I want to start off and share with you my new favorite word whoosh eerie keanu
my new favorite word whoosh eerie keanu
my new favorite word whoosh eerie keanu I know it’s a mouthful it’s a mouthful
I know it’s a mouthful it’s a mouthful
I know it’s a mouthful it’s a mouthful but once you get into this word it’s
but once you get into this word it’s
but once you get into this word it’s it’s unforgettable
it’s unforgettable
it’s unforgettable actually we should all just say it right
actually we should all just say it right
actually we should all just say it right now what do you think you ready
now what do you think you ready
now what do you think you ready Oh Ricky on Oh oh this is untamed come
Oh Ricky on Oh oh this is untamed come
Oh Ricky on Oh oh this is untamed come on Oh sheee kion oh yeah it feels good
on Oh sheee kion oh yeah it feels good
on Oh sheee kion oh yeah it feels good right remember this word because this
right remember this word because this
right remember this word because this word can change everything so you come
word can change everything so you come
word can change everything so you come from a family where food is a very
from a family where food is a very
from a family where food is a very central gathering point and family
central gathering point and family
central gathering point and family traditions we always have our family
traditions we always have our family
traditions we always have our family gatherings where we’re stuffing dozens
gatherings where we’re stuffing dozens
gatherings where we’re stuffing dozens of handmade raviolis all in preparation
of handmade raviolis all in preparation
of handmade raviolis all in preparation for the family and friends to come over
for the family and friends to come over
for the family and friends to come over and times have certainly changed since
and times have certainly changed since
and times have certainly changed since then technology has really enabled us to
then technology has really enabled us to
then technology has really enabled us to be hyper connected and yet in many ways
be hyper connected and yet in many ways
be hyper connected and yet in many ways we’re more separated from each other
we’re more separated from each other
we’re more separated from each other than we ever have been a day doesn’t go
than we ever have been a day doesn’t go
than we ever have been a day doesn’t go by without reading headlines of new
by without reading headlines of new
by without reading headlines of new emerging technologies that promise to
emerging technologies that promise to
emerging technologies that promise to give us everything that we need at the
give us everything that we need at the
give us everything that we need at the press of a button 3d printing and
press of a button 3d printing and
press of a button 3d printing and driverless cars and even lab-grown meat
driverless cars and even lab-grown meat
driverless cars and even lab-grown meat so in a world of all of these
so in a world of all of these
so in a world of all of these innovations why is it that some people
innovations why is it that some people
innovations why is it that some people still have problems accessing enough
still have problems accessing enough
still have problems accessing enough food I mean the technology clearly
food I mean the technology clearly
food I mean the technology clearly exists right so what is it that we’re
exists right so what is it that we’re
exists right so what is it that we’re missing our food system has changed a
missing our food system has changed a
missing our food system has changed a lot we are bonded by community food and
lot we are bonded by community food and
lot we are bonded by community food and togetherness and traditionally what has
togetherness and traditionally what has
togetherness and traditionally what has happened is large-scale industrialized
happened is large-scale industrialized
happened is large-scale industrialized agriculture has really kind of pushed
agriculture has really kind of pushed
agriculture has really kind of pushed aside the small family farm and with an
aside the small family farm and with an
aside the small family farm and with an intensified focus on one single crop
intensified focus on one single crop
intensified focus on one single crop production it’s really come with a lot
production it’s really come with a lot
production it’s really come with a lot of challenges for our food system it
of challenges for our food system it
of challenges for our food system it removes the natural checks and balances
removes the natural checks and balances
removes the natural checks and balances that are
that are
that are present in a healthy ecosystem and
present in a healthy ecosystem and
present in a healthy ecosystem and instead we have to put in fertilizers
instead we have to put in fertilizers
instead we have to put in fertilizers and pesticides and specialized seeds in
and pesticides and specialized seeds in
and pesticides and specialized seeds in order to make sure that we’re
order to make sure that we’re
order to make sure that we’re maintaining that production and all of
maintaining that production and all of
maintaining that production and all of that puts a big strain on our natural
that puts a big strain on our natural
that puts a big strain on our natural resources so when we’re talking about
resources so when we’re talking about
resources so when we’re talking about global food production usually it’s
global food production usually it’s
global food production usually it’s these big industrialized farms that get
these big industrialized farms that get
these big industrialized farms that get all of the attention but it’s the little
all of the attention but it’s the little
all of the attention but it’s the little guys that are the very backbone of our
guys that are the very backbone of our
guys that are the very backbone of our food supply there are 500 million family
food supply there are 500 million family
food supply there are 500 million family farmers in the world producing more than
farmers in the world producing more than
farmers in the world producing more than half of the food that we consume but the
half of the food that we consume but the
half of the food that we consume but the challenge is most of them are
challenge is most of them are
challenge is most of them are subsistence farmers so they’re barely
subsistence farmers so they’re barely
subsistence farmers so they’re barely producing enough for themselves and
producing enough for themselves and
producing enough for themselves and their families let alone being able to
their families let alone being able to
their families let alone being able to have a reliable livelihood without the
have a reliable livelihood without the
have a reliable livelihood without the infrastructure to be able to really
infrastructure to be able to really
infrastructure to be able to really support and stabilize their growth
support and stabilize their growth
support and stabilize their growth they’re also the first to be hit with
they’re also the first to be hit with
they’re also the first to be hit with economic and environmental shocks which
economic and environmental shocks which
economic and environmental shocks which means they end up fleeing rural areas
means they end up fleeing rural areas
means they end up fleeing rural areas and rushing into cities in search of
and rushing into cities in search of
and rushing into cities in search of work or they go hungry so how is it that
work or they go hungry so how is it that
work or they go hungry so how is it that we can revitalize rural communities and
we can revitalize rural communities and
we can revitalize rural communities and really strengthen our local food
really strengthen our local food
really strengthen our local food production several years ago my business
production several years ago my business
production several years ago my business partner and I were working on a project
partner and I were working on a project
partner and I were working on a project in Kenya when we had an idea we thought
in Kenya when we had an idea we thought
in Kenya when we had an idea we thought what if we took a shipping container and
what if we took a shipping container and
what if we took a shipping container and outfitted it with all of the tools and
outfitted it with all of the tools and
outfitted it with all of the tools and components needed to be able to grow
components needed to be able to grow
components needed to be able to grow food right there and this is what we
food right there and this is what we
food right there and this is what we came up with farm from a box we like to
came up with farm from a box we like to
came up with farm from a box we like to call it the Swiss Army knife of
call it the Swiss Army knife of
call it the Swiss Army knife of sustainable farming now our intention
sustainable farming now our intention
sustainable farming now our intention with this was to reunite production and
with this was to reunite production and
with this was to reunite production and consumption at the community level by
consumption at the community level by
consumption at the community level by providing the infrastructure to really
providing the infrastructure to really
providing the infrastructure to really support it so each one of these units is
support it so each one of these units is
support it so each one of these units is powered by renewable energy so you’re
powered by renewable energy so you’re
powered by renewable energy so you’re not dependent on a grid access it has
not dependent on a grid access it has
not dependent on a grid access it has drip irrigation to be able to save water
drip irrigation to be able to save water
drip irrigation to be able to save water and sustain crops throughout drought
and sustain crops throughout drought
and sustain crops throughout drought conditions internal cold storage unit
conditions internal cold storage unit
conditions internal cold storage unit keeps those crops fresher longer while
keeps those crops fresher longer while
keeps those crops fresher longer while reducing post-harvest losses by up to
reducing post-harvest losses by up to
reducing post-harvest losses by up to 80% Wi-Fi connectivity helps with
80% Wi-Fi connectivity helps with
80% Wi-Fi connectivity helps with information access and exchange and a
information access and exchange and a
information access and exchange and a cloud-based IOT system helps with
cloud-based IOT system helps with
cloud-based IOT system helps with monitoring and tracking everything
monitoring and tracking everything
monitoring and tracking everything that’s going on the farm now as much as
that’s going on the farm now as much as
that’s going on the farm now as much as I love technology
I love technology
I love technology we’ve found that there
we’ve found that there
we’ve found that there something else to it so our first farm
something else to it so our first farm
something else to it so our first farm Adam was on a school site in Sonoma and
Adam was on a school site in Sonoma and
Adam was on a school site in Sonoma and I should tell you all right now too that
I should tell you all right now too that
I should tell you all right now too that we like to have the farmers named the
we like to have the farmers named the
we like to have the farmers named the farm so they have a little soul to them
farm so they have a little soul to them
farm so they have a little soul to them and are really owned by the community so
and are really owned by the community so
and are really owned by the community so when we landed Adam we were all fired up
when we landed Adam we were all fired up
when we landed Adam we were all fired up about the technology we’re like oh I can
about the technology we’re like oh I can
about the technology we’re like oh I can do this and it can do this and look at
do this and it can do this and look at
do this and it can do this and look at the Wi-Fi connectivity and this
the Wi-Fi connectivity and this
the Wi-Fi connectivity and this integrated sensor network can track
integrated sensor network can track
integrated sensor network can track everything that you’re doing and it
everything that you’re doing and it
everything that you’re doing and it wasn’t until the crops were planted and
wasn’t until the crops were planted and
wasn’t until the crops were planted and started growing that we really saw the
started growing that we really saw the
started growing that we really saw the other side of all of that yes the
other side of all of that yes the
other side of all of that yes the technology is great and really efficient
technology is great and really efficient
technology is great and really efficient and helped with productivity but it was
and helped with productivity but it was
and helped with productivity but it was the wonder that was in the eyes of the
the wonder that was in the eyes of the
the wonder that was in the eyes of the students that revitalized interest in
students that revitalized interest in
students that revitalized interest in farming the thrill that we all got by
farming the thrill that we all got by
farming the thrill that we all got by going down the aisles and picking up a
going down the aisles and picking up a
going down the aisles and picking up a fresh tomato fresh off of the vine
fresh tomato fresh off of the vine
fresh tomato fresh off of the vine taking that bite and literally having
taking that bite and literally having
taking that bite and literally having our eyes roll back into our head
our eyes roll back into our head
our eyes roll back into our head thinking my god this is what a tomato
thinking my god this is what a tomato
thinking my god this is what a tomato supposed to taste like it was a
supposed to taste like it was a
supposed to taste like it was a technologically enabled reunion with our
technologically enabled reunion with our
technologically enabled reunion with our roots let me tell you how powerful this
roots let me tell you how powerful this
roots let me tell you how powerful this can be we just launched another farm
can be we just launched another farm
can be we just launched another farm with International Rescue Committee
with International Rescue Committee
with International Rescue Committee supporting resettled refugees from
supporting resettled refugees from
supporting resettled refugees from Bhutan and Nepal now as many of you
Bhutan and Nepal now as many of you
Bhutan and Nepal now as many of you probably know the United States has a
probably know the United States has a
probably know the United States has a very long tradition of offering refuge
very long tradition of offering refuge
very long tradition of offering refuge to people that are fleeing war and
to people that are fleeing war and
to people that are fleeing war and persecution and of the 20 million
persecution and of the 20 million
persecution and of the 20 million refugees that we currently have in the
refugees that we currently have in the
refugees that we currently have in the world less than one percent is actually
world less than one percent is actually
world less than one percent is actually considered for resettlement so this is a
considered for resettlement so this is a
considered for resettlement so this is a very fortunate few that we’re talking
very fortunate few that we’re talking
very fortunate few that we’re talking about now the IRCs
about now the IRCs
about now the IRCs new roots program is really brilliant
new roots program is really brilliant
new roots program is really brilliant because it helps resettle refugees get
because it helps resettle refugees get
because it helps resettle refugees get back on their feet through community
back on their feet through community
back on their feet through community farming and business training and we’re
farming and business training and we’re
farming and business training and we’re coming in to offer the infrastructure to
coming in to offer the infrastructure to
coming in to offer the infrastructure to be able to support all of that and the
be able to support all of that and the
be able to support all of that and the interesting thing too is not that this
interesting thing too is not that this
interesting thing too is not that this is hard to imagine but for refugees that
is hard to imagine but for refugees that
is hard to imagine but for refugees that are coming in from Bhutan and Nepal an
are coming in from Bhutan and Nepal an
are coming in from Bhutan and Nepal an urban subdivision in West Sacramento
urban subdivision in West Sacramento
urban subdivision in West Sacramento California isn’t exactly gonna feel like
California isn’t exactly gonna feel like
California isn’t exactly gonna feel like home right so through nourishing
home right so through nourishing
home right so through nourishing themselves and their surrounding
themselves and their surrounding
themselves and their surrounding neighbors through farming they’re able
neighbors through farming they’re able
neighbors through farming they’re able to rebuild their lives and really start
to rebuild their lives and really start
to rebuild their lives and really start being self-sufficient again a
being self-sufficient again a
being self-sufficient again a that’s where the transformation takes
that’s where the transformation takes
that’s where the transformation takes place plus the surrounding community is
place plus the surrounding community is
place plus the surrounding community is no longer looking at a vacant lot
no longer looking at a vacant lot
no longer looking at a vacant lot instead they see this beautiful farm
instead they see this beautiful farm
instead they see this beautiful farm where they can go and buy fresh crops
where they can go and buy fresh crops
where they can go and buy fresh crops and local restaurants come in buy food
and local restaurants come in buy food
and local restaurants come in buy food farm to fork and are able to try out new
farm to fork and are able to try out new
farm to fork and are able to try out new flavors on their menu so it’s an
flavors on their menu so it’s an
flavors on their menu so it’s an interesting way of being able to see
interesting way of being able to see
interesting way of being able to see this connection of food and business in
this connection of food and business in
this connection of food and business in farming and dignity returns as a result
farming and dignity returns as a result
farming and dignity returns as a result an entire community can really be
an entire community can really be
an entire community can really be strengthened by that but obviously this
strengthened by that but obviously this
strengthened by that but obviously this isn’t just for refugees right this can
isn’t just for refugees right this can
isn’t just for refugees right this can also be transformative for returning
also be transformative for returning
also be transformative for returning veterans coming home after conflicts
veterans coming home after conflicts
veterans coming home after conflicts like those that were working with in
like those that were working with in
like those that were working with in Virginia it can be transformative for
Virginia it can be transformative for
Virginia it can be transformative for urban food deserts and for vulnerable
urban food deserts and for vulnerable
urban food deserts and for vulnerable communities or for connecting schools
communities or for connecting schools
communities or for connecting schools with healthy food access it also creates
with healthy food access it also creates
with healthy food access it also creates local jobs and helps build local
local jobs and helps build local
local jobs and helps build local economies there’s a lot of different
economies there’s a lot of different
economies there’s a lot of different potentials that are happening with this
potentials that are happening with this
potentials that are happening with this now about two months ago my business
now about two months ago my business
now about two months ago my business partner and i were in Tanzania we are
partner and i were in Tanzania we are
partner and i were in Tanzania we are working with the United Nations World
working with the United Nations World
working with the United Nations World Food Programme and Tanzania since the
Food Programme and Tanzania since the
Food Programme and Tanzania since the 1970s has actually housed refugees
1970s has actually housed refugees
1970s has actually housed refugees coming in fleeing violence from the
coming in fleeing violence from the
coming in fleeing violence from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and
Democratic Republic of the Congo and
Democratic Republic of the Congo and Burundi so this particular refugee camp
Burundi so this particular refugee camp
Burundi so this particular refugee camp is called Naya guru so and it’s the
is called Naya guru so and it’s the
is called Naya guru so and it’s the third largest refugee camp in the world
third largest refugee camp in the world
third largest refugee camp in the world housing one hundred and forty thousand
housing one hundred and forty thousand
housing one hundred and forty thousand refugees which is actually three times
refugees which is actually three times
refugees which is actually three times the amount that it was built to house so
the amount that it was built to house so
the amount that it was built to house so quite literally this camp is bursting at
quite literally this camp is bursting at
quite literally this camp is bursting at the seams
the seams
the seams now the surrounding area around the camp
now the surrounding area around the camp
now the surrounding area around the camp is also one of the most impoverished and
is also one of the most impoverished and
is also one of the most impoverished and malnourished of the entire country and
malnourished of the entire country and
malnourished of the entire country and while tanzania has a lot of agricultural
while tanzania has a lot of agricultural
while tanzania has a lot of agricultural potential 80% of the population are
potential 80% of the population are
potential 80% of the population are subsistence farmers so that can create a
subsistence farmers so that can create a
subsistence farmers so that can create a lot of tensions between the camp and the
lot of tensions between the camp and the
lot of tensions between the camp and the surrounding host community so we’re
surrounding host community so we’re
surrounding host community so we’re coming in working with the World Food
coming in working with the World Food
coming in working with the World Food Programme to deploy one of our units
Programme to deploy one of our units
Programme to deploy one of our units just outside of the refugee camp so that
just outside of the refugee camp so that
just outside of the refugee camp so that we can bridge that divide and serve both
we can bridge that divide and serve both
we can bridge that divide and serve both populations collectively so the day
populations collectively so the day
populations collectively so the day arrives when we’re having this big
arrives when we’re having this big
arrives when we’re having this big meeting in the village of kalamoon Goma
meeting in the village of kalamoon Goma
meeting in the village of kalamoon Goma and all of the local leaders are there
and all of the local leaders are there
and all of the local leaders are there that World Vision is there and
that World Vision is there and
that World Vision is there and Fama’s there and of course the refugee
Fama’s there and of course the refugee
Fama’s there and of course the refugee leaders and the community leaders and
leaders and the community leaders and
leaders and the community leaders and where they’re explaining the technology
where they’re explaining the technology
where they’re explaining the technology and what can happen and what it can
and what can happen and what it can
and what can happen and what it can enable and the moment in time comes when
enable and the moment in time comes when
enable and the moment in time comes when we offer them the opportunity to name
we offer them the opportunity to name
we offer them the opportunity to name the box so they gather around this table
the box so they gather around this table
the box so they gather around this table and they deliberate for a little while
and they deliberate for a little while
and they deliberate for a little while and then they walk over and they hand us
and then they walk over and they hand us
and then they walk over and they hand us this kalamoon Goma who Sheedy keanu and
this kalamoon Goma who Sheedy keanu and
this kalamoon Goma who Sheedy keanu and we stopped when we look up or so what
we stopped when we look up or so what
we stopped when we look up or so what does it mean it’s Swahili for the spirit
does it mean it’s Swahili for the spirit
does it mean it’s Swahili for the spirit of togetherness and it was in that
of togetherness and it was in that
of togetherness and it was in that moment that I was stunned it wasn’t
moment that I was stunned it wasn’t
moment that I was stunned it wasn’t about the farming it wasn’t about the
about the farming it wasn’t about the
about the farming it wasn’t about the technology it was the togetherness that
technology it was the togetherness that
technology it was the togetherness that they honored see technology can be
they honored see technology can be
they honored see technology can be incredibly empowering it can increase
incredibly empowering it can increase
incredibly empowering it can increase efficiencies it can help us do more with
efficiencies it can help us do more with
efficiencies it can help us do more with less it can shatter previously held
less it can shatter previously held
less it can shatter previously held paradigms of what we even think is
paradigms of what we even think is
paradigms of what we even think is possible but I truly believe that if we
possible but I truly believe that if we
possible but I truly believe that if we continue to approach things the way that
continue to approach things the way that
continue to approach things the way that we are we will keep having societal and
we are we will keep having societal and
we are we will keep having societal and environmental challenges unless we
environmental challenges unless we
environmental challenges unless we approach things through the lens of
approach things through the lens of
approach things through the lens of togetherness in our small way we’re
togetherness in our small way we’re
togetherness in our small way we’re trying to bring in the infrastructure
trying to bring in the infrastructure
trying to bring in the infrastructure that can support small holder farming
that can support small holder farming
that can support small holder farming from the community level up and really
from the community level up and really
from the community level up and really build that resilience but imagine what
build that resilience but imagine what
build that resilience but imagine what we could all do if we collectively put
we could all do if we collectively put
we could all do if we collectively put together our creativity in our ingenuity
together our creativity in our ingenuity
together our creativity in our ingenuity to really solve some of the world’s most
to really solve some of the world’s most
to really solve some of the world’s most pressing challenges technology is great
pressing challenges technology is great
pressing challenges technology is great and there’s such a focus on it right now
and there’s such a focus on it right now
and there’s such a focus on it right now and there’s a duality so rather than
and there’s a duality so rather than
and there’s a duality so rather than focusing solely on exponential
focusing solely on exponential
focusing solely on exponential technologies let’s pair that together
technologies let’s pair that together
technologies let’s pair that together with exponential togetherness because
with exponential togetherness because
with exponential togetherness because it’s the union of the two where we’re
it’s the union of the two where we’re
it’s the union of the two where we’re altima League owing to transform the
altima League owing to transform the
altima League owing to transform the world so tonight I invite you to bring
world so tonight I invite you to bring
world so tonight I invite you to bring us UT Keanu this word that you’ve been
us UT Keanu this word that you’ve been
us UT Keanu this word that you’ve been introduced to into your lives and into
introduced to into your lives and into
introduced to into your lives and into your work look for the commonalities
your work look for the commonalities
your work look for the commonalities that we all share honor the diversity
that we all share honor the diversity
that we all share honor the diversity that we have because it makes us all
that we have because it makes us all
that we have because it makes us all stronger together as a unit
stronger together as a unit
stronger together as a unit technology is an enabling mechanism and
technology is an enabling mechanism and
technology is an enabling mechanism and it can be a phenomenal tool
it can be a phenomenal tool
it can be a phenomenal tool but it’s up to us to really decide how
but it’s up to us to really decide how
but it’s up to us to really decide how it is that we want to create it and use
it is that we want to create it and use
it is that we want to create it and use it for the good thank you very much
it for the good thank you very much
it for the good thank you very much [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
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