Building a better food system | Alison Grantham | TEDxGeorgeSchool

so we’re working on building a better

so we’re working on building a better food system at blue apron and our vision

food system at blue apron and our vision

food system at blue apron and our vision for a food system extends from the farm

for a food system extends from the farm

for a food system extends from the farm all the way to the fork and we want this

all the way to the fork and we want this

all the way to the fork and we want this better food system to be built on a

better food system to be built on a

better food system to be built on a foundation of healthy soil cultivated

foundation of healthy soil cultivated

foundation of healthy soil cultivated through bio intensive production

through bio intensive production

through bio intensive production practices and facilitated by radical

practices and facilitated by radical

practices and facilitated by radical improvements in supply chain efficiency

improvements in supply chain efficiency

improvements in supply chain efficiency the gateway to all of these improvements

the gateway to all of these improvements

the gateway to all of these improvements is better planning with farmer partners

is better planning with farmer partners

is better planning with farmer partners this direct connection with the source

this direct connection with the source

this direct connection with the source of our food will enable the changes that

of our food will enable the changes that

of our food will enable the changes that we need to make to make our food system

we need to make to make our food system

we need to make to make our food system resilient the challenges that it faces

resilient the challenges that it faces

resilient the challenges that it faces those challenges are vast I have spent

those challenges are vast I have spent

those challenges are vast I have spent the last decade basically focused on

the last decade basically focused on

the last decade basically focused on those challenges prior to coming to blue

those challenges prior to coming to blue

those challenges prior to coming to blue apron we’re in an academic setting I was

apron we’re in an academic setting I was

apron we’re in an academic setting I was working on the grand challenge of

working on the grand challenge of

working on the grand challenge of nitrogen in agriculture so right now

nitrogen in agriculture so right now

nitrogen in agriculture so right now nitrogen is not supplied to agriculture

nitrogen is not supplied to agriculture

nitrogen is not supplied to agriculture in this systemic way called supported by

in this systemic way called supported by

in this systemic way called supported by bio intensive production practices

bio intensive production practices

bio intensive production practices instead the productivity of our current

instead the productivity of our current

instead the productivity of our current food system rests on synthetic nitrogen

food system rests on synthetic nitrogen

food system rests on synthetic nitrogen fertilizer which is produced in an

fertilizer which is produced in an

fertilizer which is produced in an incredibly energy intensive process

incredibly energy intensive process

incredibly energy intensive process fueled by natural gas and when it’s

fueled by natural gas and when it’s

fueled by natural gas and when it’s applied to farm fields results in

applied to farm fields results in

applied to farm fields results in emissions of nitrous oxide a greenhouse

emissions of nitrous oxide a greenhouse

emissions of nitrous oxide a greenhouse gas 300 times as potent as carbon

gas 300 times as potent as carbon

gas 300 times as potent as carbon dioxide this leads to greenhouse gas

dioxide this leads to greenhouse gas

dioxide this leads to greenhouse gas emissions that are need to be reduced by

emissions that are need to be reduced by

emissions that are need to be reduced by seventy to ninety percent by 2050

seventy to ninety percent by 2050

seventy to ninety percent by 2050 according to experts in order for our

according to experts in order for our

according to experts in order for our food system to be able to princess and

food system to be able to princess and

food system to be able to princess and not have levels of climate change that

not have levels of climate change that

not have levels of climate change that would be unmanageable our food system

would be unmanageable our food system

would be unmanageable our food system also is

also is

also is directly linked to unsustainable rates

directly linked to unsustainable rates

directly linked to unsustainable rates of biodiversity loss unsustainable water

of biodiversity loss unsustainable water

of biodiversity loss unsustainable water withdrawals especially with food

withdrawals especially with food

withdrawals especially with food production and arid regions and water

production and arid regions and water

production and arid regions and water pollution that results in undrinkable

pollution that results in undrinkable

pollution that results in undrinkable water that has very expensive water

water that has very expensive water

water that has very expensive water treatment costs so we need to address

treatment costs so we need to address

treatment costs so we need to address all of these problems we also need to

all of these problems we also need to

all of these problems we also need to improve the production increase the

improve the production increase the

improve the production increase the production productivity of our food

production productivity of our food

production productivity of our food system so that all of the new people

system so that all of the new people

system so that all of the new people that are going to be on the planet by

that are going to be on the planet by

that are going to be on the planet by 2050 have enough to eat and that that

2050 have enough to eat and that that

2050 have enough to eat and that that food production is not threatened by

food production is not threatened by

food production is not threatened by impending climate change so these

impending climate change so these

impending climate change so these systems need to be more resilient and

systems need to be more resilient and

systems need to be more resilient and more productive so relying on a single

more productive so relying on a single

more productive so relying on a single on externally provided inputs is not a

on externally provided inputs is not a

on externally provided inputs is not a way to provide this type of resilient

way to provide this type of resilient

way to provide this type of resilient structure instead we need to work on

structure instead we need to work on

structure instead we need to work on building the soil so that the soil can

building the soil so that the soil can

building the soil so that the soil can feed the plants and during the

feed the plants and during the

feed the plants and during the production of crops we’re also working

production of crops we’re also working

production of crops we’re also working on producing soil help this is a cover

on producing soil help this is a cover

on producing soil help this is a cover crop that’s going to support the

crop that’s going to support the

crop that’s going to support the productivity not only of these eggplants

productivity not only of these eggplants

productivity not only of these eggplants but of the subsequent crop and we need

but of the subsequent crop and we need

but of the subsequent crop and we need to make sure that that food is actually

to make sure that that food is actually

to make sure that that food is actually getting to eaters and that’s where blue

getting to eaters and that’s where blue

getting to eaters and that’s where blue a friend comes in blue apron has a means

a friend comes in blue apron has a means

a friend comes in blue apron has a means of achieving this balance between

of achieving this balance between

of achieving this balance between productivity and all the other

productivity and all the other

productivity and all the other environmental services that we need our

environmental services that we need our

environmental services that we need our food systems to provide and our means of

food systems to provide and our means of

food systems to provide and our means of doing that is this structure so we want

doing that is this structure so we want

doing that is this structure so we want to build strong food systems those

to build strong food systems those

to build strong food systems those systems are built on healthy soil and

systems are built on healthy soil and

systems are built on healthy soil and that soil is going to support the

that soil is going to support the

that soil is going to support the productivity of the whole system rather

productivity of the whole system rather

productivity of the whole system rather than relying on an external input to

than relying on an external input to

than relying on an external input to provide that the system’s productivity

provide that the system’s productivity

provide that the system’s productivity is also going to be supported by

is also going to be supported by

is also going to be supported by biodiversity within the system we want

biodiversity within the system we want

biodiversity within the system we want to diverse crops and we want to manage

to diverse crops and we want to manage

to diverse crops and we want to manage the pests that might emerge in those

the pests that might emerge in those

the pests that might emerge in those systems through the diversity of

systems through the diversity of

systems through the diversity of surrounding landscapes thereby reducing

surrounding landscapes thereby reducing

surrounding landscapes thereby reducing the toxicity of the food supply that

the toxicity of the food supply that

the toxicity of the food supply that we’re eating

we’re eating

we’re eating and we need to do all of this in a way

and we need to do all of this in a way

and we need to do all of this in a way that is more energy and water efficient

that is more energy and water efficient

that is more energy and water efficient than the current status quo so why are

than the current status quo so why are

than the current status quo so why are we getting into this so this is a

we getting into this so this is a

we getting into this so this is a situation that brought me to blue apron

situation that brought me to blue apron

situation that brought me to blue apron this was blue aprons demand we wanted

this was blue aprons demand we wanted

this was blue aprons demand we wanted unique specialty varieties of produce to

unique specialty varieties of produce to

unique specialty varieties of produce to engage our customers and provide the

engage our customers and provide the

engage our customers and provide the excitement that they need to stay

excitement that they need to stay

excitement that they need to stay engaged with their food system and this

engaged with their food system and this

engaged with their food system and this was the available supply so blue apron

was the available supply so blue apron

was the available supply so blue apron needed to go out to the farmers and

needed to go out to the farmers and

needed to go out to the farmers and create a supply that was equivalent to

create a supply that was equivalent to

create a supply that was equivalent to demand so we engage with growers all

demand so we engage with growers all

demand so we engage with growers all across the country and said we have

across the country and said we have

across the country and said we have these target crops that we need to

these target crops that we need to

these target crops that we need to supply in volumes that will meet our

supply in volumes that will meet our

supply in volumes that will meet our customers demands what is your regional

customers demands what is your regional

customers demands what is your regional you know production potential how can

you know production potential how can

you know production potential how can you help us meet this man how can we

you help us meet this man how can we

you help us meet this man how can we work together and so we developed plans

work together and so we developed plans

work together and so we developed plans that cobble together the capacity of

that cobble together the capacity of

that cobble together the capacity of growers all over the country to supply

growers all over the country to supply

growers all over the country to supply our entire national demand we went back

our entire national demand we went back

our entire national demand we went back to the farmers and supported them from

to the farmers and supported them from

to the farmers and supported them from the planting of the crop to the

the planting of the crop to the

the planting of the crop to the harvesting and delivery of that crop

harvesting and delivery of that crop

harvesting and delivery of that crop through guidance that allowed them to

through guidance that allowed them to

through guidance that allowed them to hit our target menus our chefs supported

hit our target menus our chefs supported

hit our target menus our chefs supported this process by planning menus around

this process by planning menus around

this process by planning menus around these crops that we had already planned

these crops that we had already planned

these crops that we had already planned with farmers and we are monitoring crop

with farmers and we are monitoring crop

with farmers and we are monitoring crop progress to ensure that those crops are

progress to ensure that those crops are

progress to ensure that those crops are ready when we need them so what this

ready when we need them so what this

ready when we need them so what this worked out to support was a system where

worked out to support was a system where

worked out to support was a system where we have growers going directly to blue

we have growers going directly to blue

we have growers going directly to blue apron going directly to eaters and so

apron going directly to eaters and so

apron going directly to eaters and so this is an increase in supply chain

this is an increase in supply chain

this is an increase in supply chain efficiency no longer do you have to go

efficiency no longer do you have to go

efficiency no longer do you have to go from the grower um to a distributor to a

from the grower um to a distributor to a

from the grower um to a distributor to a grocery store to then maybe go to an

grocery store to then maybe go to an

grocery store to then maybe go to an eater where along that way you’re losing

eater where along that way you’re losing

eater where along that way you’re losing all sorts of healthy food so

all sorts of healthy food so

all sorts of healthy food so instead we go directly to the farms and

instead we go directly to the farms and

instead we go directly to the farms and all of those farms produce not one of

all of those farms produce not one of

all of those farms produce not one of them could have produced our demand for

them could have produced our demand for

them could have produced our demand for eggplants but together we engage 16

eggplants but together we engage 16

eggplants but together we engage 16 different farms that were able to

different farms that were able to

different farms that were able to produce our supply but it didn’t come

produce our supply but it didn’t come

produce our supply but it didn’t come off without a hitch we have an

off without a hitch we have an

off without a hitch we have an increasingly challenged food production

increasingly challenged food production

increasingly challenged food production system and one of those big challenges

system and one of those big challenges

system and one of those big challenges is climate change so our growers in

is climate change so our growers in

is climate change so our growers in California this year had this great plan

California this year had this great plan

California this year had this great plan about all of the eggplants that they

about all of the eggplants that they

about all of the eggplants that they were going to grow for us and then we

were going to grow for us and then we

were going to grow for us and then we had temperatures that were over a

had temperatures that were over a

had temperatures that were over a hundred degrees for more than five days

hundred degrees for more than five days

hundred degrees for more than five days in a row that meant that the blossoms on

in a row that meant that the blossoms on

in a row that meant that the blossoms on the eggplants in California were

the eggplants in California were

the eggplants in California were literally burned and could not set fruit

literally burned and could not set fruit

literally burned and could not set fruit so those growers were not able to supply

so those growers were not able to supply

so those growers were not able to supply the plans volumes but they were not the

the plans volumes but they were not the

the plans volumes but they were not the only growers in our supply chain we had

only growers in our supply chain we had

only growers in our supply chain we had engaged 16 different farms across the

engaged 16 different farms across the

engaged 16 different farms across the country so we were able to shift and

country so we were able to shift and

country so we were able to shift and while these growers were having excess

while these growers were having excess

while these growers were having excess stress to their crops our growers in

stress to their crops our growers in

stress to their crops our growers in Pennsylvania we’re having an excellent

Pennsylvania we’re having an excellent

Pennsylvania we’re having an excellent growing season and had more than the

growing season and had more than the

growing season and had more than the productivity that we had planned for so

productivity that we had planned for so

productivity that we had planned for so through this diversity we were able to

through this diversity we were able to

through this diversity we were able to still have the supply that we needed

still have the supply that we needed

still have the supply that we needed with one balancing out the other this is

with one balancing out the other this is

with one balancing out the other this is also i’m shifting our focus in the

also i’m shifting our focus in the

also i’m shifting our focus in the future to do more to plan for this where

future to do more to plan for this where

future to do more to plan for this where we have one region compensating for

we have one region compensating for

we have one region compensating for another region to add this resilience to

another region to add this resilience to

another region to add this resilience to our food system so with each grower we

our food system so with each grower we

our food system so with each grower we analyze their climate and we see okay

analyze their climate and we see okay

analyze their climate and we see okay when is your peak season you have to

when is your peak season you have to

when is your peak season you have to peak seasons is one more reliable than

peak seasons is one more reliable than

peak seasons is one more reliable than the other is this one too short for us

the other is this one too short for us

the other is this one too short for us to really work with and when is it that

to really work with and when is it that

to really work with and when is it that we’re going to get this heat that is

we’re going to get this heat that is

we’re going to get this heat that is becoming increasingly frequent and

becoming increasingly frequent and

becoming increasingly frequent and extreme that we just can’t deal with for

extreme that we just can’t deal with for

extreme that we just can’t deal with for each crop so we’re providing this type

each crop so we’re providing this type

each crop so we’re providing this type of guidance to our growers to make them

of guidance to our growers to make them

of guidance to our growers to make them stronger to in turn make the whole foods

stronger to in turn make the whole foods

stronger to in turn make the whole foods some stronger this also extends to

some stronger this also extends to

some stronger this also extends to assist to system services other than

assist to system services other than

assist to system services other than crop yield we want our farms to not just

crop yield we want our farms to not just

crop yield we want our farms to not just provide good food we want them to be

provide good food we want them to be

provide good food we want them to be good neighbors and to provide for good

good neighbors and to provide for good

good neighbors and to provide for good drinking water and healthy soil this is

drinking water and healthy soil this is

drinking water and healthy soil this is not a sign of healthy soil this is a

not a sign of healthy soil this is a

not a sign of healthy soil this is a sign of too much phosphorus running off

sign of too much phosphorus running off

sign of too much phosphorus running off of farmed fields so we wanted to engage

of farmed fields so we wanted to engage

of farmed fields so we wanted to engage with our growers we’re already making

with our growers we’re already making

with our growers we’re already making plans with them it makes sense to talk

plans with them it makes sense to talk

plans with them it makes sense to talk about more than food so that we can

about more than food so that we can

about more than food so that we can provide the visibility to our customers

provide the visibility to our customers

provide the visibility to our customers that our supply chain really is indeed

that our supply chain really is indeed

that our supply chain really is indeed contributing to a healthier planet so we

contributing to a healthier planet so we

contributing to a healthier planet so we went out to 41 of our farm our farms

went out to 41 of our farm our farms

went out to 41 of our farm our farms that we partner with this year and we

that we partner with this year and we

that we partner with this year and we provided comprehensive soil health

provided comprehensive soil health

provided comprehensive soil health testing which among many things assesses

testing which among many things assesses

testing which among many things assesses levels of nutrients in the soil to see

levels of nutrients in the soil to see

levels of nutrients in the soil to see whether they have an excessive

whether they have an excessive

whether they have an excessive phosphorus problem we are then able to

phosphorus problem we are then able to

phosphorus problem we are then able to provide them with guidance of production

provide them with guidance of production

provide them with guidance of production practices that they can adopt to

practices that they can adopt to

practices that they can adopt to mitigate that phosphorus problem and

mitigate that phosphorus problem and

mitigate that phosphorus problem and ensure that that phosphorus is not

ensure that that phosphorus is not

ensure that that phosphorus is not winding up in our drinking water we also

winding up in our drinking water we also

winding up in our drinking water we also through this direct engagement with

through this direct engagement with

through this direct engagement with growers learn about what their biggest

growers learn about what their biggest

growers learn about what their biggest problems are when we’re talking about

problems are when we’re talking about

problems are when we’re talking about okay what do you feel comfortable

okay what do you feel comfortable

okay what do you feel comfortable committing to in terms of volume they

committing to in terms of volume they

committing to in terms of volume they can say well in a good year you know I

can say well in a good year you know I

can say well in a good year you know I can do this but sometimes they’re like

can do this but sometimes they’re like

can do this but sometimes they’re like well if I have an outbreak of this or

well if I have an outbreak of this or

well if I have an outbreak of this or that I’m not going to be able to provide

that I’m not going to be able to provide

that I’m not going to be able to provide the supply that we’re talking about so

the supply that we’re talking about so

the supply that we’re talking about so we talked about what their biggest pest

we talked about what their biggest pest

we talked about what their biggest pest problems are for eggplant it’s flea

problems are for eggplant it’s flea

problems are for eggplant it’s flea beetles and Colorado potato beetles so I

beetles and Colorado potato beetles so I

beetles and Colorado potato beetles so I went out after engaging with our growers

went out after engaging with our growers

went out after engaging with our growers on their plans and talked with a

on their plans and talked with a

on their plans and talked with a researcher at the University of Maryland

researcher at the University of Maryland

researcher at the University of Maryland who is an entomologist that studies

who is an entomologist that studies

who is an entomologist that studies these pests and said we want to provide

these pests and said we want to provide

these pests and said we want to provide a healthy pesticide free food supply for

a healthy pesticide free food supply for

a healthy pesticide free food supply for our customers and our growers are having

our customers and our growers are having

our customers and our growers are having problems with these two pests I see that

problems with these two pests I see that

problems with these two pests I see that you have done work on this can you tell

you have done work on this can you tell

you have done work on this can you tell me about a system that might help

me about a system that might help

me about a system that might help our growers still achieve productivity

our growers still achieve productivity

our growers still achieve productivity without so many insecticide inputs and

without so many insecticide inputs and

without so many insecticide inputs and he shared information on this crimson

he shared information on this crimson

he shared information on this crimson clover based production system where

clover based production system where

clover based production system where crimson clover is cultivated alongside

crimson clover is cultivated alongside

crimson clover is cultivated alongside eggplant and acts as a living mulch it

eggplant and acts as a living mulch it

eggplant and acts as a living mulch it also provides habitat for the Predators

also provides habitat for the Predators

also provides habitat for the Predators of the Colorado potato beetle and the

of the Colorado potato beetle and the

of the Colorado potato beetle and the flea beetles managing the Colorado

flea beetles managing the Colorado

flea beetles managing the Colorado potato beetles at levels that were lower

potato beetles at levels that were lower

potato beetles at levels that were lower than even the treatment that it received

than even the treatment that it received

than even the treatment that it received insecticide so these two treatments with

insecticide so these two treatments with

insecticide so these two treatments with and without it insecticide were the ones

and without it insecticide were the ones

and without it insecticide were the ones that had the crimson clover and you can

that had the crimson clover and you can

that had the crimson clover and you can see that they did even better than

see that they did even better than

see that they did even better than traditional insecticide so this is

traditional insecticide so this is

traditional insecticide so this is productivity through systems not through

productivity through systems not through

productivity through systems not through inputs and so it’s through these

inputs and so it’s through these

inputs and so it’s through these partnerships with farmers that we can

partnerships with farmers that we can

partnerships with farmers that we can make our food system better it’s not a

make our food system better it’s not a

make our food system better it’s not a one-way dialogue that says this is what

one-way dialogue that says this is what

one-way dialogue that says this is what you need to do to do better it’s us

you need to do to do better it’s us

you need to do to do better it’s us being better listeners and understanding

being better listeners and understanding

being better listeners and understanding what are the challenges that you’re

what are the challenges that you’re

what are the challenges that you’re facing on your farm and how and we as

facing on your farm and how and we as

facing on your farm and how and we as eaters support you to make the better

eaters support you to make the better

eaters support you to make the better production practices so I think through

production practices so I think through

production practices so I think through this this diet this theme of dialogue

this this diet this theme of dialogue

this this diet this theme of dialogue extends beyond the food system and can

extends beyond the food system and can

extends beyond the food system and can provide a way for us to tackle many of

provide a way for us to tackle many of

provide a way for us to tackle many of the challenges that we are facing thank