Welcome to edition three of Clima, the thought leadership series brought to you by IGS. Our theme for this edition focuses on the supply chain of the future and how the concept of ‘farm to fork’ is developing in response to changing consumer demands and the global challenges that have arisen as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The resilience of global supply chains has been tested to the limit throughout 2020 thus far and, in many cases, it has been found wanting. With an ever-growing global population and more and more mouths to feed each day, it is vital that we find sustainable and reliable means through which to guarantee food security. For many, this is a question of moving from a globalised approach to a far more localised one, with a clear focus on provenance, quality and reducing reliance on complex and far reaching supply chains.

In this edition, we travel across the globe, with our interviewees sharing perspectives from New Zealand and the USA respectively. We are joined by Auckland-based Global Head of Agribusiness for KPMG, Ian Proudfoot, to discuss the changing face of global food supply chains, including the growing consumer interest in provenance. From the vantage point of a geographically isolated nation, he cautions against over reliance on import and export markets and emphasises the importance of countries working to develop sustainable domestic food systems that prioritise resilience and accessibility.

We also are very pleased to welcome Sanjeev Krishnan, Managing Director of Seed to Growth Ventures (S2G), a Chicago-based multi-stage food and agriculture venture fund and one of our Series A investors. He shares his views on ways in which food production supply chains are continuing to evolve, and the technology, innovation and changing consumer attitudes that are driving this change.

Through Clima, our aim is to share a broad range of thought-provoking, relevant and innovative perspectives across our network and beyond. We hope that you find this latest edition interesting and would welcome your feedback.

Best wishes,

David Farquhar, CEO, IGS