Wednesday, May 15, 2019
Climate change is leading to warmer temperatures and more frequent and intensive storms. These and other impacts will grow stronger over the coming decades, influencing the future of Midwest agribusiness. But how? Join us to explore how climate change is impacting, and will impact, the conditions for agribusiness—and the new business opportunities it is creating for investors and innovators in this sector.
The workshop will include two panels. The first, moderated by HBS Professor Forest Reinhardt, will explore what climate change will mean for food prices and availability, and agribusiness investor opportunities. The second, moderated by HBS Professor Jose Alvarez, will explore the steps that leading business innovators are taking to seize opportunities and enhance the sustainability of their businesses in this dynamic landscape. Enjoy conversation and a networking reception with fellow alumni and the Chicago Fed community following the two panels.
This event is organized by the Harvard Business School (HBS) Business & Environment Initiative (BEI), HBS Club of Chicago, and the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. It is part of a series of discussions that HBS is organizing around the country concerning the role of business leaders in the age of climate change.
AGENDA: 3:00 - 6:00 PM
3:00 Registration and Networking
3:30 Expert Panel
Climate change: Impacts for Midwest Agribusiness
HBS Prof. Forest Reinhardt, Moderator
Alesha Black, Managing Director, Global Food and Agriculture Program, Chicago Council on Global Affairs
David Oppedahl, Senior Business Economist, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago
Bluford (Blu) H. Putnam, Ph.D., Chief Economist & Managing Director, CME Group
4:30 Practitioner panel followed by Q&A
Business Perspectives on Climate Risks and Opportunities for Midwest Agribusiness
HBS Prof. Jose Alvarez, Moderator
Charles Baron (MBA 2013), Co-Founder, Farmers Business Network
Heidi Grossman (MBA 2018), more info coming soon
Nicole Johnson-Hoffman, Chief Sustainability Officer and Senior Vice President, OSI Group
Will Tynan (MBA 2016), Co-Founder Lotic Labs
5:30 pm Networking Reception
SPEAKER BIOGRAPHIES:
Panel #1: Climate Change: Impacts for Midwest Agribusiness
The first panel will explore what climate change will mean for food prices and availability, and agribusiness investor opportunities.
HBS Professor Forest Reinhardt, Moderator
John D. Black Professor; Unit Head, Business, Government and the International Economy
Forest Reinhardt teaches regularly in the HBS Agribusiness Seminar, and he teaches an MBA elective course called “Food and Agribusiness,” which uses case studies from all over the world to examine the ways in which people raise plants and animals and the ways in which food is transported, processed, distributed, marketed, and consumed. Professor Reinhardt is interested in the relationships between market and nonmarket strategy, the relations between government regulation and corporate strategy, the behavior of private and public organizations that manage natural resources, and the economics of externalities and public goods.
Alesha Black, Managing Director, Global Food and Agriculture Program, Chicago Council on Global Affairs
In her current role, Alesha Black oversees research publications, public events on food security and nutrition, and represents the Council externally. From 2007 to 2015 she worked at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in multiple roles, ranging from strategic partnerships with bilateral governments and UN agencies to managing a grant portfolio working to connect smallholder farmers to better market opportunities in sub-Saharan Africa. Black also co-led internal activities to link nutrition and agriculture programs, developed the first gender strategy, and supported advocacy activities to raise the profile of smallholder agriculture globally.
David Oppedahl, Senior Business Economist, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago
David Oppedahl conducts research on the agricultural sector and rural development, as well as analyzing business conditions and the regional economy. He directs the Chicago Federal Reserve District's survey of agricultural banks on agricultural land values and credit conditions and publishes the results in AgLetter—the Chicago Fed's quarterly agricultural publication. In addition to his research, he regularly briefs the Chicago Fed's president on the agricultural economy and organizes the annual agriculture conference. Before starting his career at the Chicago Fed as an associate economist in 1998, Oppedahl was a consultant in the economic research department at the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas.
Bluford (Blu) H. Putnam, Ph.D., Chief Economist & Managing Director, CME Group
Blu Putnam is the Chief Economist and Managing Director at CME Group, the operator of futures and options exchanges around the world. He is responsible for leading economic analysis on global financial, commodity, and agricultural markets. Blu’s career has ranged from central banking to investment research to portfolio management. Blu regularly publishes research reports on the global economy and markets, as well as providing video and podcast content for CME’s web site. He has six books on international finance and portfolio management to his credit as well as many academic articles, in such journals as The American Economic Review, the Journal of Finance, American Statistical Association, and the Journal of Applied Corporate Finance, among others
Panel #2: Business Perspectives on Climate Risks and Opportunities for Midwest Agribusiness
The second panel will explore the steps that leading business innovators are taking to enhance the sustainability of their businesses in this dynamic landscape.
HBS Professor José Alvarez, Moderator
José Alvarez has written extensively about the global food system and retailing since he joined the HBS faculty in 2009. Prior to HBS, Mr. Alvarez was President and Chief Executive Officer of Stop & Shop/Giant-Landover from April 2006 through July 2008. José joined Stop and Shop, a subsidiary of Royal Ahold NV, in 2001. Prior to his tenure as President and CEO, José was Executive Vice President of Supply Chain and Logistics for the company. He also served as the Senior Vice President Logistics and Vice President of Strategic Initiatives. José Alvarez has almost 20 years of experience in the supermarket industry and has held management positions in a variety of functional areas.
Charles Baron (MBA 2013), Co-Founder, Farmers Business Network, is using modern tools—from cloud computing to machine-learning to force transparency on an agrarian sector long structured around that kind of one-sided knowledge. The Farmers Business Network (FBN), co-founded by Baron, agriculture investor and entrepreneur Amol Deshpande, and several farmers, has emerged in a period of particular crisis for the American farmer.
Nicole Johnson-Hoffman, Chief Sustainability Officer and Senior Vice President for OSI Group, is responsible for the development of OSI’s global sustainability strategy. She provides leadership and direction to OSI’s global team, and collaborates with OSI’s customers, employees and other stakeholders to achieve OSI’s strategic intent regarding sustainability. Nicole also leads OSI’s global business with its largest foodservice customer, proudly responsible for supplying protein and other foods to restaurants in over 16 countries. Nicole was the founding Chairperson of the US Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, and currently serves as the President of the Global Roundtable for Sustainable Beef. She is a passionate advocate for agriculture and for continuous improvement in the industry’s ability to feed the world sustainably.
Will Tynan (MBA 2016), Co-Founder Lotic Labs, is the CEO and co-founder of Lotic Labs, a technology platform powering watershed investment and climate risk mitigation for municipalities, industrials, and agricultural water users. He previously worked as a management consultant at Refinery Leadership Partners, a boutique international firm serving industrial clients. Will led engagements across the Americas, including with a large-scale Chilean water resource project. He launched several new offerings during his tenure and also headed U.S. operations. Will serves as an independent advisor for early stage technology firms.
EVENT DETAILS:
Limited Seating - RSVP Right Away
Date: Wednesday, May 15, 2019
Time: 3:00-6:00 pm
Location: Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago
230 S. La Salle St., Moskow Auditorium, Chicago
Cost: This event is free
Advance Registration Required. Photo ID must be presented at security
Other details: Light snacks and beverages provided
