An Interview With Monica Sanders
Sustainability is complicated. I wish someone had told me how to communicate that even seemingly insignificant actions can have a meaningful impact, but they often involve trade-offs. Even small changes in our daily lives, such as reducing food waste or choosing sustainable products, include trade-offs.
We are standing at a critical juncture in our fight against climate change, and it is heartening to see young leaders rising to this enormous challenge. Across the globe, they are initiating change, voicing their concerns, and catalyzing action toward sustainable solutions for our planet. These young change-makers are not just the future; they are the driving force of the present. As part of this series, I had the pleasure of interviewing Jennifer Kaplan.
Jennifer Kaplan is Director of Sustainability at C16 Biosciences, a biotech start-up in New York City. She teaches at the Presidio Graduate School, is the author of Greening Your Small Business (Penguin Random House) and has published more than 400 articles and blog posts on sustainable food and wine and food politics.
Thank you so much for doing this with us! Before we dig in, our readers would like to get to know you a bit. Can you tell us a bit about how you grew up?
I’m a born and bred New Yorker. Although I live in the Bay area now, I’ll always be a New Yorker at heart.
You are currently leading an organization that is making a difference for our planet. Can you tell us a bit about what you and your organization are trying to change?
C16 Biosciences is a biotech company addressing the palm oil industry’s devastating environmental and social impacts. Palm oil is the most widely produced vegetable oil on the planet, and it is found in almost half of all consumer products. Yet, its production has destructive environmental and social impacts, including deforestation, habitat destruction, and massive greenhouse gas emissions. We grow an alternative oil in a lab, not on trees. Our oils can be produced without the need for destructive monoculture agriculture or the associated negative impacts. By developing sustainable alternatives, we are trying to reduce our reliance on conventional palm oil and mitigate the harmful effects on forests, wildlife, and local communities. Additionally, by making more sustainable options for industries that use palm oil in their products, we are ultimately promoting the sustainable use of our land, ensuring sustainable consumption and production, and taking urgent action to combat climate change and contribute to a more sustainable and environmentally conscious future.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began leading sustainability at your company or organization?
Anyone who works in sustainability knows that even in mission-driven companies, sustainability initiatives often face challenges. I’m lucky that I never had to convince stakeholders, including senior executives and investors, of the business case for sustainability. That said, I’ve had to be rigorous in gathering data and evidence to demonstrate that sustainability initiatives will lead to cost savings, operational efficiency, and risk mitigation. This has translated to buy-in from our functional teams, who take ownership of our carbon reduction goals.
One of my first jobs at C16 was ensuring we had a compelling sustainability stance. Although we had a mission statement, we had many ways of describing our relationship to deforestation and sustainability. A lack of clarity made decision-making a challenge at times. We needed a clear stance on what we were trying to accomplish and how we would know when we reached our sustainability milestones — or at least what we were working toward. Furthermore, our stance needed to be defensible and aligned with our ethics.
Although we all understood the company’s mission, many of my colleagues needed clarification about how and why a company needs to measure and manage sustainability. I found success when I broke down our core beliefs into 14 empirically supported claims. Our scientists were able to understand the empirical claims that serve as the foundation for our sustainability efforts: scientists estimate that we have about a decade to cut GHG emissions to stave off global climate collapse, and there is growing competition for a finite amount of land needed to grow raw materials and commodities and not all land use and land use change is equal because each land type has unique potential for producing specific raw materials and so on. I explained, with compelling evidence, that because tropical forest land use has unique environmental potential for mitigating or contributing to climate change and monoculture palm oil production is a driver of significant GHG emissions, we must act now to preserve tropical forests. Using synthetic biology to produce an agriculture-free, low-emissions alternative to industrial palm oil, we are helping decarbonize agricultural systems and accelerate the world’s transition to low-carbon products.
Once I could show the empirical foundations of our mission, our sustainability efforts were demystified. It shows that you have to meet the needs of your audience and build a robust case for the value of sustainability.
None of us can be successful without some help along the way. Did you have mentors or cheerleaders who helped you to succeed? Can you tell us a story about their influence?
While teaching graduate students at the Culinary Institute of America, I had the opportunity to co-teach a course with Dr. Bruce German of the University of California Davis. He is an incredibly knowledgeable and experienced educator with a fantastic sense of humor that made the teaching experience enjoyable for everyone involved.
One thing that genuinely sets Dr. German apart is his understanding that learning is a highly individual process. Instead of adopting a one-size-fits-all approach, he showed me how to tailor our teaching methods to accommodate the diverse needs of our students. He also believed that the ultimate measure of success was not the students’ grades but their genuine understanding and application of the course material. He constantly reminded me that our primary goal as educators should be to empower our students to think critically and develop a deep comprehension of the subject matter.
Dr. German’s influence on me as a co-teacher was profound. His approach taught me the value of empathy, adaptability, and the importance of fostering a supportive, cooperative working environment. His friendship and counsel have extended far beyond the classroom, and his influence continues to shape my approach as a professional today.
Thank you for that. Let’s now move to the central part of our discussion. Let’s start with a basic definition of terms so that everyone is on the same page. What does climate justice mean to you? How do we operationalize it?
To me, climate justice means recognizing that climate change’s effects disproportionately impact marginalized and vulnerable communities, and we need to prioritize sustainability in our food systems. We can operationalize climate justice in our food systems by promoting sustainable and regenerative agriculture practices that prioritize soil health, biodiversity, and carbon sequestration. We can reduce synthetic fertilizers and pesticides and instead use crop rotation, cover cropping, and reduced tillage to improve soil health and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. We can also prioritize sustainable and healthy dietary patterns, including a shift towards plant-based diets, which will reduce the environmental impact of food production and improve health outcomes.
I’m also bullish on innovations that yield a more sustainable food system. No surprise, but I’m a big proponent of using biotech to promote sustainability. We are at the brink of a food systems revolution where alternatives to industrial monoculture crops, especially unsustainable tropical commodities, such as palm oil, cocoa, vanilla, and coffee, that have traditionally been associated with deforestation and habitat destruction will be a reality. Today, microbial fermentation can produce a biosimilar palm oil alternative that doesn’t require direct deforestation or habitat destruction. Other biotech companies are also working on making alternatives to animal products, such as plant-based dairy and lab-grown meat, which can reduce the environmental impact of animal agriculture. We need to increase awareness of the benefits of bioengineered food and dispel the fear-mongering around GMOs and other innovative improvements to how we produce food.
However, we can also ensure that synbio and biotech solutions are developed and used in a way that prioritizes sustainability and ethical considerations and that they are accessible to all, not just a privileged few. This means promoting the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, such as 15, 13, & 12, to ensure equitable and sustainable supply chains that provide fair wages and safe working conditions for all workers while minimizing the environmental impact of food production and distribution. Climate justice means addressing the root causes of food insecurity and hunger, such as poverty, inequality, and inadequate infrastructure.
Science is telling us that we have 7–10 years to make critical decisions about climate change. What are three things you or your organization are doing to help?
C16’s sustainable alternative oils replace conventional palm oil, offering significant potential for reducing GHG emissions by 2030. While precise figures remain uncertain, our commitment to mitigating emissions from palm oil production — the carbon footprint of which is estimated to be as much as 30 kg CO2e/kg — is steadfast. Along the way, we are promoting climate change mitigation and the sustainable use of land through our communications around the need for urgent climate action and education about the need to protect and restore rainforests. By working with manufacturers and brands, we are also promoting the idea of responsible procurement and consumption.
The next step will be to move forward with initiatives like our research on upcycled feedstocks. A little discussed pain point in biotech: developing viable next-generation feedstocks is needed to address the urgent challenges of food crop diversion. It also impacts food security and food waste — which is responsible for 50% of food emissions — and the need for circularity in food systems. Through these efforts, we can forge a path toward more equitable, sustainable, and climate-friendly food and agricultural systems.
Are there three things the community, society, or politicians can do to help you in your mission?
While there are many things we need to do to foster sustainable change within the food system, if I have to choose three, I’d say:
- Reclaim the narrative: In food innovation, the narrative has often been dominated by conflicting interests, misinformation, and fear-mongering about topics like GMOs and biotech. To counteract this, we can reclaim the narrative and demand transparency. We can actively seek reliable information and openly discuss innovation’s benefits, risks, and ethical considerations. With knowledge, we can shape the conversation and ensure it resonates with the broader public.
- Cultivate conscious consumption: Our relationship with food has become detached and transactional. We can cultivate a culture of conscious consumption if we understand and accept food innovation. Government can contribute by promoting policies that support local, sustainable, and diverse food systems. By valuing our food’s origins and production methods, we can make informed choices, support responsible innovation, and develop a deeper appreciation for food.
- Embrace collaboration: The task of understanding and accepting innovation can’t be shouldered by a single entity. It requires collaboration. By fostering cross-sectoral partnerships and engaging in constructive dialogue, we can bridge the gaps between investment-driven rhetoric and what consumers need from their food. Together, we can forge a future where innovation is understood and embraced.
How would you articulate how a business can become more profitable by being more sustainable and more environmentally conscious? Can you share a story or example?
When I worked for a CPG food manufacturer, we struggled with high levels of wastewater effluent due to the food waste left in the processing machinery. After brainstorming and experimentation, we realized we could capture the food waste in bulk and sell it as an upcycled sidestream. By doing this, we significantly reduced the wastewater effluent levels and monetized the food waste, turning what was once seen as a liability and expense into a new revenue stream. This is just one example of how a business can become more profitable by being more sustainable and environmentally conscious. By reducing waste and finding new uses for byproducts, companies can reduce their environmental impact, save money, and generate new revenue streams.
This is the signature question we ask in most of our interviews. What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started promoting sustainability and climate justice,” and why?
1 . Change is difficult, even in mission-driven companies. People naturally resist change, even when it benefits the bottom line. My husband often reminds me of this, using a simple analogy: “Think about what would happen if you ask your family to switch seats at the dining room table.”
2 . Systems thinking matters. Understanding the interconnectedness of various systems is crucial. Whether it’s food, energy, or transportation, recognizing how these systems interact and affect one another helps identify leverage points for positive change and develop holistic solutions.
3 . Advocacy matters. Engaging in advocacy and policy efforts is essential to drive systemic change. By actively participating in political processes, raising awareness, and pushing for policy reforms, we can create a supportive environment for sustainable practices and advance climate justice goals on a larger scale.
4 . Sustainability is complicated. I wish someone had told me how to communicate that even seemingly insignificant actions can have a meaningful impact, but they often involve trade-offs. Even small changes in our daily lives, such as reducing food waste or choosing sustainable products, include trade-offs.
5 . Sustainability can be a lonely task.
Is there a person in the world or in the US with whom you would like to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this, especially if we tag them. 🙂
I’m a big fan of Daniel Lubetzky. I’d have lunch with him any day.
How can our readers continue to follow your work online?
Connect with me on LinkedIn!
This was very meaningful, thank you so much. We wish you only continued success on your great work!
About the Interviewer: Monica Sanders JD, LL.M, is the founder of “The Undivide Project”, an organization dedicated to creating climate resilience in underserved communities using good tech and the power of the Internet. She holds faculty roles at the Georgetown University Law Center and the Tulane University Disaster Resilience Leadership Academy. Professor Sanders also serves on several UN agency working groups. As an attorney, Monica has held senior roles in all three branches of government, private industry, and nonprofits. In her previous life, she was a journalist for seven years and the recipient of several awards, including an Emmy. Now the New Orleans native spends her time in solidarity with and championing change for those on the frontlines of climate change and digital divestment. Learn more about how to join her at: www.theundivideproject.org
How Jennifer Kaplan Of C16 Biosciences Is Helping to Promote Sustainability and Climate Justice was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.