[MUSIC] >> Cari Stein: HELLO.
I AM CARI STEIN SITTING IN FOR HOST BONNIE ERBE WHO HAS THE DAY OFF.
WELCOME TO "TO THE CONTRARY", A DISCUSSION OF NEWS AND SOCIAL TRENDS FROM DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES.
THIS WEEK IN OUR WOMEN THOUGHT LEADERS SERIES, I'M JOINED BY JENNY STOJOVIC, WHO IS THE FOUNDER OF THE VEGAN WOMEN'S SUMMIT, AND SHE HAS A NEW BOOK OUT ENTITLED "THE FUTURE OF FOOD IS FEMALE."
WELCOME, JENNY.
HOW ARE YOU TODAY?
>> Jenny Stojovic: I AM FANTASTIC!
>> Cari Stein: WHAT MADE YOU DECIDE TO WRITE THE FUTURE OF FOOD IS FEMALE?
HASN'T FOOD ALWAYS BEEN FEMALE?
>> Jenny Stojovic: SO FOOD ALWAYS HAS BEEN FEMALE, BUT WOMEN HAVE NOT NECESSARILY GOTTEN THE CREDIT THAT THEY DESERVE.
SO BY WAY OF INTRODUCTION, I BUILT MY CAREER IN SILICON VALLEY IN THE TECH INDUSTRY WORKING WITH ALL THE WORLD'S LARGEST TECH COMPANIES.
THE WAY I LIKE TO SAY IT IS IT THERE WERE AN APP ON YOUR PHONE, THEY ARE PROBABLY SOMEONE THAT I WORKED WITH ND IN THAT SIX YEARS IN TECH, I WAS THE ONLY WOMAN IN THE ROOM FOR ALMOST MY ENTIRE CAREER.
AND AS I SAW FOOD BEGINNING TO BE THE NEXT BIG TECH INDUSTRY, I NOTICED THAT SAME TREND.
SO WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE WERE MAKING A DIVERSE AND EQUITABLE FUTURE OF FOOD AS IT REALLY BECOMES ONE OF THE MAINSTREAM AREAS OF INVESTMENT.
>> Cari Stein: HOW DOES TECH AND FOOD GO TOGETHER?
>> Jenny Stojovic: WE ARE ON THE BRINK OF A BILLION PEOPLE ON THIS PLANET.
WE ARE HEADING TOWARDS THE POPULATION OF 10 BILLION.
AND, QUITE FRANKLY, WITH THE RATE OF CONSUMPTION OF ANIMAL PRODUCTS THAT WE HAVE IN THIS INDUSTRY, THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE HAVE SEEN, PARTICULARLY IN THE PANDEMIC WHERE THE FOOD SYSTEM IS STARTING TO BREAK.
IT'S REALLY STARTING TO SHOW ITS INEFFICIENCIES.
SO TECHNOLOGY IS A BIG WAY THAT WE CAN IMPROVE AND CREATE A MORE SUSTAINABLE FUTURE.
>> Cari Stein: YOU KNOW, WE SEE THE WORD BEGIN AND I THINK THAT MOST OF AMERICA IS NOT FAMILIAR WITH THATHEY DON'T EVEN REALLY KNOW WHAT VEGETARIANISM IS VERSUS THAT.
CAN YOU JUST GIVE US A LITTLE BRIEFING ON THAT?
>> Jenny Stojovic: VEGAN MEANS TO NOT EAT ANY ANIMAL PRODUCTS.
SO THAT MEANS EVERYTHING FROM MEAT TO FISH TO EGGS, DAIRY, AND, OF COURSE, ACTUALLY, THE ONE THAT PEOPLE ALWAYS GET TRIPPED UP ON HIS HONEY.
SO THAT MEANS YOU'RE NOT EATING ANY ANIMAL PRODUCTS WHATSOEVER.
VEGETARIAN, ON THE OTHER HAND, WHICH A LOT OF FOLKS ARE MORE IN TUNE WITH, IS YOU ARE NOT EATING ANY MEAT OR SEAFOOD.
PESCATORE AND WOULD BEEN THAT YOU ARE NOT EATING ANY ANIMAL PRODUCTS EXCEPT FOR SEAFOOD AS WELL.
SO WE ARE SEEING HUGE, HUGE INCREASES IN THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE CHOOSING A PLANT-BASED DIET.
PLANT BASIS ANOTHER TERM THAT HE WAS USUALLY HERE FOR VEGAN.
USUALLY THEY ARE SYNONYMOUS AND USED AS THE EXACT SAME MEANING.
O USED TO BE ABOUT 1 PERCENT VEGAN POPULATION IN THE U.S. NOW WE ARE CLOSER TO 3 PERCENT, SO IT'S INCREASING LOT AND IT'S ALSO INCREASING ALONG CERTAIN DEMOGRAPHICS, WHICH WE CAN TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT.
>> Cari Stein: IS IT MORE OF THE YOUNG, YOUNGER PEOPLE, MILLENNIALS, GEN XERS, JOHN -- GEN Ys?
DO YOU THINK THAT THEY WILL LEAD US DOWN THE PATH TO KNOW ABUSE OF ANIMALS?
>> Jenny Stojovic: SO THIS IS A LOT TO UNPACK HERE, AND THIS IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S SO EXCITING ABOUT WHAT WE DO IT VEGAN WOMEN'S SUMMIT.
WE HAVE SO MUCH DATA AROUND WHY PEOPLE ARE INTERESTED IN A PLANT BASED DIET.
SO OUR BIG CONFERENCE THAT WE JUST HAD THIS PAST FRIDAY, WE HAD OVER 800 PEOPLE COME.
ALMOST A THIRD OF THEM WERE NOT YET VEGAN.
SO THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE INCREASINGLY INTERESTED IN EATING MORE PLANT BASED.
ROUGHLY ABOUT 50 PERCENT OR SO OF AMERICANS ARE NOW CHOOSING TO EAT PLANT-BASED PROTEINS AS A REGULAR PART OF THEIR DIET.
SO THAT'S ACROSS ALL AGE GROUPS.
BUT WHEN WE GET INTO THE MORE SPECIFICS, GEN Z YEARS ARE DEFINITELY LEADING THE WAY.
GEN Z YEARS OF THE VERY FIRST GENERATION TO GET COMPOUNDS OF CLIMATE CHANGE EDUCATION.
THIS IS SOMETHING I TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT IN MY BOOK.
SO WHEN MILLENNIALS WERE IN HIGH SCHOOL, ONLY ABOUT 40 PERCENT OF THE MEDIA AFFIRMED CLIMATE CHANGE IS REAL.
BUT BY THE TIME THAT GEN ZERS WERE OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL, MORE THAN 90 PERCENT AFFIRMED IT'S REAL.
SO THIS GENERATION IS REALLY THE FIRST GENERATION TO CONNECT WHAT WE EAT AND WHAT WE ARE SEEING HAPPENED TO OUR PLANET.
WE ARE OF COURSE SEEING SOME XERS AND BOOMERS IS ALL GETTING INTERESTED IN THE PLANT-BASED SPACE.
THAT TENDS TO BE MORE FOR PERSONAL HEALTH.
OVERALL, PRISMA HEALTH REMAINS THE NUMBER ONE REASON WHY PEOPLE CHOOSE A PLANT-BASED DIET.
>> Cari Stein: WHY DO YOU BELIEVE THE FUTURE OF FOOD IS FEMALE?
ARE THERE MORE WOMEN IN THAT SPACE?
ARE THERE MORE WOMEN WHO ARE INTERESTED IN FOOD AND FOOD TECHNOLOGY?
>> Jenny Stojovic: SO THERE'S TWO REASONS, I BELIEVE.
FIRST AND FOREMOST, HISTORICALLY SPEAKING, WOMEN AND THE FOOD SYSTEM HAVE BEEN SO INTERTWINED.
WE HAVE BEEN, AS WE KIND OF SAW EARLY ON, WE WERE THE ONES IN OUR HOMES PREPARING FOOD.
BUT EVEN FROM A BUSINESS PERSPECTIVE, THE VERY FIRST VEGETARIAN RESTAURANT IN NORTH AMERICA BACK IN THE 1800S BEFORE YOU COULD EVEN OWN A BUSINESS AS A WOMAN WAS RUN BY A WOMAN, A SUFFRAGETTE.
IN FACT, WHO WAS A HUGE PROPONENT FOR VOTING RIGHTS AT THE TIME IN THE LATE 1800S.
AND SO WE HAVE HISTORICALLY BEEN A HUGE PART OF THAT.
AND THE OTHER REASON WHY THE FUTURE OF FOOD IS FEMALE IS QUITE FRANKLY THE FOOD SYSTEM WHICH WE NOW SEE IS BROKEN HAS LARGELY BEEN CREATED BY MEN, LARGELY WHITE MEN.
AND SO WE HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO LET'S SEE WHAT WE CAN DO IF WE BRING MORE WOMEN INTO THE SPACE AND WE BRING MORE WOMEN OF COLOR INTO THE SPACE, IF WE GIVE THEM THE RESOURCES AND THE ATTENTION THAT THEY NEED TO REALLY TAKE THEIR SOLUTIONS TO THE FOREFRONT, TAKE THEM TO THE MARKET, LET'S KIND OF TAKE A STEP BACK AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WOMEN LEAVE.
>> Cari Stein: SO YOU HAD A LOT OF, OBVIOUSLY, A LOT OF WOMEN AT THE VEGAN WOMEN'S SUMMIT.
AND WHAT SORTS OF THINGS DID YOU DISCUSS AND DID YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE OBSTACLES TO BEING VEGAN?
>> Jenny Stojovic: ABSOLUTELY.
SO WE TOUCH ON A WIDE RANGE OF TOPICS BECAUSE WE BELIEVE THAT WE CAN INSPIRE EVERY WOMAN IN THIS WORLD OF NEARLY 4 BILLION OF US TO BRING COMPASSION TO YOUR CAREER.
NO MATTER WHAT YOU DO, WHETHER YOU'RE AN ACTRESS OR A CELEBRITY THAT'S ADVOCATING IN HOLLYWOOD, WHETHER YOU ARE A CEO THAT'S BUILDING ONE OF THE SOLUTIONS THAT WE NEED.
WE THINK THAT WOMEN ALL HAVE THE ABILITY TO MAKE THE WORLD A KINDER, MORE SUSTAINABLE PLACE.
SO WE HAD TALKS FROM EVERYTHING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, HOW CAN YOU TALK TO YOUR FAMILY, ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE FROM A DIFFERENT CULTURE?
A LOT OF WOMEN OF COLOR COME FROM FAMILIES WHERE VEGANISM IS NOT EVEN A CONCEPT THAT'S EVER BEEN DISCUSSED.
RIGHT.
SO THE KOREAN VEGAN JOANNE LEE MOLINARO, SHE'S OF THE MOST FAMOUS IN THIS SPACE, SPOKE ABOUT THAT.
WE ALSO SPOKE WITH EXECUTIVES AT PLACES LIKE IMPOSSIBLE FOODS, TALKING ABOUT HOW COMPANIES CAN BE A PART OF THAT CHANGE.
SO WE BELIEVE THAT EVERY SINGLE INDUSTRY HAS THE ABILITY TO MAKE A MEANINGFUL DIFFERENCE IN THE FOOD SYSTEM AND HOW CAN WE BRING ALL THOSE CONVERSATIONS AND THOSE WOMEN AND THEIR TALENTS TOGETHER.
>> Cari Stein: ARE THERE ANY STORIES ABOUT FEMALE LEADERS IN TECHNOLOGY, AND FOOD TECHNOLOGY, THE INEQUITIES THAT WOMEN FACE THAT YOU COULD SHARE WITH US?
>> Jenny Stojovic: GENDER BIAS HAS BEEN REAL WHEN IT COMES TO FOOD TECH INVESTING.
IN THE REASON THAT WE KNOW THAT IS BECAUSE ONE OF THE AREAS THAT HAS LAGGED BEHIND IN THE MOST SIGNIFICANT WAY IN THIS CONVERSATION HAS BEEN THE INFANT AND TODDLER CATEGORY.
HOW IS IT THAT WE HAVE CREATED PLANT-BASED OPTIONS FOR EVERY SINGLE GROUP EXCEPT FOR FOCUSING ON, YOU KNOW, PREGNANT WOMEN, FOCUSING ON BABIES, TODDLERS?
WE HAVE JUST NOW STARTED TO FUND THAT, AND THAT IS SUCH A GOOD EXAMPLE OF WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU HAVE LARGELY ALL-MALE INVESTORS NOT SEEING THIS OPPORTUNITY.
WHEN PEOPLE SAY HOW BIG IS THE PLANT-BASED INFANT SPACE, WELL, WE HAVEN'T DISRUPTED DAIRY INFANT FORMULA IN OVER 60 YEARS.
IS LARGELY THE EXACT SAME PRODUCT THAT IT WAS BACK IN LIKE THE '70S IN THE '60S WHICH IS ABSOLUTELY CRAZY.
WE HAVE IMPROVED ALL TYPES OF FOOD AND EVERY CATEGORY BUT BABIES BECAUSE NOBODY PAID ATTENTION TO THEM.
100 PERCENT OF US WERE BABIES.
SO THE CATEGORY IS ACTUALLY QUITE HUGE.
990 PERCENT OF BABIES THAT ARE BLACK THAT WERE BORN IN AMERICA WILL NOT BE ABLE TO CONSUME DAIRY.
SO THERE'S ENTIRE SWATHS OF THE POPULATION THAT ARE NOT GETTING SERVED BY THE PRODUCTS THAT CURRENTLY EXIST.
>> Cari Stein: DO YOU THINK IT COULD KEEP WOMEN VERY INVOLVED IN THIS SPACE?
>> Jenny Stojovic: THERE'S A LOT WE CAN DO, BUT I DO WANT TO TOUCH UPON THE LAST REMARK YOU MADE.
GOING INTO THE SCHOOL SYSTEM IS HUGE.
MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE DEVELOPING PALATES THAT ARE MORE PLANT BASED, FACING FROM THE EARLY STAGES IS SO IMPORTANT.
THERE'S ACTUALLY ONE COMPANY THAT I WORK WITH THAT'S DONE A TON OF RESEARCH SHOWING THAT YOUR TASTEBUDS, AS YOU'RE DEVELOPING IN THOSE FIRST, YOU KNOW, SIX TO 12 MONTHS, IF YOU'RE GIVEN A TON OF SUGARY DAIRY PRODUCTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, AND YOU'RE NOT GIVEN MORE PLANT BASED, HEALTHIER OPTIONS, IT CAN ACTUALLY SET YOU ON THE WRONG PATH FOR LIFE BECAUSE YOU ALL HAVE OVERDEVELOPED TASTE BUDS THAT CRAVE SUGAR AND THEN YOU'RE MORE LIKELY TO BECOME A TYPE II DIABETIC AND ALL KINDS OF OTHER THINGS.
SO THE EARLIEST STAGES ARE SO IMPORTANT.
THE SCHOOL SYSTEM IS SO IMPORTANT.
BUT TO A BROADER PERSPECTIVE, HOW CAN WE MAKE SURE THAT WOMEN ARE LEADERS IN THIS SPACE?
WELL, FIRST, OFF, WE NEED TO GIVE THEM MONEY.
97% OF ALL VENTURE CAPITAL IN THE WORLD GOES TOWARDS MALE FOUNDERS, RIGHT?
LESS THAN 3% GOES TO WOMEN FOUNDERS.
THAT'S SO SHOCKING TO THINK.
RIGHT.
AND THEN ON TOP OF THAT, 0.5, 4% GOES TO WOMEN FOUNDERS OF COLOR.
SO WE ARE JUST MISSING HUGE INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES.
AND THAT'S.
AND THAT IS ALSO CONSIDERING THE FACT THAT WOMEN RETURN BETTER VALUATIONS.
SO IF YOU'RE AN INVESTOR, IT MAKES SENSE TO PUT YOUR MONEY ON WOMEN FOUNDERS.
BECAUSE THEY PERFORM BETTER THAN MALE FOUNDERS.
SO THE INVESTMENT PIECE IS BIG.
WE ALSO NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WOMEN ARE REPRESENTED IN THE TALENT PIPELINE.
MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE WOMEN EXECUTIVES.
MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE WOMEN BOARD MEMBERS BECAUSE WOMEN HAVE A DIVERSE LIVED EXPERIENCE THAT JUST, QUITE FRANKLY, IS NOT PRESENT IN MANY MALE LEADERS.
SO IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE REACHING ALL CONSUMERS, YOU NEED TO HAVE ALL GROUPS REPRESENTED.
CORPORATE BOARDS FOR SOME OF THESE FOOD TECHNOLOGIES DON'T HAVE EVEN A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF WOMEN THERE ARE SOME THAT ARE ALL MALE.
>> Jenny Stojovic: YEAH.
BECAUSE, WELL, THINK ABOUT BAKERIES.
SO THINK SO MUCH OF THE FOOD SYSTEM HAS HISTORICALLY BEEN LED BY WHITE MEN.
WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT YOUR NESTLE'S, AND PROCTER AND GAMBLE AND THOSE BIG OLD CORPORATE FOOD COMPANIES, MANY OF THEM WERE MALE LEADERSHIP.
AND SO WHEN YOU GO TO POLL FOR YOUR BOARD, YOU'RE PROBABLY GOING TO PULL A LOT OF EXECUTIVES THAT CAME FROM THAT SPACE.
SO UNFORTUNATELY, THERE ARE A LOT OF BOARDS THAT ARE VERY MALE, VERY WHITE, WE'RE TRYING TO CHANGE THAT, OF COURSE, BUT IT'S A BIG PROBLEM.
>> Cari Stein: WELL, I GUESS SOME OF IT ALSO HAS TO DO IT HAS TO DO WITH MONEY AND WHO'S BEEN MAKING MONEY AND DO PEOPLE SEE PLANT BASED AS BEING A GOOD FINANCIAL INVESTMENT?
DO THEY SEE PLANT BASED BEING A MORAL DECISION?
WHERE DO MOST OF THE WOMEN THAT YOU MEET WHO DECIDE TO BE IN THIS SPACE?
WHERE DO THEY WHERE DO THEY FIT IN?
>> Jenny Stojovic: SO WOMEN ARE SIGNIFICANTLY MORE LIKELY TO FOUND A COMPANY FOR A MISSION VERSUS MEN.
SO THE STUDIES SHOW THAT MEN ARE EIGHT TIMES MORE LIKELY TO FOUND A COMPANY FOR -- FOR MONETARY FINANCIAL PURPOSES.
SO WOMEN DEFINITELY CARE ABOUT THE MISSION IN A WAY THAT IS THEN SIGNIFICANTLY MORE IMPACTFUL THAN MEN.
BUT WHAT IS THE MISSION MEAN TO THEM?
WELL, WE HAVE A TON A TON OF FOUNDERS THAT WE.
>> Jenny Stojovic: EVERY YEAR WITH OUR FOUNDERS SURVEY THAT CITE ENVIRONMENT AND CLIMATE CHANGE AS THE NUMBER ONE REASON THEY STARTED THEIR COMPANY.
WE ALSO HAVE A LOT OF WOMEN THAT CITE PERSONAL HEALTH.
THEY WANT TO MAKE BETTER FOR YOU PRODUCTS BECAUSE A LOT OF THEM ARE MOMS.
A LOT OF WOMEN THAT WE.
>> Jenny Stojovic: FIND THAT THERE ARE NOT HEALTHY PRODUCTS OR ALLERGEN FREE PRODUCTS FOR FOR THEIR YOUNGSTERS.
AND THAT'S WHAT INSPIRED THEM TO CREATE A COMPANY.
DENISE WOODARD OF PARTAKE FOODS JUST ANNOUNCED TODAY SHE'S PARTNERING WITH SESAME STREET FOR THE TO CREATHE FIRST EVER VEGAN ALLERGEN FREE COOKIES.
MASSIVE LAUNCH, BECAUSE SO MANY KIDS ARE BEING LEFT IN AMERICA WITHOUT OPTIONS IS NO COOKIE FOR THEM TO EAT.
LIKE, HOW CRAZY IS THAT?
SO THERE'S A LOT OF REASONS WHY WOMEN COME TO THE SPACE, BUT THEY ALL DO HAVE THAT MISSION DRIVEN PURPOSE UNDERNEATH, REGARDLESS OF WHAT THAT MISSION IS.
>> Cari Stein: AND ALSO, PEOPLE THINK ABOUT PLANT BASED FOODS AND THEY THINK THAT'S MORE EXPENSIVE.
BUT YOU KNOW, I HAVE BEEN READING THAT.
THAT'S NOT ALWAYS THE CASE.
>> Jenny Stojovic: IT'S NOT.
IT REALLY IS AND.
SO OBVIOUSLY, WE HAVE ALL THESE PLANT BASED MEAT ALTERNATIVES THAT HAVE EMERGED IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS OR SO.
AND, YOU KNOW, CERTAINLY WHEN THEY FIRST HIT THE MARKET, THEY WERE A LITTLE BIT PRICIER BECAUSE THEY'RE BRAND NEW PRODUCTS BEFORE YOU ARE ABLE TO SCALE.
THAT TENDS TO HAPPEN.
BUT PLANT BASED OPTIONS IN GENERAL ARE NOT AS EXPENSIVE AND ELITIST CONVERSATIONS WILL LEAD YOU TO TO BELIEVE.
SO MANY CIVILIZATIONS FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS HAVE BEEN PRIMARILY PLANT BASED.
YOU KNOW, MOST OF ASIAN CULTURE HAS BEEN PRIMARILY PLANT BASED.
MOST OF AFRICAN CULTURE HAS BEEN PRIMARILY PLANT BASED.
MEXICAN CULTURE, YOU KNOW, THINGS LIKE BEANS AND RICE AND LEGUMES, LIKE ALL OF THAT IS A PLANT BASED DIET.
WE DON'T JUST NEED TO BE EATING IMPOSSIBLE BURGERS AND BEYOND MEAT, BURGERS.
I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT I CERTAINLY DIDN'T EAT A BURGER EVERY SINGLE DAY OF MY LIFE BEFORE I WENT VEGAN.
YES, I HEAR YOU ON THAT.
BURGERS AREN'T THE ONLY THING THAT PEOPLE ARE EATING THAT ARE PART OF AN ANIMAL, THAT'S FOR SURE.
AND I KNOW THAT YOU'VE SPOKEN ABOUT HOW THERE'S THIS BURGEONING OF OTHER OPPORTUNITIES THAT IT'S NOT JUST MEAT AND IT'S NOT JUST PLANT BASED.
THERE ARE OTHER WAY, OTHER WAYS TO DO IT.
>> Jenny Stojovic: SO THERE IS SO MUCH INNOVATION THAT'S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW.
SO IN THE FOOD SYSTEM, WE, OF COURSE, HAVE ALL THESE DIFFERENT PLANT BASED OPTIONS THAT ARE THAT ARE POPPING UP, EVERYTHING FROM YOUR MEAT ALTERNATIVES TO YOUR EGGS YOUR DAIRY, YOUR SEAFOOD.
WE'RE SEEING ALL KINDS OF TECHNOLOGIES AS WELL WITH CELL CULTIVATED MEAT.
SO FOR FOLKS THAT ARE NOT AWARE, YOU'VE PROBABLY HEARD OF LAB GROWN MEAT, QUOTE, UNQUOTE.
THAT'S WHAT IT WAS KIND OF KNOWN OF ABOUT TEN YEARS AGO WHEN THE VERY FIRST LAB GROWN HAMBURGER DEBUTED.
THOSE COMPANIES HAVE BEEN GROWING THERE IN SCALING FOR THE LAST TEN YEARS, AND MANY OF THEM ARE NOW READY TO ACTUALLY HIT THE MARKET.
THERE IS ACTUALLY ONE COUNTRY THAT IS CURRENTLY SERVING CELL BASED MEATS TO THE PUBLIC SO IT'S BEEN REGULATED IN SINGAPORE, AND MANY MORE COUNTRIES ARE GOING TO BE COMING OUT SOON AND STARTING TO SELL THIS TO THE PUBLIC.
IT'S NOT STAR TREK.
IT'S VERY REAL AND IT IS GOING TO HAPPEN BEFORE YOU KNOW IT.
>> Cari Stein: WE DID THE STORY WHEN THE FIRST RESEARCH CAME OUT ABOUT MAKING MEAT IN THE LAB, AND EVERYONE WAS SO CONFUSED ABOUT IT AND, YOU KNOW, THEY ARE THINKING ABOUT THE FACT THAT MAYBE, YOU KNOW, IN THE SAME WAY THAT WE LOOK AT, COULD YOU BELIEVE THAT WE SEE PEOPLE THEIR PHONES NOW?
ND AT ONE POINT WE DEFINITELY DID NOT BELIEVE THAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN.
>> Jenny Stojovic: OF COURSE, OF COURSE.
>> Cari Stein: SO AS FAR AS THAT GOES, IS IT HEALTHY?
I KNOW PROCESSED FOODS, KEEP AWAY FROM PROCESSED FOODS, ALSO.
THAT'S ONE OF THE PROBLEMS IN PEOPLE'S DIETS, IS WHEN YOU SEE SOMETHING LIKE AN IMPOSSIBLE BURGER OR YOU AT EVEN TALKED ABOUT CHICKEN, WHICH IS THE NUMBER ONE I GUESS MEAT THAT PEOPLE IN AMERICA EAT.
ARE THEY HEALTHY OPTIONS OR ARE THEY PROCESSED?
>> Jenny Stojovic: SO ALL MEET PROCESS YOUR EATING ON A DAILY BASIS, ALMOST EVERY ANIMAL PRODUCT THAT EXISTS IS PROCESSED TO SOME DEGREE.
I THINK PEOPLE ARE USING THE WORD PROCESSED QUITE LIBERALLY THESE DAYS.
YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING FROM TOFU IS PROCESSED.
ANY SORT OF MEAT THAT YOU'VE EATEN PROBABLY IN AMERICA THAT IS COMING FROM A GROCERY STORE IS PROCESSED.
SO ARE THESE MEAT ALTERNATIVES PROCESSED TOO?
YES, BY DEFINITION THEY ARE, JUST LIKE MOST FOODS THAT WE EAT.
ARE THEY HEALTHY?
WELL, THEY CERTAINLY CONTAIN NO TRANS FATS.
THEY DON'T HAVE CHOLESTEROL LIKE AN ANIMAL PRODUCT DOES.
KNOW PLANT-BASED PRODUCTS CONTAIN CHOLESTEROL.
THAT'S A FUN FACT FOR YOU.
ONLY ON ANIMAL PRODUCTS ACTUALLY DO CONTAIN IT BECAUSE IT COMES FROM AN ANIMAL.
BUT ARE THEY HIGH IN CALORIES?
CERTAINLY.
I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND THAT YOU EAT A REGULAR BURGER EVERY DAY AND I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND THAT YOU BE IN IMPOSSIBLE BURGER EVERY DAY.
SO IN MODERATION, THERE DEFINITELY A PRODUCT THAT'S BETTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT.
THEY ARE HEALTHIER FOR YOU.
IF YOU'RE ABLE TO ADD THEM INTO YOUR DIET AS A WAY TO REDUCE YOUR MEAT CONSUMPTION, I ABSOLUTELY RECOMMEND IT.> Cari Stein: AT THE VEGAN WOMEN'S SUMMIT, WERE THERE ALSO VENDORS OR PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT THE USE OF ANIMALS FOR COATS AND FOR SHOES AND OTHER, YOU KNOW, OTHER APPAREL?
>> Jenny Stojovic: YES, ABSOLUTELY.
SO WE HAD FUN -- 40+ PLANT PAYS BRANDS, TONS OF FOOD, OF COURSE, AND SOME VEGAN SHOWS.
BUT WE ALSO HAD PLANT BASED LEATHERS SHOES, BAGS.
WE HAD VENDORS COMING FROM ALL OVER WITH VEGAN BEAUTIES.
WOW.
VEGAN, BEAUTIFUL, MASSIVE, MASSIVE CATEGORY.
IT'S ACTUALLY ON TRACK WITHIN THE NEXT FEW YEARS.
IF IT KEEPS GROWING AT THIS RATE, YOU CAN BEAUTY WILL OUTPACE VEGAN FOOD FOR GROWTH.
SO THERE IS A TON OF INNOVATION THAT'S HAPPENING NOT JUST ON A FOOD LEVEL.
BUT IN ALL THE WAYS THAT WE USE ANIMAL PRODUCTS.
MANY PEOPLE DON'T THINK OF THE FACT THAT ONE COW PRODUCES HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF DIFFERENT PRODUCTS.
COW PRODUCTS END UP IN CRAYONS COW PRODUCTS END UP IN HAMBURGERS, COW PRODUCTS END UP IN YOUR CAR.
THERE'S A LOT OF WAYS THAT WE USE ANIMALS CURRENTLY IN THE IN THE SUPPLY CHAIN AND SO PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO THINK ABOUT IF WE STOP USING THEM FOR THIS WAY, HOW DOES IT AFFECT ALL THESE OTHER INDUSTRIES?
AND SO I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE FUTURE OF BOTH VEGAN BEAUTY AS WELL AS VEGAN LEATHER, VEGAN MATERIALS.
YOU'RE NOW SEEING MOST OF THE NEW CARS THAT ARE COMING OUT, ALMOST EVERY ELECTRIC CAR.
YOU KNOW, TESLA ONLY COMES IN VEGAN LEATHER.
NOW, BMW JAGUAR, LOTS AND LOTS OF COMPANIESARE EVEN STARTING TO ADOPT THESE PRODUCTS AS WELL.
>> Cari Stein: AND MUSHROOM LEATHER, I HEARD OF.
>> Jenny Stojovic: YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.
STELLA McCARTNEY, PAUL McCARTNEY'S DAUGHTER, HAS RELEASED SOME VERY, VERY COOL MUSHROOM LEATHER PRODUCTS.
THIS ALSO CACTUS LEATHER, PINEAPPLE LEATHER, ONE OF THE BRANDS THAT WE HEAD INTO VEGAN WOMEN'S SUMMIT WAS DOING APPLE CORE LEATHER.
AND WAS REALLY NEAT ABOUT THIS IS A LOT OF IT IS UP CYCLING.
SO THESE ARE PRODUCTS THAT ARE CONSIDERED WASTE CURRENTLY PINEAPPLE LEATHER.
THESE ARE THINGS THAT WE WOULD BE COMPOSTING OTHERWISE.
SO THE ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS ARE A DOUBLE WHAMMY FOR BENEFITS BECAUSE, A LEATHER IS REALLY BAD FOR THE ENVIRONMENT.
HE WAY THAT TANNERIES OPERATE.
SO WE CAN REMOVE THAT AND, B, WE CAN USE UP PRODUCTS THAT ALREADY ARE GOING INTO RECYCLING OR COMPOSTING.
>> Cari Stein: AND WHY DON'T WE SPEAK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHY THIS IS AN ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUE.
>> Jenny Stojovic: SO ALMOST HALF OF ALL CARBON EMISSIONS CREATED GLOBALLY ARE RELATED TO ANIMAL AGRICULTURE.
ANIMAL AGRICULTURE IS A MASSIVE CONTRIBUTOR TO THE GLOBAL WARMING.
WE ARE NOW FACING IN THE CLIMATE CRISIS.
WHEN YOU MUCH OF IT IS THROUGH CATTLE KIND OF PARSE AWAY AT THATPRODUCTION.
THAT SAME CATTLE PRODUCTION ALSO REQUIRES VERY, VERY INTENSIVE FARMING THAT CAN SUPPORT IT.
SO THE MAJORITY OF SOY THAT IS GROWN BOTH IN THE UNITED STATES, WE ARE THE THIRD BIGGEST SOY PRODUCER IN THE WORLD AND GLOBALLY GOES TOWARDS CATTLE.
80% GOES TOWARDS ANIMAL FEED.
SO FROM AN ENVIRONMENTAL PERSPECTIVE, WE NOT ONLY HAVE BOTH ALL OF THE THINGS THAT GO INTO GROWING THE ANIMALS FOR US TO CONSUME OURSELVES, BUT THERE'S A MASSIVE IMPACT ON THE PLANET FOR WHAT WE HAVE TO GROW TO FEED THEM.
SO FROM A CARBON EMISSIONS, ALSO METHANE, NITROGEN, THERE'S OTHER GASES THAT ARE RELEASED THROUGH CATTLE PRODUCTION THAT ARE EVEN WORSE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND ITS EFFECTS.
SO THE ONLY WAY FOR US TO COMBAT THE EFFECTS OF THE CLIMATE CRISIS, WE KNOW WE HAVE ABOUT TEN YEARS LEFT BEFORE WE REACH THE POINT OF NO RETURN, IS TO RADICALLY TRANSFORM THE OUTPUT OF CARBON EMISSIONS.
AND THE EASIEST WAY TO DO IT IS MOVING AWAY FROM ANIMAL AGRICULTURE.
>> Cari Stein: TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE BOOK THAT YOU WROTE.
WERE THERE ANY SURPRISING REVELATIONS THAT YOU UNEARTHED DURING YOUR INTERVIEWS AND RESEARCH?
>> Jenny Stojovic: THE ONE THAT SURPRISED ME THE MOST, AND THIS IS GOING TO BE INTERESTING FOR FOLKS THAT AREN'T TOO FAMILIAR WITH THE TECHNOLOGY SIDE, WE ACTUALLY HAVE CERTAIN COMPANIES OUT THERE THAT ARE CREATING CELL-BASED OR LAB GROWN MILK.
BUT WHAT'S FASCINATING IS THAT, HISTORICALLY SPEAKING, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT MILK, YOU ARE ACTUALLY TALKING ABOUT COWS MILK.
MOST PEOPLE IN THE WORLD ARE CONSUMING COWS MILK.
WE HAVE THE ABILITY WITH TECHNOLOGY THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY START CONSUMING MILK THAT'S SPECIFIC TO US.
SO THERE'S COMPANIES OUT THERE THAT ARE CREATING HUMAN MILK IN THE LAB, WHETHER EXPRESSED MILK FOR BABIES, OR WHETHER IT'S PRODUCTS THAT YOU WOULD NORMALLY HAVE A DAIRY COMPONENT IN, THEY ARE NOW PARTNERING WITH BRANDS ALL AROUND THE WORLD TO MAKE A HUMAN MILK COMPONENT TO GO IN THEM.HAT ABSOLUTELY BLEW MY MIND.
I HAVE NO IDEA THAT THERE WOULD BE THE ABILITY FOR US TO RE-CREATE HUMAN MILK AND A LAB AND GET RID OF THE USE OF COWS MILK.
>> Cari Stein: WE ALL KNOW THAT SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE REACTIONS TO DAIRY.
I WOULD THINK THAT THAT'S WHY, PROBABLY, OAT MILK AND ALL THE OTHER COCONUT MILK ARE VERY POPULAR.
>> Jenny Stojovic: GLOBALLY SPEAKING, THERE'S A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF THE POPULATION THAT HAS ISSUES WITH DAIRY.
TYPICALLY FOLKS, AFRICAN-AMERICANS COME AS I MENTIONED EARLIER.
90 PERCENT CANNOT CONSUME LACTOSE PAUL ALSO, THE ASIAN POPULATION.
BEST PARTS OF THIS WORLD WHERE IT'S NOT NORMALIZED TO CONSUME DAIRY AS WE HAVE BEEN FOR THE LAST FEW DECADES.
AND ON TOP OF THAT, WE ARE MAKING HUGE STRIDES IN THE U.S. TO GET RID OF PEOPLE DRINKING DAIRY ON A DAILY BASIS.
IN FACT, 40 PERCENT OF HOUSEHOLDS IN AMERICA BUY A MILK ALTERNATIVE.
ALMOST HALF OF AMERICAN HOUSEHOLDS HAVE A MILK ALTERNATIVE.
AND AS YOU KIND OF MENTIONED WITH THE MILK ALTERNATIVES, ALMOND MILK IS THE CHOICE.
THAT IS A HUGE, HUGE SPACE.
AND SO, IF WE CAN DO IT WITH MILK, WHY NOT SHE IS?
WHY NOT YOGURT?
WE HAVE ALL KINDS OF REALLY GREAT DAIRY PRODUCTS THAT ARE STARTING TO EMERGE.
LESS THAN 1 PERCENT OF OUR HOMES BUY A PLANT-BASED CHEESE, BUT 40% BUY A PLANT BASED MILK.
>> Cari Stein: WHAT ARE THE MAIN OBSTACLES TO PEOPLE BECOMING VEGANS?
AND DO YOU HAVE ANY ANY SUGGESTIONS FOR THOSE WHO FEEL POWERLESS AS AGAINST THE PROFIT DRIVEN SYSTEM THAT RELIES ON ANIMALS?
HOW DO YOU GET INVOLVED,EVEN IN SMALL WAYS?
>> Jenny Stojovic: SO FIRST OFF, YOU VOTE WITH YOUR DOLLAR.
I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WHEN WE HAVE THIS CONVERSATION AND ALSO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT SUPPORTING WOMEN, WHEN WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE FUTURE THAT WE WENT TO SEE AND WHAT WE WANT THE ECONOMY TO LOOK LIKE, HOW WE WANT TO REBALANCE THAT, YOU NEED TO REALIZE THAT EVERY SINGLE TIME YOU BUY A PRODUCT, YOU ARE VOTING WITH THAT DOLLAR.
AND SO, EVEN MOVING JUST A SMALL AMOUNT OF YOUR BUDGET AWAY FROM BUYING ANIMAL PRODUCTS AND BUYING PLANT-BASED PRODUCTS IS HUGE.
IN FACT, THERE'S SO MANY NEW COMPANIES THAT ARE EMERGING THAT ARE ACTUALLY PART OF A LARGER ANIMAL PRODUCT COMPANY.
THEN ON OWENS SOAK FOR INSTANCE, WHICH IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST PLANT-BASED MILK COMPANIES.
SO EVERY TIME YOU SHOW THEM THAT YOU ARE BUYING THEIR PLANT-BASED PRODUCT INSTEAD, THEY ACTUALLY TRANSITION A LITTLE BIT OF THE PRODUCT TOWARDS THE PLANT BASELINE.
SO THE MORE THAT WE CAN SHOW BRANDS THAT WE WANT TO BUY THEIR VEGAN PRODUCTS VERSUS THEIR ANIMAL PRODUCTS, THE BIGGER DIFFERENCE WE CAN MAKE.
THAT'S WHY IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO SUPPORT ALL PLANT-BASED BRANDS.
OF COURSE, YOU WANT TO ALSO SUPPORT SMALL BRANDS.
YOU ALSO WANT TO SUPPORT BRANDS THAT ARE PLANT-BASED FROM THE BEGINNING.
THAT'S A HUGE FOCUS FOR A LOT OF VEGANS.
THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY SUPPORT VEGAN ONLY BRANDS, BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE DON'T KIND OF MISS SEEING THE BIGGER PICTURE HERE, AND THAT IS WE NEED TO WORK WITHIN THE SYSTEM THAT CURRENTLY EXISTS.
SO ANYWAY WE CAN GET COMPANIES TO HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE PLANT-BASED PRODUCTS, MAKE THEM A BIT MORE ACCESSIBLE YOU ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE WHEN YOU SUPPORT THEM.
>> Cari Stein: YOU ARE CLEARLY INCREDIBLY PASSIONATE ABOUT THE SUBJECT.
THIS COMES FROM YOUR HEART.
YOU CAN HEAR THAT.
WHAT IS IT THAT MOTIVATES YOU TO KEEP MOVING FORWARD?
>> Jenny Stojovic: I CONSIDER THIS TO BE MY NORTHSTAR.
I BELIEVE THAT I HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY TO LEAVE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE THAN I FOUND IT.
AND THERE IS NO GREATER IMPACT THAT YOU CAN MAKE DAN IN THE FOOD SYSTEM.
FOR OUR PLANET, FOR OUR HEALTH, FOR OUR ANIMALS, FOR ALL OF US.
WE ALL WILL BENEFIT FROM CREATING A KIND OF FOOD SYSTEM.
>> Cari Stein: I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY A VERY GOOD PLACE TO WRAP THIS UP.
JENNY, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME!
WE ARE REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING MORE FROM YOU IN SEEING ALL THE OTHER THINGS THAT YOU WILL BE DOING.
>> Jenny Stojovic: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME!
HOPE TO SEE YOU AT THE NEXT VEGAN WOMEN'S SUMMIT.
>> Cari Stein: OKAY!
COMING.
THAT'S IT FOR THIS EDITION.
LET'S KEEP THE CONVERSATION GOING ON TWITTER, FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM.
VISIT OUR WEBSITE, PBS.org/TOTHECONTRARY.
AND WHETHER YOU AGREE OR THINK "TO THE CONTRARY", SEE YOU NEXT TIME FOR A TRANSCRIPT OF THIS EPISODE OF "TO THE CONTRARY," PLEASE VISIT OUR PBS WEBSITE AT PBS.org/TO THE CONTRARY.
SON TO
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