Matthew Dillon is the co-CEO of The Organic Trade Association.

Matthew was raised in an agricultural family and community in Nebraska and has held diverse roles in organic food and farming, working from seed to shelf. He headed Abundant Life Seed, one of the first certified seed companies in the U.S. and founded Organic Seed Alliance. He worked for over ten years at Clif Bar & Company in several roles including Vice President of Impact and Government Affairs. He most recently served as Chief Sustainability Officer for organic poultry producer Farmer Focus. As co-CEO for OTA, Matthew oversees the organization's public relations, policy agenda, member engagement and fundraising.

TOPICS EXPLORED

0:00 – 0:20 – Introduction

0:20 – 1:15 – Matthew Dillon's bio

1:15 – 3:04 – What is the Organic Trade Association?

3:04 – 4:57 – How did the Organic Trade Association get started and how has it evolved over the years?

4:57 – 9:09 – Why is organic agriculture important?

9:09 – 15:23 – Why should small and medium farms become USDA certified organic and what are some of the challenges they face?

15:23 – 18:04 – Can you tell me about the Organic Trade Association's role as a National Partner for the U.S. Agriculture Department's (USDA) Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP) and how it helps farms transition to organic practices?

18:04 – 26:56 – What are some of the challenges related to domestic and international organic agriculture?

26:56 – 32:12 – What are some of the key findings of the 2026 Organic Trade Association Organic Market report including market trends and global trade dynamics?

32:12 – 40:36 – How is the regenerative agriculture movement similar or different from the organic agriculture movement?

40:36 – 43:13 – What are some of the biggest things the Organic Trade Association is working on this year, and how can people become involved?

43:13 – 46:20 – What do you see as the future of the organic agriculture movement?

46:20 – 47:16 – Things to share and wrap up

ORGANIC TRADE ASSOCIATION:

https://ota.com/

RESOURCES

Organic 101: https://ota.com/organic-101

Organic Trade Association Resources: https://ota.com/resources

Organic Trade Association Membership: https://ota.com/membership

FOOD FOR YOU AND THE PLANET PODCAST INFORMATION

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/food-for-you-and-the-planet/id1739416396

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7pkAIuXxl9dzD48b7qMOL1

RSS: https://feeds.libsyn.com/506343/rss

Podcast Instagram: @foodforyouandtheplanet

TAGS

Food

Environment

Health

Podcast

Sustainability

Farms

Farming

Organic

Organic Agriculture

USDA Certified Organic

Organic Trade Association

Joe Whinney is the CEO and Co-Founder of Magic Chocolate.

Joe Whinney is the former CEO and co-founder of Theo Chocolate, the first 100% organic and fair-trade chocolate company in the US and he is now the CEO and co-founder of Magic Chocolate, the world's first Regenerative Organic Certified chocolate bar.

TOPICS EXPLORED

0:00 – 0:23 – Introduction

0:23 – 1:00 – Joe Whinney's bio

1:00 – 3:20 – What is Magic Chocolate and how did it begin?

3:20 – 5:26 – How did you become interested in making chocolate?

5:26 – 7:23 – How can entrepreneurship help foster a more compassionate and just world?

7:23 – 9:12 – What are some of the social and environmental challenges in the chocolate industry?

9:12 – 11:10 – How does Magic Chocolate aim to address some of these social and environmental issues?

11:10 – 12:47 – How do you source the ingredients for your chocolate, and how does that differ from the way most chocolate companies source their ingredients?

12:47 – 14:36 – Can you tell me a little bit about plant-based or vegan chocolate?

14:36 – 16:48 – What are some of your favorite things about Magic Chocolate?

16:48 – 19:24 – What do you see as the future of sustainable food and farming?

19:24 – 21:32 – Things to share and wrap up

MAGIC CHOCOLATE:

https://magicchocolate.com/

RESOURCES

https://magicchocolate.com/collections/chocolate-bars

https://magicchocolate.com/collections/new-truffle-bars

FOOD FOR YOU AND THE PLANET PODCAST INFORMATION

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/food-for-you-and-the-planet/id1739416396

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7pkAIuXxl9dzD48b7qMOL1

RSS: https://feeds.libsyn.com/506343/rss

Podcast Instagram: @foodforyouandtheplanet

TAGS

Food

Environment

Health

Podcast

Sustainability

Farming

Regenerative

Regenerative Farming

Regenerative Organic Certified

Cocoa

Chocolate

Magic Chocolate

David Finlay is the owner and co-founder of The Ethical Dairy which he co-founded with his late wife Wilma.

David Finlay is renowned for his innovative and sustainable approach to dairying. As an early adopter of organic farming, he has led the movement in Scotland and the UK, integrating agroecological practices, renewable energy solutions, and forward-thinking dairying systems, such as cow-calf contact dairying. His commitment to sustainability is evident through his work on soil and pasture management, wind turbines, and biodigesters, winning him multiple accolades, including the 2006 BBC Farmer of the Year Award.

TOPICS EXPLORED

0:00 – 0:22 – Introduction

0:22 – 1:08 – David Finlay's bio

1:08 – 1:43 – What is The Ethical Dairy and how did it begin?

1:43 – 2:47 – How did you become interested in sustainable food and agriculture?

2:47 – 3:44 – Why are organic and regenerative farming practices important?

3:44 – 5:20 – How were animals traditionally raised prior to the industrialization of the agriculture industry?

5:20 – 6:04 – How are most dairy farms operated now?

6:04 – 8:17 – What does having an "ethical dairy" mean to you, and how do dairy cows and calves live on your farm?

8:17 – 10:08 – Can you tell me about the book you wrote with your wife and the film about your farm?

10:08 – 12:59 – Why did you make the decision to have calves stay with their mothers and what benefits could there be to farmers who may want to try this?

12:59 – 14:40 – Can you tell me about the EU funded project called Transform Dairy?

14:40 – 17:10 – If other farmers around the world were to try to have an ethical dairy like yours, what steps would you recommend they take to help them on the ethical dairy path?

17:10 – 18:20 – What do you see as the future of ethical and sustainable food and farming?

18:20 – 19:22 – Things to share and wrap up

THE ETHICAL DAIRY CO:

https://theethicaldairy.co.uk/

A DAIRY STORY BOOK:

https://theethicaldairy.co.uk/our-book

A DAIRY STORY FILM:

https://adairystory.com/

RESOURCES

The pioneering dairy farmer keeping calves with their mothers: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cly452540dzo

Transform Dairy Net: https://transformdairynet.eu/

FOOD FOR YOU AND THE PLANET PODCAST INFORMATION

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/food-for-you-and-the-planet/id1739416396

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7pkAIuXxl9dzD48b7qMOL1

RSS: https://feeds.libsyn.com/506343/rss

Podcast Instagram: @foodforyouandtheplanet

TAGS

Food

Environment

Health

Podcast

Sustainability

Farming

Dairy

Scotland

The Ethical Dairy

Ethical Dairy

Cheesemaking

A Dairy Story