America’s Nest Egg: The Secret War for Global Food Security

The Science of Surveillance: Dr. Kay Russo on HPAI Data

In this episode of America’s Nest Egg, Dr. Kay Russo, a veterinarian with expertise in dairy and avian health, unpacks the latest developments in Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI). She shares firsthand insights on the rapid spread of the virus, its impact on dairy cattle and poultry, and the critical role of data in understanding and managing outbreaks. We discuss vaccination as a potential tool, the challenges posed by trade restrictions, and the urgent need for better monitoring and policy shifts. With escalating losses and new transmission dynamics, how should the industry—and regulators—respond? Tune in for a data-driven perspective on the future of HPAI management.

Season 1 Recap with Bart Schulman, CEO of Ancera

In this episode, host Arjun wraps up Season 1 of America's Nest Egg with Bart Schulman, Chief Revenue Officer at Ancera.  They reflect on the insights gathered over the year on food production, safety, and food defense. Bart shares his background in risk mitigation and logistics, and discusses Ancera's role in predicting and managing risks in poultry operations. Bart emphasizes the importance of continuous monitoring, data precision, and collaboration in enhancing food safety and operational efficiency. They cover topics such as compliance with Salmonella regulations, downtime management, product efficacy, and supply chain dynamics. Highlights include expert opinions from Roger Beers, Brian Ronholm, Cameron Whitehead, and Don Ritter on food safety, NAE policy, and supply chain resilience.  Bart emphasizes the importance of continuous monitoring, data precision, and collaboration in enhancing food safety and operational efficiency. Timestamps: (00:30) Meet Bart Shulman: Career and Insights (07:23) Wingin' It Interlude #1: Chicken or Egg? (07:35) Food Defense and Military Insights with Roger Beers (12:40) Continuous Monitoring and Risk Management with Brian Ronholm (18:00) Wingin' It Interlude #2: One food for the rest of your life? (18:22) Economic Dynamics in Hen Production with Cameron Whitehead (25:38) No Antibiotics Ever: Challenges and Insights with Don Ritter (31:40) Wingin' It Interlude #3: Food Misinformation (33:41) Conclusion and Future Outlook ___ Today's episode is brought to you by Ancera, the company that gives poultry companies a birds eye view into their operations. Find out how Ancera is replacing opinions with objectivity at www.ancera.com [http://www.ancera.com]. ___ Links: Follow Bart on Linkedin [https://www.linkedin.com/in/bart-schulman-8826263b/] Follow Ancera on Linkedin [https://www.linkedin.com/company/ancera-llc-/] Visit Ancera.com [https://www.ancera.com]

Economics vs. Regulations in America’s Food Supply Chain with John Dunham

In this episode, Arjun interviews John Dunham, president of John Dunham and Associates and former senior US economist under Philip Morris.  John discusses the complexities and impacts of regulations on the food supply chain, from historical regulations to modern challenges. He shares his experiences and insights into issues such as the Jones Act, inflation, tariffs, and the role of government in food industry innovation. The episode also touches on consumer-facing regulations, the importance of productivity and infrastructure, and evaluating the cost-benefit of rules. John's expertise provides a deep dive into the economic factors that shape the food supply chain. Timestamps: 03:25 John's History Working as an Economist 05:06 A History of Food Regulation in the US 07:46 What's The Cost of Regulation? 10:47 Reassessing Regulations 11:36 Spittoons in Buffalo, NY 14:22 The Future of Infrastructure 15:54 The Jones Act 17:42 The Current Climate of Consumer-Facing Regulations 21:01 What Do Consumers Benefit From Labels? 23:11 CFAT and Traceability in the FDA 26:25 Internationality of Food Commerce 31:17 What Can We Do About Inflation? 36:04 "The Onshoring of our Chips" 41:08 Why Don't Price Controls Work? 44:15 Innovation in Food Production as a Solution ___ Today's episode is brought to you by Ancera, the company that gives poultry companies a birds eye view into their operations. Find out how Ancera is replacing opinions with objectivity at www.ancera.com [http://www.ancera.com]. ___ Links: Follow John on Linkedin [https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-dunham-b4a1091/] Follow Ancera on Linkedin [https://www.linkedin.com/company/ancera-llc-/] Visit Ancera.com [https://www.ancera.com]

Food as Medicine - How Sodexo Brings Nutrition to America’s Healthcare Facilities

On this episode of America's Nest Egg, Arjun interviews Heidi Greenwaldt, Nutrition Director of Clinical Informatics at Sodexo. With over 22 years at Sodexo, Heidi discusses her journey and the evolving role of nutrition in healthcare. Key topics covered include the impact of social media on public perception of nutrition, advancements in telehealth, the significance of nutrigenomics, and the philosophy of 'food as medicine.' Heidi also shares insights on sustainable and plant-based menu planning, the challenges of local sourcing, and initiatives to reduce carbon emissions and food waste. Lastly, the discussion touches on the importance of nutrient density, brain health programs, and the role of technology in advancing dietary education and accountability. Guest Quote: “ And then from a research side too, with nutrigenomics… that's one area where there's always room for more research. I think it really is helping the potential for personalized nutrition and the impact that micronutrients and phytochemicals in food, and how that's directly impacting people's hormone levels, and immune response, and brain health, and healthy aging as our population gets older, and the impact that food has on that.” - Heidi Greenwaldt Timestamps: *(00:57) - 20 Years of Progress in Nutrition  *(05:25) - Nutrigenomics, and Food Standardization *(08:29) - What is ‘Food as Medicine’?  *(14:55) - Plant-Based ‘Center of The Plate’ *(21:45) - Food and Brain Health *(24:39) - Measuring Complex Nutrients *(29:29) - Sodexo, Procurement, and Sustainability *(36:42) - What does Nutrition look like in 2050?  *(38:12) - “Wingin’ It” Today's episode is brought to you by Ancera, the company that gives poultry companies a birds eye view into their operations. Find out how Ancera is replacing opinions with objectivity at www.ancera.com [http://www.ancera.com]. Links: Follow Heidi on Linkedin [https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidi-greenwaldt-b87aaaa/] Follow Ancera on Linkedin [https://www.linkedin.com/company/ancera-llc-/] Visit Ancera.com [https://www.ancera.com]

Egg-onomics: How Pete & Gerry’s Built a Supply Chain Rooted in Hen Welfare

On today's episode, we sit down with Cameron Whitehead, the Chief Operating Officer at Pete and Gerry's, a table egg producer known for its focus on pasture-raised birds, animal welfare, and strong relationships with family farms.  The discussion centers around the inflation-driven surge in egg prices, a topic frequently mentioned in consumer discussions but rarely addressed by industry insiders. Cameron shares insights from his unique career path—from corporate law to egg production—and provides an in-depth look at the historical development and current operations of Pete and Gerry's.  He elaborates on the different types of egg production, including cage-free, free-range, and pasture-raised, explaining what each label means for consumers. The conversation also delves into supply chain dynamics, disease management, and new organic initiatives. Cameron stresses the importance of consumer education, highlights ongoing inflationary pressures, and discusses the potential future of biosecurity and vaccination programs in the egg industry. Guest Quote: “And on the farm side, better disease management comes into record keeping and data, right? It really does. That's where our focus is, we want to address disease as early as possible for the hens and for the productivity that our family farmers rely on. So we do tracing on our farms of productivity rates of water consumption, feed consumption, temperatures, et cetera.” - Cameron Whitehead Timestamps: * * (00:59) A First-Generation “Egg Guy” * * (02:23) Pete & Gerry’s History * * (04:18) Which Egg Will They Choose? * * (07:32) An Egg’s Journey Home * * (13:43) Inflation’s Real Story * * (18:42) Avian Influenza * *(22:12) Protecting Barns * *(26:30) Is Vaccination the Future? * *(33:29) Protein by the Pound * *(37:53) New Organic Guidelines * *(45:11) “Wingin’ It” Today's episode is brought to you by Ancera, the company that gives poultry companies a birds eye view into their operations. Find out how Ancera is replacing opinions with objectivity at www.ancera.com [http://www.ancera.com]. Links: Follow Cameron on Linkedin [https://www.linkedin.com/in/camwhitehead/] Visit PeteAndGerrys.com [http://peteandgerrys.com] Follow Ancera on Linkedin [https://www.linkedin.com/company/ancera-llc-/] Visit Ancera.com [https://www.ancera.com]