FROM THE DESK OF BEN DAVIS
CONTENT & COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR
PLANT BASED WORLD CONFERENCE & EXPO
Walking the expo floor at Natural Products Expo West in Anaheim last week, one thing was clear: the future of natural food is plant-based. Nearly every other booth was decorated with plant and vegetation imagery with the terms “plant-based” and “vegan” in bold letters on packaging and signage as far as the eye could see.
The experience was a pleasure – for my taste buds, of course, which particularly enjoyed the new “chicken” tenders from Dr. Praeger’s, ground “beef” from Beyond Meat and oat milk lattes from Califia Farms. But also from the perspective of being a part of a community that is so much bigger than just a growing market or an industry trend. The shift towards plant-based eating and living is the embodiment of the progression towards a healthier world. The people working in this space, be they brand developers, mission-driven investors, media influencers or anyone in between, exude a purposefulness that goes far beyond simply running a successful business. It’s a collaborative effort to bring something new into the world – something that not only tastes great and maintains the cultural impact that food has on our daily lives, but also serves to bring us, as human beings, back into balance with the natural world that we are a part of.
The experience also got me even more excited about the launch of Plant Based World Conference & Expo this June in NYC. What began as a dream just over a year ago – to create a home for this community to call its own, to share ideas for the future and celebrate the progress that has been made – is now so clearly needed. It is time for plant-based brands to be able to exhibit at a trade show without needing to worry about their booth bumping up against a slice of bacon or beef jerky. It’s time for professionals to have an opportunity to immerse themselves in an educational experience that dives into the unique and nuanced topics that are relevant to the growth of this particular market. It’s time for healthcare professionals and the general public they serve to join forces in pioneering a new perspective on what it means to be healthy that can be passed on to generations to come.
You can now check out the PBW conference agenda with sessions for food industry professionals, health professionals and consumers. More keynote announcements and speakers will be announced in the coming weeks, and don’t forget to register by April 5th for early bird pricing on all pass options!
Stay tuned for newsletters each month ripe with exclusive content and industry updates, and feel free to reach out to me at any time!
Ben Davis
ben@theplantbasedworld.com