As Covid-19 moved across borders, various countries faced challenges with food as supply chains were abruptly cut. Even as farms were forced to throw away hundreds of tonnes of produce, many people, especially those in need, were facing food shortages.

It was an exaggerated glimpse into what the world was already facing before the pandemic struck. The business of food failing the basic function of food – which is to feed.

Our guests today look at inequity and imbalance through the lens of our food system, while calling for change in the future of our society.  Because what if we  aren’t what we eat, but how we eat?

Sunny Verghese is co-founder and group CEO of Olam International, Elaine Heng is CEO of Retail Business of Singapore’s largest grocery retailer – FairPrice Group, and Carolyn Steel is an author, researcher and thought leader on food sustainability and urban systems.

They were part of the DBS Asian Insights Conference 2020, on the panel ‘Food for All – Building a Food-secure Future’, with Mikkel Larsen, Chief Sustainability Officer at DBS moderating.

For the full transcript visit go.dbs.com/futuretense-ep4

01:45 “Today, the global food and agricultural system is clearly broken”

07:07 A free market has produced a system where cheap food is the expectation.

10:00 Are consumers actually willing to pay for better food?

12:03 If countries are willing to change, why aren’t we seeing it happen?

14:37 A new vision of a good life

17:29 Growing each of our environmental intelligence to make the change we need

Guests:

Sunny Verghese, co-founder and group CEO of Olam International

Elaine Heng is CEO (Retail Business) FairPrice Group

Carolyn Steel, author, researcher and thought leader on food sustainability and urban systems