Kind Earth.Tech goes Virtual
KindEarth.Tech 2019 saw the cell-based community come together in the science museum, NEMO, in Amsterdam on a hot, sunny day last August, to share all the exciting discoveries they had made since the inaugural event in San Francisco, in January. We heard from Lisa Dyson from Kiverdi who is making protein out of landfills, Benjamina Bollag from Higher Steaks on growing specific cuts of meat from cells, and Lori Goff from Outlander Materials who makes plastic out of beer waste! We sailed on canal boats whilst we heard from Didier Touba from Aleph Farms on the evolution of meat and Claire Smith on the importance of investment into this sector to change animal agriculture forever and where it sits within the SDGs.
It was my first KET experience and unlike any other I’ve been to - the boats, the weather, the people, and some creative magic - we were encouraged to consider whether we would eat “celebrity meat” whilst chowing down on expertly rolled plant-based sushi, and the warm, fuzzy feeling that you get when you’re with value-aligned, creative people, made it 3 days I’ll always remember!
This year, I’m actively involved in helping to organise the KET Virtual 2020, a necessary adaptation to our planned event where we have incorporated some of that same KET magic with some of the most innovative and disruptive new startups on the planet. We have Josh Tetrick from Eat Just taking us for “Breakfast in America”, the first cell-based “meat for the braai” startup, Mzansi Meats joining us (you can get a taster on our newly launched KETcast), and you can join an exclusive session with Sonalie and Sandhya in Singapore who will be talking us through growing sustainable seafood and how innovation in Asia is taking off. Here in Europe, you’ll find out why the Netherlands is stealthily becoming the Silicon Valley of Food from Tjeerd de Groot, the Head of the Animal Agriculture Commission within the Dutch government, and we unveil some amazing new research from Cor Van Der Weele on how farming can become more sustainable.
As you might expect, there will be some surprises thrown in and with 11 hours of content across 4 timezones and 65 speakers and 7 hosts, there is plenty to get involved in. Naturally, I will be holding a session on building sustainable teams for the future and hosting the Asian and European waiting rooms to help all run as smoothly as possible. Ira and Olivia have done it again and both will be popping up throughout the event with their brand of kooky fun, and interesting art, and visionary talks so make sure you clear your diary and find a comfortable chair (and space to exercise!).
There is definitely something special about the KET community and I can’t wait for those warm and fuzzy feelings to come flooding back! This year has been challenging for most of us and a dose of creativity, innovation and magic served up in a KET-shaped spoon is just what I need right now!