Engaging the private sector

Engaging businesses in food systems brings essential expertise and innovation for driving sustainable change.

Partnering with the private sector is critical to bolster sustainable supply chains, enhance sustainable farming practices, improve market access, shape consumer behavior, and direct financial investments toward unlocking the potential of sustainable food solutions. Partnerships between the Swette Center and industry are well underway to leverage our strengths in building resilient and inclusive food systems.

Advancing water conservation across Arizona farmland

With support from the Water Infrastructure Finance Authority of Arizona, the Swette Center is partnering with the ASU Center for Hydrologic Innovations and Phoenix-based soil health company MyLand to lead a major water conservation initiative across 2,400 acres of Arizona farmland.

Through this project, growers are gaining access to MyLand’s innovative Soil as a Service™ technology, which uses live, native microalgae to regenerate soil, enhance water retention, and improve crop yields. The Swette Center is leading outreach efforts by hosting on-farm demonstration days to show how this technology can boost water efficiency and advance sustainability.

Comparing the true cost of edible plant oils

Edible oils are widely used across the food industry, but they can have a vast range of impacts on human health, environmental sustainability, and social well-being. Some oils are more nutritious than others. Some require more water or energy to produce. And some are tied to broader concerns, such as deforestation and forced labor.

To better understand these trade-offs, our researchers examined the production and consumption of three globally important edible plant oils: palm, rapeseed, and coconut. By using existing life cycle assessment data within a TCA framework, the team quantified and, where possible, monetized the environmental and nutritional impacts associated with each oil.

USDA Grants and Loans Guide for Private Businesses

While the USDA offers many opportunities for funding and support, the Swette Center recognizes that it can be difficult to navigate grant and loan programs, and even more challenging to understand what you are eligible for and how to apply. We created this guide to demystify the process for the business community. It breaks down available grants and loans for private businesses with brief descriptions and hyperlinks to program websites where more can be learned. 

Forum series: Future of food

During the 2018-19 academic year, the Swette Center hosted five forums on the future of food. In these forums, leaders explored a range of issues, from new industry dynamics, to agtech innovations, global food security challenges, ecosystem services, and more. These events provided insights for policymakers in Washington, DC and allowed them to explore, through high-level conversations, cutting edge topics that can transform the food and agriculture sector.

The first forum featured three panelists from the private sector: James Rogers, CEO of Apeel Sciences, Brad Figel, Vice President of Mars, Inc, and Allison Kopf, CEO of Artemis. The question and answer session was energetic as people were clearly fascinated with the cutting edge initiatives undertaken by industry. Altogether, this event was a great launch of the Swette Center in Washington, DC.