Leadership Summits are experiential interactive conferences that explore challenges and emerging solutions in the food system and the leadership required to engage across organizations, sectors and regions to implement sustainable solutions. Our Leadership Summits are held every other year in unique locations and include learning journeys. Check our events page, for information about upcoming Leadership Summits.
Read the 2018 Leadership Summit Report
The 2018 Leadership Summit began with 2-day learning journeys to see different crops and food systems in Mexico, followed by a 1.5 day synthesis meeting in the Reforma District of Mexico City.
The theme was “Leadership for Resilient Agriculture: What business models, leadership capacities and collaborative strategies are needed to build resilient farms and value chains?” Sponsors included the Mexican Ministry of Agriculture SAGARPA, as well as several leading food and beverage companies and civil society leaders.
Organizations brought experiences, challenges, and lessons from around the world. If you have been to a Sustainable Food Lab Summit before, you know that these events are designed to deepen learning and relationships. The Food Lab is big on conversation, especially when we get to take advantage of diverse perspectives. Our sense of urgency leads us to focus on tough challenges and leave promotional presentations for other meetings.
Read the 2016 Leadership Summit Report
The 2016 Food Lab Leadership Summit was held November 6-10 in Arusha, Tanzania.
At the Summit, we took a closer look into the overall agricultural development future in East Africa, delving together into scenarios about how our food system can evolve in the face of rapid population growth, climate change, and volatile global markets.
The Summit began with two-day Learning Journeys in the field. These journeys were opportunities for participants to learn together from a range of large and small farming systems and business leaders. The Food Lab has refined a learning journey methodology over the past dozen years, widely acclaimed and copied because participants consistently learn more together than would be possible individually.