Rethinking Sustainable Agriculture: Making Sense of Trade‑offs from Farm to Fork
It’s time to rethink sustainable agriculture – on your terms.
You didn’t choose agriculture because it was trendy. You chose it because feeding people and caring for land, animals, and communities matter for the long haul. This program is designed for people who live those realities every day – and who are tired of buzzwords, blame, and black‑and‑white narratives about “good” and “bad” food and farming/ranching practices..
Michele Payn invites audiences to step into the messy middle of sustainability. She connects what happens on farms and in food businesses to what happens on plates, helping participants make sense of environmental, economic, and social trade‑offs without losing sight of people and profit. Through real‑world stories, candid conversation, and practical tools, she shows how to push back on fear‑based marketing and food bullying while building more productive, science‑savvy conversations about agriculture’s sustainability story.
What Michele covers in this program
- Cutting through the noise around “sustainable” labels and lofty promises.
- Understanding how environmental, economic, and social realities collide in everyday decisions.
- Recognizing the difference between conventional, regenerative, and organic.
- Translating complex issues (emissions, water, animal care, technology, labor) into plain language.
- Turning your own experience into compelling, values‑based stories people will remember.
Who this program is for
- Farmers and ranchers who want to explain their practices without getting defensive.
- Ag and food professionals who need to align sustainability narratives with on‑the‑ground realities.
- Commodity groups, cooperatives, and agribusinesses equipping members to talk confidently with customers, media, students, and community leaders.
- Dietitians, foodservice, and retail teams who sit at the front lines of consumer questions.
Format
This program can be customized as:
What your audience will learn
Michele's interactive program will empower participants to:
- Define sustainable agriculture in practical terms that integrate environment, economics, and people.
- Explain key trade‑offs in common sustainability debates in language non‑farm audiences can understand.
- Identify food bullying and fear‑based claims that distort sustainability conversations – and know how to respond.
- Use a simple story framework to connect on‑farm or business practices to meaningful outcomes for people and the planet.
- Leave with greater confidence, clearer language, and concrete next steps to lead better sustainability conversations in their own circles.
For meeting planners
Looking for a sustainability program that goes beyond buzzwords and battles? Rethinking Sustainable Agriculture: Making Sense of Trade‑offs from Farm to Fork is designed to connect the dots between farms, food businesses, and the people you serve. Michele customizes every keynote or workshop to your audience, blending thought leadership, data, stories, and interaction so participants leave informed, energized, and ready to lead better conversations.
Ready to explore this program for your next event?
Contact Michele to check availability, talk about your goals, and design a sustainability session that fits your agenda and your audience.
