Aruna’s Post

Over the last five years, my favorite thing about the holiday season has been the opportunity to reflect on the past year. This year, I want to share some of my reflections...   Since LinkedIn is a professional platform, I had mostly used it to “consume” information related to agriculture. I would occasionally re-post an Ag related article.  A few times I would even add my own commentary.   But just over a month ago I wrote and shared an original post that went viral… at least compared to anything else I had ever posted.     But it wasn’t about agriculture. It was about a beauty pageant! 👸   It was no ordinary beauty pageant... but a beauty pageant nevertheless.   Yet that was enough to ignite in me a desire to continue writing and sharing publicly about things that are important to me. (read that post to understand why a beauty pageant could be so important... 🇳🇮)   Because of that post I have now committed to writing (producing) in public and have started a Spanish language newsletter directed at farmers and exporters called Tinto.   As a result, I am learning more about the coffee industry and feel even more engaged at work. I more consciously appreciate the great work that my organization and its leadership are accomplishing. And I feel more connected to my tribe in the coffee industry. ☕   I do not expect any of my agriculture related posts or Tinto to ever be as popular as my beauty pageant post.    But my personal sense of purpose and mission has been rekindled because I sense that I am adding value to a segment that is underserved… independent exporters and farmers in Latin America.    ---- Here are some of my favorite insights from last year which I intend to continue putting into action:   1.    Just as you wouldn’t expect to be a master pianist 🎹 after the first couple of lessons, you shouldn’t expect to be a great writer of posts after just getting started. But that shouldn’t hold you back. Only by doing will you get better. #BuildInPublic   2.    It’s better to be a “producer” than a “consumer” (from MJ DeMarco). Most people are only consumers…whether of physical products or, especially, of social media. Social media platforms are designed to hook you in and keep you scrolling mindlessly as a form of entertainment or distraction.  Instead, be a producer. 👷♂️  Be more intentional of what you consume so that you become a better producer. #ProducerMindset   3.    My favorite article of the year is “How to Do Great Work” by Paul Graham. It’s a very long article, but well worth a slow and deliberate read.  Full of wisdom, here are the two insights that most resonate with me and that give me fuel into 2024: -"Great work happens by focusing consistently on something you're genuinely interested in." -"Morale compounds via work: high morale helps you do good work, which increases your morale and helps you do even better work." ---- What have you learned this year? #yearendreflections

Our article on freshplaza. 🔝🥝🐞🇵🇹🔜

Engaging in meaningful conversations is always inspiring, especially when it involves a bit of trash talk! My latest article in Edible Marin & Wine Country Spring issue explores the "Conversations Worth Having" at Barndiva in Healdsburg. If you're intrigued and want to learn how to walk the talk, check out the article online or in print. Let's keep the conversation going! #EdibleMarin #WineCountry #ConversationsWorthHaving #Barndiva #Sustainability

Why do my potato plants make me feel content, even happy? These potatoes grown in the wooden raised beds that I made, they are fed by homemade compost and from wild seaweed collected after a storm from the local beach and laid thickly on the soil in the winter. The seed potatoes are planted in traditional raised ridges. They grow just outside my garden office, so every coffee and fresh air break I take, it's the potatoes I see first. So why the feeling of pleasure? Perhaps, it's the satisfaction of seeing the potatoes grow from seed.... Perhaps its the holistic process where humans and nature combine together Perhaps it's an ancient relationship to the soil that makes me feel grounded... Perhaps its the aesthetic beauty of the bright green against the rich brown soil.... Or as Emma Steenson reminds me, perhaps it’s the future hope of eating delicious freshly dug spuds #Composting The Eco-Leadership Institute runs events and courses and we invite our participants to do a lot of 'composting'. Reflection is too much about being in the head, composting is our word that brings reflection together with our bodily experience; its creating a space that allows the unconscious and the body and our feelings to speak to us It's a kind of pre-thinking that allows diverse particles of knowledge, feelings and experience to mix, to entangle, to break down and recreate something new. Different parts mature together, and like the compost in my green bins, rich nutrients, new ideas and learnings are nourished and they grow.. I find myself composting past and present, natural and human, wild seaweed and human created garden, physical labour and mental labour, feelings and thought and experiences.... Perhaps the potatoes make me happy because thats where I do my composting; breathing fresh air between my zoom calls, emails and writing. To enquire about our events and courses and to learn how to compost and weave with international colleagues, cross fertilising ideas and experience DM me #leadershipdevelopment #coaching #humanresources #potatoes #compost

This week, we decided to try Soilmates, an innovative product that aims to reduce food waste and by doing that, contribute to a better planet🌎♻️. Soilmates use ugly avocados that don’t make it to the supermarket to make their healthy avocado oil.🥑By doing this, Soilmates want to prove that beauty comes from the inside! (𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴𝘯’𝘵 𝘢 𝘱𝘢𝘪𝘥 𝘢𝘥, 𝘸𝘦 𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘶𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘰𝘭 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘬 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵😎) Have you come across any cool, innovative products that are sustainable and planet-conscious? Share them with us – we love trying out and talking about new ideas! #SustainableLiving #Innovation #ProductReview #MarketResearch #Amsterdam #ConversationStudio #nomorecrappyproducts

It's been a month since I joined Foodvalley NL as an interim content manager! A big thank you to the team for the warm welcome! Foodvalley brings together everyone involved in the food transition, which is essential for creating a more sustainable and equitable food system that supports the health and well-being of people and the planet. My first project was to build the online Position Paper on Upcycled Food & Ingredients. While working on the CMS part, I learned a lot about upcycling! I invite you to read the paper to understand more about it, or download the Executive Summary for a quick overview before diving into the chapters. Check out the "Showcases of Frontrunners" section to discover companies turning food-grade biomass into higher-value and often healthier products. Link in the first comment ;)

🗣 Some months ago, I attended a talk by Soledad Barruti, an Argentine journalist who specializes in environment (more precisely on sustainable food), and Dario Sztajnszrajber, an Argentine philosopher. The name of the talk was “Eat, Think, Love” and it was about deconstructing this concepts. 🌿I liked how they talked about stories and myths that have existed in our society for centuries. Within those myths, they talked about our relation to the environment. 🍄 Barruti presented a quite illustrative example. She mentioned that she got a kit to grow her own mushrooms at home. She described the magical process of seeing them grow and turn into beautiful plants. 🌱 When the time to harvest them came, her daughter asked her “are you going to kill her?” and she couldn’t do it. The next morning, the floor was covered in a white dust. It seems that the mushrooms have a specific way of propagating by liberating spores. 💡 Barruti then explained how a very simple experiment at home allowed her to witness a process that is very common in nature. By doing this, she was more connected to the environment. She invited the audience to have this type of experiences to be somehow more connected to nature, to the world in which we live. 🍃 I think that this story was absolutely beautiful. As a translator, I tend to speak several hours at home in front of a computer and I sometimes feel disconnected from the surrounding world. Barruti’s presentation made me think about how, by small actions, we can become more connected to nature. 💭What do you think about this? Do you do things like composting or growing vegetables at home? Are there any things that make you feel more connected to nature? #Environment #Sustainablefood #SoledadBarruti #DarioSztajnszrajber Picture: Pixabay

Islands: Our Launchpads for a Food Revolution Imagine a world where islands, scattered gems across the vast blue, become beacons of circularity, transforming food waste into food security. That's the audacious dream driving BetterFly, and our passion burns brightest on these very shores. Why islands? It's not just about pristine beaches and turquoise waters. Islands embody the challenges of our future: limited resources, vulnerability to climate change, and dependence on external systems. Yet, their very isolation becomes their strength. They are microcosms of possibility, allowing us to test, refine, and perfect our circular food system – a system where food waste transforms into food creation. Black soldier flies are our magic ingredient. These tireless larvae devour what others discard, turning scraps into protein-rich feed for fish and animals. The leftover frass becomes nutrient-rich fertilizer, nourishing the soil for island farms. And when the cycle nears its end, biogas fuels homes and communities, closing the loop with clean energy. This isn't just about efficiency; it's about empowerment. We train and equip islanders to manage their own waste, creating jobs, income, and food security independence. By reducing reliance on imported food, we shrink food miles, minimizing environmental impact and ensuring islanders have access to fresh, healthy food. More than just technology, BetterFly is a beacon of hope. On these islands, we're building a model for a future where waste disappears, replaced by resilient communities thriving on circularity. Imagine a world where every island becomes a testament to our power to transform, a ripple effect spreading across the globe, one waste-free bite at a time. Join us. Be inspired. Together, let's rewrite the story of food, starting on the shores of possibility.

LIVE: Talk about creating sustainability through food system recovery together with "Dr. Sirikul Lakaikul" joins the exchange of ideas, food 🌎 system, food 🔥 system, boiling world Check this out: https://lnkd.in/g_gpV36x

Break ‘Em Up!! Watch the trailer now! Our 2024 Symposium is going deep into the rapid, corporate consolidation we’re all seeing in the #FoodSystem and pulling the threads on what this reality will bring to farmers, eaters, and citizens. Is Big Ag dictating how food is being grown? And if so, is it truly “climate smart” or are they shaping what that term means for their own financial gain? Do we really have choices on supermarket shelves? Are unchecked monopolies (and monopsonies) in the food system making it harder and harder to find real organic food, even outside of grocery chains,  if that’s what a citizen wants? Is there a future for a #SmallFarmRevolution and direct sales everywhere? How does urbanization and the gutting of rural America factor into this idea? We hope that you’ll join us for both of our afternoon sessions on Sunday March 17 and Sunday April 7, from 3 to 5pm ET. Speakers include: Vandana Shiva, Michael Pollan, Zephyr Teachout, Eliot Coleman, Alice Waters, Dan Barber, Regi Haslett-Marroquin, Seth Godin, Liz Carlisle, Miguel Altieri, Hans Herren, and more.⁠ Follow the link in our bio and use promo code WAKEUP to save 20% on a ticket to our 2024 Symposium before the week is up!⁠ ⁠ (Our Early Bird pricing ends at midnight ET on Saturday February, 24.)⁠ ⁠ Your ticket includes: interactive viewing, real time chat discussions, live breakouts, and access to both session recordings.⁠ ⁠ ⁠  #Organic #OrganicFood #OrganicFarming  https://lnkd.in/guVMRHky