The Hot Potato Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

From food and beer, to textiles and fragrances, a vast range of industries rely on agriculture to create our favourite everyday products. Notably, farmers also use crop rotation and provide other crops to various industries. In this episode we learn how others are adopting regenerative agriculture practices and the challenges they face. Can other industries follow the potato's footsteps in farming for the future? 

Joining the discussion is Imogen Stanley and Samata Pattinson. 

Samata Pattinson, CEO of BLACK PEARL, is a prominent advocate for cultural sustainability and sustainable fashion. She has fostered collaborations with major brands and cultivated a network of sustainable fashion ambassadors for initiatives with the Oscars, whilst working with leading talent like Billie Eilish.

Imogen Stanley runs Rectory Farm in Oxfordshire with her parents, and the Stanley family have been at the farm since 1954. The farm has a popular café, farm shop, Pick Your Own, and grows many crops including potatoes that are supplied to McCain Foods.   

LINKS… 

-Learn more about Samata’s work HERE. 

-UK listeners, book your visit to Imogen’s family farm HERE. (try not to eat more than you pick!) 

-Fashion brands and organisations using Regen Ag practices: Vivobarefoot, Allbirds, Pangaia, Wool and the Gang, Farm to Closet, Textile Exchange, Detox My Fashion, 

-Check out Louise’s book ‘Avocado Anxiety’ HERE. 

This podcast is brought to you by McCain Foods. Thanks for listening! 

Presenter: Louise Gray 

Produced by Atomized Studios for McCain Foods 

Executive Producer: Faye Stewart 

Producers: Rebecca Rappaport and Chris Attaway 

Production Manager: Kaitlin Paramor 

Production Coordinator: Bella Salini 

Music: Barrie Gledden, Tim Reilly, Jason Pedder, and Alex Arcole

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In a changing climate, farms are already experiencing shifts in harvest seasons, crop yields, weather events, and more. Ensuring crops and farms are climate resilient is more important than ever. Can technology help us catch up with climate change to ‘future-proof’ our farms?  

Joining the discussion is Emily Ford and Martin Harris.  

Emily is a Nuffield Canada Scholar and Senior Agronomist at Quattro Ventures. In her daily work she works on crop production through real-time field monitoring and providing solutions for top crop performance.  

Martin is a passionate soil classification specialist and agronomist. He focuses on practices that mitigate crop production risk. With 16 years of experience in precision agriculture, Martin focuses on merging science and field practices for the benefit of the producer. 

LINKS… 

-To learn more about Quattro Ventures and the work they do, click HERE. 

-For more info on Agropedo, visit their website HERE. 

-Check out Louise’s book ‘Avocado Anxiety’ HERE. 

This podcast is brought to you by McCain Foods 

Thanks for listening! 

Presenter: Louise Gray 

Produced by Atomized Studios for McCain Foods 

Executive Producer: Faye Stewart 

Producers: Rebecca Rappaport and Chris Attaway 

Production Manager: Kaitlin Paramor 

Production Coordinator: Bella Salini 

Music: Barrie Gledden, Tim Reilly, Jason Pedder, and Alex Arcole

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The UN has predicted that 2050 will see the global population surpass nine billion. Global food production needs to increase significantly in order to feed us all.

To keep everyone fed in this changing climate, and to make sure food production can be part of slowing and even reversing temperature rise, we have to produce food in a different way.

Of course farmers and food businesses are key to this, so it was a real privilege to talk to a panel that represented both!

The Panel…

Charlie Angelakos, Vice President of Global External Affairs and Sustainability at McCain Foods

Grant F Reid, Chair of the Sustainable Markets Initiative Agribusiness Taskforce; Private Equity Partner; Board Member of Marriott International and Vanguard; and former CEO, Mars Incorporated

Susan Ainsworth, Agrologist and General Manager of the Keystone Potato Producers Association

LINKS… 

-Keep up to date with McCain on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook

-Check out Louise’s book Avocado Anxiety and follow her on Instagram and Twitter

-If you would like to read more around McCain's sustainability initiatives, you can do so HERE. And for more information about Farms of the Future, click HERE. 

-The Sustainable Markets Initiative (SMI) was set up by King Charles III to ensure that business operates in favour of people and planet. The SMI's Agribusiness Task Force, chaired by Grant Reid, is designed to accelerate Regenerative Agriculture into becoming the predominant agricultural system in the world. You can read more about the taskforce HERE.

This podcast is brought to you by McCain Foods 

Thanks for listening! 

Presenter: Louise Gray 

Produced by Atomized Studios for McCain Foods 

Executive Producer: Faye Stewart 

Producers: Rebecca Rappaport and Chris Attaway 

Production Manager: Kaitlin Paramor 

Production Coordinator: Bella Salini 

Music: Barrie Gledden, Tim Reilly, Jason Pedder, and Alex Arcole

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to the first episode of the Hot Potato Podcast: a series that grabs the burning issue of climate change with both hands and asks how regenerative agriculture can help solve the problem. 

Our food supply is heavily reliant on industrial agriculture, but current intensive farming methods cannot be sustained in the long term. Techniques used to maximize food production are having a negative effect on climate, biodiversity and soil health. We need our food supply to be sustainable in the face of an ever-changing world. So, today, we are getting to the root of it all and asking: How can we farm without harm? 

Joining the discussion is Nicole Masters and Yves Leclerc.  

Nicole is an independent agroecologist, systems thinker, storyteller and educator. With over twenty years of practical and theoretical experience in regenerative agriculture, she knows a thing or two about soil health! 

Yves is a biologist and agronomist with a PhD in Plant Physiology and Biotechnology. In his role at McCain, he is accountable for managing the company's Smart and Sustainable Farming program and is responsible for establishing their network of 'Farms of the Future' - commercial farms that aim to demonstrate the environmental and economic benefits of Regenerative Agriculture.  

LINKS…  

-If you would like to read more around McCain's sustainability initiatives, you can do so HERE. You can learn about how they’re shaping the future of sustainable farming HERE. And for more information about Farms of the Future, click HERE. 

-To learn more about Integrity soils, visit the website HERE and check out Nicole’s book ‘For the Love of Soil’ HERE. You can also see her TED Talk ‘Down and Dirty’ HERE. 

-Check out Louise’s book ‘Avocado Anxiety’ HERE. 

This podcast is brought to you by McCain Foods 

Thanks for listening! 

Presenter: Louise Gray 

Produced by Atomized Studios for McCain Foods 

Executive Producer: Faye Stewart 

Producers: Rebecca Rappaport and Chris Attaway

Production Manager: Kaitlin Paramor 

Production Coordinator: Bella Salini 

Music: Barrie Gledden, Tim Reilly, Jason Pedder, and Alex Arcoleo 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to the Hot Potato Podcast: a series that grabs the burning issue of climate change with both hands and asks how regenerative agriculture can help solve the problem.

We all know farming systems need to change to help feed the 8 billion people (and growing!) people on this planet. But how? Here on the Hot Potato Podcast, we’re starting with- who’d have thought it- the humble spud! As the third most consumed crop globally, potatoes play a vital role in how land is farmed and how people are fed.

So keep your ears peeled as, together, we chip away at the hottest challenge facing food producers today

This podcast is brought to you by McCain Foods and hosted by Louise Gray, an environmental journalist, former Environmental Correspondent for The Daily Telegraph, and author of The Ethical Carnivore and Avocado Anxiety

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of The Hot Potato Podcast, we ask the question: In a changing field, how do we engage the next generation of farmers? 

Joining the discussion is Katelyn Duban, a first-generation farmer based in Alberta, Canada and Austin Poulson, third-generation farmer and Manager of Scott Poulson Farms, Idaho. 

LINKS…

• Listen to Katelyn’s podcast, the Rural Woman Podcast, HERE.
• Follow Katelyn on Instagram, HERE.
• Learn more about Austin’s Innovation Hub farm HERE.
• Check out Louise’s book ‘Avocado Anxiety’ HERE. 

This podcast is brought to you by McCain Foods. Thanks for listening!

Presenter: Louise Gray 

Produced by Atomized Studios for McCain Foods

Executive Producer: Faye Stewart

Producer: David Levene

Editor: Chris Attaway

Production Manager: Ross Aitken

Production Coordinators: Bella Salini & Siobhan Carty

Music: Barrie Gledden, Tim Reilly, Jason Pedder, and Alex Arcole

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From Bugs to Beef! In this episode of The Hot Potato Podcast, we ask the question: What roles do animals have to play in agriculture?  

We discuss what makes a healthy farm ecosystem, and how farmers can work collaboratively to improve biodiversity. Listen to learn how animals are integral to regenerative practices and how regenerative agriculture can both benefit and help to restore wildlife. 

Joining the discussion is Hannah Jackson, also known as The Red Shepherdess, a livestock farmer who practices traditional grazing methods and Dr. Claire Whittle, Veterinarian, Nuffield Health Scholar, and Farmer. 

LINKS…

• Learn more about Hannah Jackson HERE and follow her on Instagram HERE.
• Learn more about Dr Claire Whittle HERE. 
• Check out Louise’s book ‘Avocado Anxiety’ HERE. 

This podcast is brought to you by McCain Foods. Thanks for listening!

Presenter: Louise Gray 

Produced by Atomized Studios for McCain Foods 

Executive Producer: Faye Stewart 

Producer: David Levene

Editor: Chris Attaway

Production Manager: Ross Aitken

Production Coordinators: Bella Salini & Siobhan Carty

Music: Barrie Gledden, Tim Reilly, Jason Pedder, and Alex Arcole

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to Season Two of The Hot Potato Podcast! 

We start this season by asking: how precarious is the world’s food security, and how can we improve it?  

In this episode, we discuss climate change, food insecurity, and the need for everyone in the food supply chain to work together. We also explore innovative solutions and partnerships that are helping ensure those who need food the most can get it.

Joining the discussion is Max Koeune, President and CEO of McCain Foods, Brent Preston, co-owner of The New Farm and President of the Ecological Farmers Association (Ontario), and Gillian Flies, co-owner of The New Farm and Executive Director of The New Farm Centre for Climate Action.

• Learn more about how McCain Foods supports the communities in which it operates HERE.
• Learn more about The New Farm here.
• Check out Louise’s book ‘Avocado Anxiety’ HERE. 

This podcast is brought to you by McCain Foods. Thanks for listening!

Presenter: Louise Gray 

Produced by Atomized Studios for McCain Foods 

Executive Producer: Faye Stewart 

Producer: David Levene

Editor: Chris Attaway

Production Manager: Ross Aitken

Production Coordinators: Bella Salini & Siobhan Carty

Music: Barrie Gledden, Tim Reilly, Jason Pedder, and Alex Arcole

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this final ‘Best Of’ episode of season two of The Hot Potato Podcast, we take a reflective journey through the season’s most memorable and insightful discussions. 

Throughout the season, our guests delved into a wide array of topics – from the role of animals in agriculture, engaging the next generation of farmers to ensuring global food security. Join us as we revisit the highlights!

LINKS…

• Listen to the full series HERE
• Read McCain's 2024 Sustainability Report HERE
• Check out Louise’s book ‘Avocado Anxiety’ HERE. 

This podcast is brought to you by McCain Foods. Thanks for listening!

Presenter: Louise Gray 

Produced by Atomized Studios for McCain Foods

Executive Producer: Faye Stewart

Producer: David Levene

Editor: Chris Attaway

Production Manager: Ross Aitken

Production Coordinators: Bella Salini & Siobhan Carty

Music: Barrie Gledden, Tim Reilly, Jason Pedder, and Alex Arcole

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.