed and coordinated activities involving key legislative initiatives for food and nutrition issues.

Prior to joining CR, Brian most recently served as Senior Director of Regulatory Affairs at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich and Rosati, and he served in the same senior position at Arent Fox LLP. He serves as a part-time lecturer at Northeastern University in the College of Professional Studies."

Guest Quote:

“You will recall at the time, there were some very high profile outbreaks in the mid to late 2000s, right? You had the peanut butter, you had a number of fresh produce outbreaks with spinach, romaine lettuce, et cetera. And so everyone recognized that there was this need to come together and work together to push for [a solution]” - Brian Ronholm

Time Stamps:

• * (00:00) Intro
• * (00:33) Brian's career journey
• * (02:10) Understanding Consumer Reports and food advocacy
• * (04:45) Consumer requests and advocacy needs
• * (06:54) Consumer thoughts on food supply
• * (08:52) Key drivers of consumer expectations in the food industry
• * (13:56) Brian's reflections on the FSMA era
• * (16:36) Brian's experience working at FSIS
• * (20:44) Challenges in public-private partnerships in food regulation
• * (27:19) Producer and consumer responsibilities towards zeroism
• * (30:57) Navigating food industry incentives and sustainability solutions
• * (34:50) How to anticipate new threats in food safety and supply chains
• * (37:58) ​​Advice on proactive strategies for future food defense
• * (42:43) Winging it

Today's episode is brought to you by Ancera, the company that gives poultry companies a birds eye view into their operations. Find out how Ancera is replacing opinions with objectivity at www.ancera.com.

Links:

Follow Brian on Linkedin

Visit Consumer Reports: Food Advocacy

Follow Ancera on Linkedin

Visit Ancera.com

On today's episode, Dr. Don Ritter, a seasoned Doctor of Veterinary Medicine with over 35 years of expertise in poultry health, broiler production, animal welfare, and food safety, joins host Arjun Ganesan to shed light on the intricacies of poultry production.

Dr. Ritter navigates through various topics, including the evolution of antibiotic use policies, consumer preferences, and the impact of high path avian influenza. Through insightful discussions, he addresses misconceptions surrounding poultry production, emphasizes the importance of technological advancements, and highlights the need for talented individuals to drive innovation in the ever-growing field of poultry agriculture.

Guest Quote:

“We have 100% testing of all commercial poultry produced in the United States for food. No other country has the resources or the lab structure to pull that off. We’ve had a lot of countries come in to look at what we do, but they just can’t replicate it. So, if you’re trying to prove the absence of something, testing 100% of the population, I mean you can’t get any better than that." - Don Ritter, DVM

Time Stamps:

• * (00:33) Don’s History
• * (02:55) No antibiotics…. ever?
• * (05:00) What attributes are important to consumers?
• * (09:51) Who’s playing the food police?
• * (19:01) What’s important for humans?
• * (24:22) The vaccination of French ducks
• *(30:02) The dollars and cents of protein
• *(31:24) Don’s most asked question

Today's episode is brought to you by Ancera, the company that gives poultry companies a birds eye view into their operations. Find out how Ancera is replacing opinions with objectivity at www.ancera.com.

Links:

Follow Don on Linkedin

Follow Ancera on Linkedin

Visit Ancera.com

With 14 billion bushels of corn, 9 billion chickens, and 350 million Americans, the United States has evolved from an agrarian colony to a global agricultural powerhouse.

American innovation has made food more than just a meal on our plates – it’s an intricate interplay between economics, politics, and hard science.

This is “America’s Nest Egg: The Secret War for Global Food Security” - a candid conversation about the science and systems powering our food supply.  

In a world where challenges range from food security to microbial threats and shifting geopolitics, we embark on a journey to find the truth in humanity's most opinionated topic: food.

Join your host, Arjun Ganesan, Founder and CEO of Ancera, as he speaks with seasoned food production veterans who walk the tightrope between tradition and innovation. We’ll explore their journeys as they balance the demands of the present with the needs of the future.

This podcast is for policymakers, food advocates, and industry stakeholders. 

We’ll look at everything from the unprecedented price of eggs, to the labels on your food, and the science behind lab grown meat.

Plus, what technologists around the world are doing to compete with the United States. 

Be a part of the conversation that's shaping the future of our food production. 

Brought to you by Ancera - the innovator of supply chain intelligence.