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About Programme 30–31 May – Main event 1 June – Accelerator Sessions 2 June – Accelerator Sessions Studios  Speakers Expo Side events Latest Media Partners

Designing food for nature to thrive

Check out the session programme and watch the recording on the screen below. In case your browser doesn’t show the embedded video, you can also watch the session on our Youtube channel.

What is circular design for food, and how is it helping companies redesign food products for nature to thrive?

Based on the report The big food redesign(open in new window)(open in new window), the circular design for food framework is helping organisations around the world to make a nature-positive future a reality. Instead of bending nature to produce food, we can design our food for nature to thrive. This interactive workshop invites you to learn more about the positive outcomes of applying the circular design for food framework. Receive guidance from those already on the journey and learn how to apply their insights to your work.

Envisioning the supermarket of the future

Reniera O’Donnell

Reniera O’Donnell

Food Initiative Lead
Ellen MacArthur Foundation

Reniera O’Donnell works with industry to demonstrate how, by redesigning the way we produce our food, we can help regenerate nature, restore soil health and help biodiversity thrive. Previously, she led the Foundation's formal education programme, working with schools, colleges and universities around the world to advance teaching of the circular economy. Reniera is originally from South Africa and currently resides in the United Kingdom.

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Video: Showcasing circular design for food in action around the world – system of rice

Circular design for food: An interactive, introductory talk

Reniera O’Donnell

Reniera O’Donnell

Food Initiative Lead
Ellen MacArthur Foundation

Reniera O’Donnell works with industry to demonstrate how, by redesigning the way we produce our food, we can help regenerate nature, restore soil health and help biodiversity thrive. Previously, she led the Foundation's formal education programme, working with schools, colleges and universities around the world to advance teaching of the circular economy. Reniera is originally from South Africa and currently resides in the United Kingdom.

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Henrietta Goddard

Henrietta Goddard

Senior Research Analyst
Ellen MacArthur Foundation

Henrietta Goddard joined the Ellen MacArthur Foundation's Food initiative in 2019 and was part of the team who developed the Big Food Redesign study which is now being transformed from theory into action through the Big Food Redesign Challenge. Henrietta holds an MSc in behaviour change and lives on the Isle of Wight.

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Rebecca Hesketh

Rebecca Hesketh

Programme Manager
Ellen MacArthur Foundation

Rebecca Hesketh leads the food initiative at the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, working to stimulate a global shift towards a regenerative food system based on the principles of a circular economy. Previously, Rebecca worked in the agricultural sector and within food supply chains, including at the UK retailer Waitrose, where she held the position of ethics and sustainability manager for fresh produce.

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Video: Showcasing circular design for food in action around the world updated in the session info on the website – example from Latin America

How organisations and producers are bringing us diverse, lower impact, upcycled and regenerative ingredients

Reniera O’Donnell

Reniera O’Donnell

Food Initiative Lead
Ellen MacArthur Foundation

Reniera O’Donnell works with industry to demonstrate how, by redesigning the way we produce our food, we can help regenerate nature, restore soil health and help biodiversity thrive. Previously, she led the Foundation's formal education programme, working with schools, colleges and universities around the world to advance teaching of the circular economy. Reniera is originally from South Africa and currently resides in the United Kingdom.

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Johan Sidenmark

Johan Sidenmark

Project manager circular economy
Axfoundation

Johan Sidenmark focuses on developing practical solutions to enhance the value of residual materials generated by industries. With his extensive experience in sustainability issues, he has worked on projects ranging from Antarctica to Bangladesh.

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Tanya Santalahti

Tanya Santalahti

Senior Specialist
Baltic Sea Action Group (BSAG)

Tanya's interest in regenerative agriculture was initially sparked from the need to improve the soil health on her own farm. Later, she joined Baltic Sea Action Group to promote regenerative farming. BSAG is a non-profit foundation that takes effective actions, both at sea and on land, to save the Baltic Sea. BSAG is home to Carbon Action, a unique long-term collaboration in which farmers, researchers and companies are brought together to scale up regenerative farming. Previously, Tanya worked in the voluntary carbon market with carbon removals from agriculture. She holds a Master's in economics and in agriculture and foresty.

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Katharina Gihring

Katharina Gihring

Executive Member and Project Coordinator
African Circular Economy Network (ACEN)

Katharina currently coordinates and implements projects such as Horizon 2020 JUST2CE, Circular South Africa and South Africa Circular Economy Hotspot 2024 at ACEN. Her background is in systems thinking, life cycle sustainability assessment, ecology and environmental management. Her main focus is on the circular economy and how this concept can be implemented in a just-way in the (South) African context. Her experiences include multidisciplinary and mix-method research, research coordination, stakeholder engagement, project management, event coordination, action plan development and educational facilitation.

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Related UN sustainable development goals