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Nancy Trent is a writer and speaker, a lifelong health advocate, a globe-trotting trend watcher and the founder and president of Trent & Company, a New York-based public relations and marketing communications firm. Trent & Company has a client roster of text book case studies of products, venues, books, films and experts in healthy lifestyles spanning traditional and alternative disciplines for wellness, beauty, fitness, nutrition and the environment.

Navigating the Evolving Sustainability Landscape

Keith Bearden, CEO of Alter Eco, shared perspectives from the Sustainable Foods Summit

February 21, 2025

Nancy Trent

Green globe on the moss in the green forest Environmental concept, ecology and sustainable environment of the world. Icons scattered around green globe — Getty Images

Keith Bearden, CEO of Alter Eco, recently attended the Sustainable Foods Summit North America, an influential gathering dedicated to advancing sustainability in the food industry, held this year in San Francisco, CA, in January.

Hosted as part of the Sustainable Foods Summit series, the event brings together leaders from natural and organic food sectors to tackle some of the industry's most pressing challenges. From the evolution of eco-labeling to the promise of regenerative agriculture, upcycled foods, and circular economies, the summit serves as a platform for meaningful discussions and actionable solutions.

For Bearden, the Summit was an opportunity to explore innovations that align with his company Alter Eco’s mission to restore ecosystems, improve livelihoods, and reduce waste. Alter Eco is a sustainable food company known for its organic, Fair Trade-certified chocolate, granola, and quinoa, all crafted with a commitment to regenerative agriculture, carbon neutrality, and ethical sourcing. As the leader of a company that champions these values, Bearden left the summit inspired and equipped with new insights on how to amplify the positive impact of sustainable practices in the industry.

In this exclusive Q&A, Bearden reflects on his key takeaways from the summit, shares how Alter Eco is navigating the evolving sustainability landscape, and offers advice for retailers and manufacturers committed to making a difference.

What motivated you to attend the Sustainability Summit, and what were your expectations going into the event?

Bearden: Given our commitment to sustainability, I'm always eager to learn of new initiatives and breakthroughs in regenerative farming, sustainable packaging, new regulations, etc. I also know that regenerative farming is maturing, and the definitions are solidifying so it was important for me to stay on top of these changes.

What was the most surprising or impactful insight you gained at the summit?

Bearden: I think the most surprising was some of the data that was shared regarding how we are "consuming" the planet. The data shared by the Global Footprint Network shows that our demand for ecological resources and services in a given year is more than the Earth can regenerate. In fact, the data actually showed that we are consuming 1.7 Earths every year.

AI's impact on sustainability was a hot topic at the event. What are your thoughts on how it will impact your business.

Bearden: There is absolutely no question that AI is going to impact everyone and especially businesses including Alter Eco. Some of the more innovative uses of AI that were discussed are how to trace and provide more transparency in the supply chain. Also with the new regulations taking effect in Europe around imports (specifically that imports of certain products cannot come from land that has been deforested), AI is going to be utilized to track the products and with the use of satellite technology, AI can interpret where the products came from and if the land is sustainably farmed.

The summit emphasized empowering farmers and workers in sustainable supply chains. What insights did you take away about the connection between ethical practices and sustainability goals?

Bearden: These goals are completely intertwined. It was pointed out numerous times that with many commodities, like cacao, skyrocketing in price, the farmers could short cut the sustainable practices and just sell their products to the highest bidder. Therefore, it's critical that companies like ours, not only pay a fair price and in most cases a premium, but also have to work with the farmers to convince them of the importance of sustainability and the impact on the planet.

What role do you think eco-labeling schemes, like organic and FairTrade certifications, play in driving consumer trust and advancing sustainable business models?

Bearden: There was a presentation from the USDA regarding organic labeling and they shared that 71% of consumers trust the label USDA Organic and will actually pay more for products labeled organic. They also shared that Fair Trade is similarly trustworthy but less than USDA Organic. However, during this conference, there was a significant amount of discussion on labeling associated regenerative. There is a lot of confusion and no real clarity even on the definition of Regenerative Agriculture. And as such, consumers don't have much trust or faith in these labels at this point. I believe this will change over time, but it will take education and emphasis on a consistent and understandable definition around regenerative and the impact it has on the world.

How do you see the future of sustainable food production evolving, and what role will innovation and collaboration play in accelerating these changes?

Bearden: As I pointed out earlier, we consume 1.7 earths per year. This definitely isn't sustainable. We have to turn this trend around to where we are not only consuming in a more conscious manner, but also that we are producing sustainably as opposed to destructively. Innovations like AI will help but at the end of the day, it's the farmers that have to be committed to these initiatives. It's the role of companies like Alter Eco to ensure that we work directly with the farmers to educate them, pay them a living wage and to emphasize the need for sustainable farming. It's also critical to keep the younger generations involved in farming to ensure a future food system. The average age of a cacao farmer in Latin America is 63. This in and of itself isn't sustainable so again, education, wages and collaboration are critically important to continue to feed the planet.

Balancing affordability with ethical and sustainable practices is a significant challenge. What lessons or strategies from the summit could help companies navigate this balance?

Bearden: The biggest lesson / strategy is that it is going to take LOTS of communication and education of the consumers to convince them that a product that comes from a regenerative farm, that's organic and Fair Trade is truly worth more than one that doesn't. As the manufacturers, we can't do it alone and, in some cases, we will need the government to step in and help lead these initiatives. But it will definitely require a constant drum beat on the impact that sustainable farming can have in providing food to feed the population while still maintaining a livable planet for future generations.