TCA Accelerator 245d ago

From October 2024 to February 2025, 79 experts from around the world gathered in six virtual workshops to review TCA efforts to date as well as identify the barriers and solutions to broader TCA implementation. The TCA Dialogue Series covered policy, private sector implementation, finance and investment, evaluation methods and tools, communications and advocacy, and alignment between the TCA community and other social and environmental initiatives. In this session, co-leads of the TCA Dialogue Series will share the highlights from these workshops in lightning-talk style. Speakers: Amanda Jekums - Senior Program Manager, Global Alliance for the Future of Food Amanda is a resourceful strategist, with over 15 years of experience accelerating the work of public and non-profit institutions by helping them to effectively leverage their knowledge, resources, and networks to achieve more sustainable and equitable outcomes. She has degrees in design and in food and nutrition, with graduate studies in economics and food security. Lauren Baker - Deputy Director, Global Alliance for the Future of Food A systems thinker, skilled facilitator, and practical problem-solver, Lauren has worked for over 20 years in non-profit, government, academic, business, and philanthropic contexts. Lauren is Deputy Director of the Global Alliance for the Future of Food. With Global Alliance members and partners, Lauren leads the program strategy and supports diverse organizations and initiatives including the True Cost Accounting Accelerator, Transformational Investing in Food Systems, and the Agroecology Coalition, to address global challenges related to climate, biodiversity, food security, and equity. Oliver Oliveros - Coordinator, Agroecology Coalition Prior to his role as the Coordinator of the Agroecology Coalition, Oliver was the interim Executive Director of the Global Alliance for the Future of Food.  Oliver previously worked as the Deputy Director, Partnerships and International Relations at Agropolis Fondationt.  He worked as the Global Coordinator of the DURAS Project (2004-2008) which aimed to promote dialogue between the scientific and civil society communities and transform such process into research collaboration. He was formerly with the Secretariat of the Global Forum on Agricultural Research (GFAR) in FAO in Rome (1999-2004). Priya Motupalli - Programme Manager, Agricultural Livelihoods Portfolio, IKEA Foundation Dr. Priya Motupalli is a programme manager at the IKEA Foundation where she develops and manages partnerships that enable inclusive, regenerative, and circular food systems. Prior to joining the Foundation, she developed the first holistic sustainable agriculture strategy for the IKEA business and advised teams on emerging sustainability areas including biodiversity and just transitions. She started her career in steel-toed boots—providing technical assistance on farm as an NGO scientist and furthering our understanding of farmed animal behaviour while in academia. Reinier de Adelhart Toorop - Head of Research, Impact Institute Reinier researches impact at Impact Institute, leading the development of new impact methodology and making them open source where possible. He has published 10+ publications on impact measurement, including a review article on True Cost Accounting in Nature Food. Previously he was Research Associate at Roland Berger Strategy Consultants, focused on the energy and transportation sectors. Reinier holds a PhD in Theoretical Particle Physics from Leiden University with reserach at CERN and the University of Padova. In a previous life, Reinier was a world champion in debating (category English as a Second Language) and a silver medalist at the International Biology Olympiad. Tim Crosby - Co-Founder and Chair, Transformational Investing in Food Systems (TIFS) Tim Crosby is Principal of the Thread Fund, a family office focused on developing systemic investing pathways that use multiple forms of capital to generate social and environmental returns alongside financial returns. Additionally Tim is a Steering Committee Member of GAFF, Co-Founder and Chair of TIFS Initiative, Member Agroecology Fund and has served on many other boards. Tim's previous work includes Advisor UN FAO, Co-Chair Sustainable Agriculture and Food System Funders, Manager Cascadia Foodshed Financing Project, Director Slow Money Northwest, and 15 years as a professional photographer and graphic designer. Urvashi Rangan - Chief Science Advisor, GRACE Communications Foundation Dr. Urvashi Rangan is the Chief Science Advisor for the GRACE Communications Foundation. As an environmental health scientist and toxicologist, Urvashi specializes in conducting scientific investigation, policy analysis, and risk/benefit communication around food safety and sustainability. She also has expertise in food safety issues, food labeling, risk assessment, and sustainable production practices.