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Building a circular food system that regenerates natural capital and feeds the world is possible.
This session explores how a circular economy for food can help to tackle climate change and biodiversity loss, supporting regenerative outcomes globally. By applying the principles of a circular economy, we can design our food system for people, nature and businesses to thrive. Drawing on experience from experts, this session will highlight inspiring examples from around the world. Participants will discuss opportunities that the transition to a circular economy for food presents, and share the challenges and learnings identified by those who are already on the journey.
Nature and circularity
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.
Video: Golthelney Farm: How one farmer is transitioning to regenerative wheat and pork production in the United Kingdom
Regeneration through the value chain: Creating collaborative dynamics
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.
Philippe supports farmers all over Europe in the transition towards regenerative agriculture. His company has built a free farmer-to-farmer learning community which provides context-specific transition support with one of their 115 farm coaches as well as transition finance through TÜV-certified carbon+ certificates. Philippe is part of Ashoka's Changemaker community since 2013 and the BMW Foundation's Responsible Leader network since 2022. Before Climate Farmers, he has worked in business and community development for different impact startups such as Peerby and Fairphone. He also co-founded Viva con Agua Nederlands in 2015 and Stichting Love Foundation in 2013. He is running a social music label called Hug Records since 2017 and is rebuilding an abandoned village in rural Portugal, when he is not speaking at conferences or visiting farmers.
Manager, Food Equity and Community Resilience
City of Guelph, Canada
Ashlee Cooper joined Guelph-Wellington’s circular economy initiative Our Food Future in 2019. She manages an array of programmes focused on the circular food economy with a focus on increasing food access and community engagement and decreasing household food waste. Prior to this role she worked in the non-profit sector where she developed and delivered a broad spectrum of programmes to address complex local food issues. Ashlee is a participatory design and community engagement specialist, bringing over 15 years of commitment to community food and regenerative agriculture. She believes that circularity in the food system is a powerful tool for social justice, an antidote to climate catastrophe and an opportunity to bring diverse groups of people together.
Leading Specialist
Sitra, the Finnish Innovation Fund
Liisa Pietola promotes the transition of agriculture and forestry. She is an expert member of the EU Mission Board Soil Deal for Europe and since 1998 has been adjunct professor at the University of Helsinki in soil sciences. She was head of environmental affairs in the Central Union of Agricultural Producers and Forest Owners in Finland MTK (2011–2022), chaired the environmental working group of European farmers at the Copa-Cogeca (2014–2018) and served in R&D in the fertiliser industry (2006-2011). Pietola has a PhD in agronomy and soil science from the University of Helsinki. She has her feet on the ground as an active farmer.
Country Representative
African Circular Economy Network (ACEN)
Elisée Bahati Ntawuhiganayo is a circular economy specialist in Eastern Africa who focuses on circular food systems. With a passion for supporting smallholder farmer communities, he has conducted extensive research and provided valuable assistance to promote the adoption of regenerative agricultural practices, particularly agroforestry, in Rwanda, DR Congo and Kenya. Elisée's expertise also extends to the valorisation of wastes and byproducts from coffee and tea processing, exploring innovative ways to reduce waste and maximise resource use. He actively collaborates with government agencies, playing a vital role in raising awareness and implementing circular economy principles at a national level. Furthermore, Elisée coaches private actors, including agri-SMEs, encouraging them to integrate circular economy principles into their business models for a more sustainable future. He is an active member of ACEN.
Video: Regenerative agriculture in action across Africa
EMF Network stories: Why is the shift to regenerative so important?
Ulla Luhtasela
Nordic Sustainability Manager
Suomen Nestlé Oy
Ulla Luhtasela’s role is to ensure that Nestlé’s ambitious, global commitments on climate and packaging are implemented effectively also in the Nordics. One of the flagship projects she is leading in Finland is a regenerative agriculture project with local farmers producing ingredients for local Nestlé factories, organised in collaboration with a Finnish NGO, the Baltic Sea Action Group. Ulla has a long career in regulatory, science and sustainability positions in the food industry. She has also worked as a researcher and as a public authority. She holds two Master’s, one in environmental chemistry from the University of Turku and another in environmental toxicology, technology and management from the Asian Institute of Technology in Bangkok, Thailand.
In addition to her position at the making-things happen agency Invenire, Patricia Wiklund is also co-founder of Gens Oü. At Invenire, Patricia works with strategy, design and communications within food and nutrition, the bioeconomy and the circular economy. At Gens, she empowers farmers to achieve regeneration of their lands and farming business. Patricia works with different regional projects in which the aim is to connect farming systems to nature and to enable thriving farmers and rich landscapes. Currently she runs two publicly financed 3-year development projects on the Åland Islands in Finland, focused on water protection and biodiversity at farm-level. An important part of the projects is to support the emergence of regeneration. All activities in the projects are done in close collaboration and co-creation with a diverse group of farmers. Patricia holds an MSc in economics and business administration from Åbo Akademi University, Finland. She has a farming background, particularly dairy farming. She is also managing a Savory Network hub in the Baltic Sea region and has special interest in holistic management and regenerative organisations.
Launching Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s food challenge
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.
Country Representative
African Circular Economy Network (ACEN)
Elisée Bahati Ntawuhiganayo is a circular economy specialist in Eastern Africa who focuses on circular food systems. With a passion for supporting smallholder farmer communities, he has conducted extensive research and provided valuable assistance to promote the adoption of regenerative agricultural practices, particularly agroforestry, in Rwanda, DR Congo and Kenya. Elisée's expertise also extends to the valorisation of wastes and byproducts from coffee and tea processing, exploring innovative ways to reduce waste and maximise resource use. He actively collaborates with government agencies, playing a vital role in raising awareness and implementing circular economy principles at a national level. Furthermore, Elisée coaches private actors, including agri-SMEs, encouraging them to integrate circular economy principles into their business models for a more sustainable future. He is an active member of ACEN.
In addition to her position at the making-things happen agency Invenire, Patricia Wiklund is also co-founder of Gens Oü. At Invenire, Patricia works with strategy, design and communications within food and nutrition, the bioeconomy and the circular economy. At Gens, she empowers farmers to achieve regeneration of their lands and farming business. Patricia works with different regional projects in which the aim is to connect farming systems to nature and to enable thriving farmers and rich landscapes. Currently she runs two publicly financed 3-year development projects on the Åland Islands in Finland, focused on water protection and biodiversity at farm-level. An important part of the projects is to support the emergence of regeneration. All activities in the projects are done in close collaboration and co-creation with a diverse group of farmers. Patricia holds an MSc in economics and business administration from Åbo Akademi University, Finland. She has a farming background, particularly dairy farming. She is also managing a Savory Network hub in the Baltic Sea region and has special interest in holistic management and regenerative organisations.
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.
Manager, Food Equity and Community Resilience
City of Guelph, Canada
Ashlee Cooper joined Guelph-Wellington’s circular economy initiative Our Food Future in 2019. She manages an array of programmes focused on the circular food economy with a focus on increasing food access and community engagement and decreasing household food waste. Prior to this role she worked in the non-profit sector where she developed and delivered a broad spectrum of programmes to address complex local food issues. Ashlee is a participatory design and community engagement specialist, bringing over 15 years of commitment to community food and regenerative agriculture. She believes that circularity in the food system is a powerful tool for social justice, an antidote to climate catastrophe and an opportunity to bring diverse groups of people together.
Ulla Luhtasela’s role is to ensure that Nestlé’s ambitious, global commitments on climate and packaging are implemented effectively also in the Nordics. One of the flagship projects she is leading in Finland is a regenerative agriculture project with local farmers producing ingredients for local Nestlé factories, organised in collaboration with a Finnish NGO, the Baltic Sea Action Group. Ulla has a long career in regulatory, science and sustainability positions in the food industry. She has also worked as a researcher and as a public authority. She holds two Master’s, one in environmental chemistry from the University of Turku and another in environmental toxicology, technology and management from the Asian Institute of Technology in Bangkok, Thailand.
Philippe supports farmers all over Europe in the transition towards regenerative agriculture. His company has built a free farmer-to-farmer learning community which provides context-specific transition support with one of their 115 farm coaches as well as transition finance through TÜV-certified carbon+ certificates. Philippe is part of Ashoka's Changemaker community since 2013 and the BMW Foundation's Responsible Leader network since 2022. Before Climate Farmers, he has worked in business and community development for different impact startups such as Peerby and Fairphone. He also co-founded Viva con Agua Nederlands in 2015 and Stichting Love Foundation in 2013. He is running a social music label called Hug Records since 2017 and is rebuilding an abandoned village in rural Portugal, when he is not speaking at conferences or visiting farmers.
Leading Specialist
Sitra, the Finnish Innovation Fund
Liisa Pietola promotes the transition of agriculture and forestry. She is an expert member of the EU Mission Board Soil Deal for Europe and since 1998 has been adjunct professor at the University of Helsinki in soil sciences. She was head of environmental affairs in the Central Union of Agricultural Producers and Forest Owners in Finland MTK (2011–2022), chaired the environmental working group of European farmers at the Copa-Cogeca (2014–2018) and served in R&D in the fertiliser industry (2006-2011). Pietola has a PhD in agronomy and soil science from the University of Helsinki. She has her feet on the ground as an active farmer.
