Building a Transparent and Regenerative Food System with Shawn Kemp of the Non-GMO Project

In this episode, Joni sits down with Shawn Kemp, the Information Systems Renewal Officer at the Non-GMO Project, to discuss the intersection of technology, regeneration, and community building in transforming the food system. Shawn shares his unique upbringing in an off-grid environment and how it shaped his passion for sustainable food systems. He explains the modernization efforts at the Non-GMO Project to enhance transparency and trust within the food supply chain.

Shawn also introduces the Food Integrity Collective, a new initiative that goes beyond non-GMO verification to address broader issues like nutrient density, packaging, and the treatment of workers in food production. The conversation dives into the importance of decentralization in building trust, technology's role in scaling these efforts, and the challenges of balancing transparency, cost, and accessibility for small producers.

Key Topics Discussed:

• Shawn Kemp's journey from a sustainable upbringing to a career in technology and food systems.
• How the Non-GMO Project is using technology to empower communities with data on food integrity.
• The concept of decentralization and its importance in building trust in food systems.
• Introduction to the Food Integrity Collective and its goals for a more holistic approach to food systems.
• The challenges of balancing transparency, cost, and access, particularly for small producers.
• How technology can help ensure more transparency in the food system without driving up costs.
• The importance of community in validating food practices and building trust at a local level.

Resources Mentioned:

• Non-GMO Project
• Food Integrity Collective

Connect with Shawn Kemp:

• LinkedIn: Shawn Kemp

Subscribe & Review:
If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave us a rating on your favorite podcast platform. Share this episode with your friends and family to spread the word about the important work happening at the Non-GMO Project and the Food Integrity Collective.

Regenerative by design is hosted by Snacktivist. Snacktivist creates baking mixes and finished products that are allergy-friendly, soil, water, and carbon-focused, all while radically impacting human nutrition by transforming staple foods into something more than just empty calories. Visit snacktivistfoods.com to learn more.

Funding for Regenerative By Design Podcast was made possible by a grant/cooperative agreement from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the USDA.