Cultivating Conversation in Food and Agriculture | Alissa Welker | TEDxVillanovaU

TEDxVillanovaU: Paradigm Shift for Sustainability. Even though fewer than 2% of the U.S. population works on farms, we all have an invested stake in the future of our agricultural industry because it impacts all of us, three times a day. As we face rapid changes in our environmental and social climate, increased understanding and awareness of how food gets to our plates is more important now than ever before. This talk weaves together Alissa’s experiences from growing up in the Midwest, studying on the East Coast, and then working in Silicon Valley. She paints a picture of our modern-day agriculture system and the fundamental change that she believes is needed to create a more resilient future. Since graduating from Villanova University, Alissa has spent her time working in a variety of roles for food and agriculture start-ups. She has lived and traveled all over the U.S. and the world with the goal of learning more about our food and agriculture systems. Alissa enjoys bringing her background in food systems, social justice, and business operations to her day-to-day work. Outside of work, you can find Alissa backpacking, biking, and often traveling with a carrot or two as her favorite go-to snack - and favorite vegetable! You can learn more about her work at cultivateconversation.com. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx