012: Revolutionizing the Food System Helps Build an Inclusive World with Rick Vanzura

Essential Ingredients Podcast

English - April 04, 2023 13:00 - 31 minutes - 25.9 MB - ★★★★★ - 127 ratings
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Previous Episode: 011: Grandma's Favorite Snack Gets a Tasty Makeover with Ashley Albert

Next Episode: 013: Getting People on the Urgency of Upcycling with Anna Hammond

“In the long run, we need all forms of ag(riculture)— they all play their particular role. The more forms of ag we have, the greater the food supply; the greater the diversity of the food supply; and the greater the options we're providing. So at the end of the day, that allows the consumers to make the choice and not have the choice forced on them based on the limitations of the agricultural system.” —Rick Vanzura

Food security is a pressing global issue that requires concerted action from multiple sectors to solve. In many cases, communities are far away from reliable sources of fresh, healthy, and affordable food. This distance can lead to a number of long-standing barriers that prevent these communities from accessing the food they need. Fortunately, modernized food systems have the potential to help in achieving sustainability in food production and consumption on a global scale.

Freight Farms is on a mission to create a global infrastructure of products and services so that people around the world can enjoy fresh and accessible food. Their use of Agriculture Technology yields plenty of benefits, especially in urban vertical farms. By utilizing this process, their network of farmers can produce larger yields with smaller energy inputs, while maintaining a scalable and easy-to-replicate design that is also ideal for both small and large businesses.

This week, Justine and Freight Farms CEO, Rick Vanzura discuss how this modernized farming method impacts the farmers, entrepreneurs, consumers, and ultimately the planet. They also talk about how much space, resources, and technological know-how is needed to start your own farm; how to customize your own crops; common mistakes in ag-tech farming, and much more!

Meet Rick:

Rick is the CEO of Freight Farms, a sustainable, hyper-local, fully traceable growing solution that uses no soil and minimal water. He has spent the last 25 years in President/C-level roles at major consumer and tech brands, including Fortune 5 companies and start-ups. He has also been an active board participant in every company he has served since 1994 and his current role reflects his interest in sustainability and environmental causes. Rick has received numerous awards and recognitions for his achievements and has been featured in major publications and spoken at various universities, including Harvard and Santa Clara.

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