In this special solo edition of the Sustainable Commodities Podcast, host Barnaby Patchett delivers an honest debrief on the FutureChain 2026 conference. Reflecting on the April event in London, Barnaby cuts through the corporate noise to examine the programme, and look at the hard economic truths driving the sector.

Across both the Regenerative Agriculture and Raw Materials Risk tracks, the overriding message was clear: sustainability is now intrinsically linked to supply chain resilience.

Please note, the opinions expressed in this episode are Barnaby’s – co-host Judith did not attend the event!
Key talking points include:

Geopolitical Threats: The ongoing conflicts in Iran and Ukraine and the resulting global supply chain vulnerabilities. The Procurement Gap: A panel featuring Mars, Procter & Gamble, and AstraZeneca highlighting the disconnect between sustainability and procurement incentives.
Regulatory Red Tape: A session featuring the EU Commission and Barnaby’s thoughts on whether new legislation, such as the EUDR and CSDDD, is driving progress or simply creating more administrative burden.
The Finance Catch-22: The expense of the transition to regenerative agriculture and the challenge of who pays. Farmers need upfront finance to make the change, but investors and corporates demand data and proof of outcomes before they will pay.
On-the-Ground Success: A standout presentation from Lush and Alowan showcased a successful landscape approach to coconut sourcing in Indonesia. The project was praised for focusing on tangible impact and securing better financial terms for smallholders. A massive thank you to Kisaco Research for organising the event and providing the platform to record these insights.

FutureChain 2026
One Nine Nine
Murdoch Associates