What does rewilding really mean? And do people championing it really understand how it works in practice? In this episode of The State of Sustainability, Saif unpacks the differences between organic, regenerative, and rewilding practices. As well as why so many sustainability advocates misunderstand rewilding, despite promoting it.

Saif explains the contrast between organic farming's strict, input-focused certification process and regenerative agriculture's more flexible, outcomes-based approach centered on biodiversity and soil health.

Saif also examines the structural realities of mainstream farming across the world. He points out that big, single-crop farms and most of the money in farming are concentrated in wealthier northern countries. Meanwhile, in poorer southern countries, land is often split up among many small owners, making it much harder to run large farms or get organic certification.

Rewilding itself is still an abstract concept requiring a major mindset shift that isn't feasible for every farmer. Despite the challenges, Saif remains cautiously optimistic, seeing rewilding as a necessary evolution in how we approach agriculture and land management going forward.

Let Saif know what you think by emailing Saif@altruistiq.com.

To discover how leading organisations are improving sustainability reporting and carbon management, visit Altruistiq.com.

Join us at the State of Sustainability Summit: London
On 14 October, Altruistiq is bringing together senior sustainability, procurement and supply chain leaders from leading consumer goods companies for a day of practical discussions on the challenges shaping the future of the industry. From product carbon footprints and supply chain collaboration to AI, regulation and the next generation of sustainability leadership, the summit is designed to equip practitioners with actionable insights and meaningful connections.
Register your interest here: https://www.altruistiq.com/events/the-state-of-sustainability-summit-london

This podcast is produced by The Podcast Coach.

In this episode of The State of Sustainability, Saif explores the rise, decline, and future opportunities of plant-based proteins, focusing on the technological innovations, branding challenges, and market dynamics. He shares insights from the industry’s early boom with Beyond Meat and Impossible Foods to the recent slowdown, along with predictions on where the space might go next.

Saif covers the initial hype around plant-based meat and why the sector captured so much attention in 2019 and 2020. He also outlines the core obstacles that slowed momentum, including taste, texture, price, and the difficulty of competing with the deeply established emotional pull of meat brands.

Saif shares his insights into where the category may still win, especially in emerging markets, B2B channels, and ingredient-level innovation. His long-term view is that plant-based protein is not a dead end, but a space that may succeed through sharper targeting, better economics, and new technologies like fermentation and tissue culture.

Let Saif know what you think by emailing Saif@altruistiq.com.

To discover how leading organisations are improving sustainability reporting and carbon management, visit Altruistiq.com.

Join us at the State of Sustainability Summit: London
On 14 October, Altruistiq is bringing together senior sustainability, procurement and supply chain leaders from leading consumer goods companies for a day of practical discussions on the challenges shaping the future of the industry. From product carbon footprints and supply chain collaboration to AI, regulation and the next generation of sustainability leadership, the summit is designed to equip practitioners with actionable insights and meaningful connections.
Register your interest here: https://www.altruistiq.com/events/the-state-of-sustainability-summit-london

This podcast is produced by The Podcast Coach.

In this episode of State of Sustainability, we take a deep dive into cocoa - one of the world’s most familiar commodities, and one of the most vulnerable. Host Saif Hameed opens with a personal path into commodity markets, from early fascination with cocoa trading to a brief stint in potato trading, before turning to the serious question at the heart of the episode: can cocoa remain viable in a world of rising climate risk, disease pressure, land competition, and market volatility?

The story begins with cocoa’s extraordinary price swings, which have taken the market from relatively stable levels to historic highs and then back down again. Those moves are not just about trading noise. They reflect deeper structural stress in a supply chain that is heavily concentrated in West Africa, where Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana account for the majority of global production. That concentration makes cocoa especially exposed to weather shocks, political instability, and agronomic decline.

Saif also explores the challenges facing the farmers who actually grow cocoa. Most are smallholders working on tiny plots, often with aging trees, low margins, and little room to absorb risk. Disease is another major threat, especially cocoa swollen shoot virus and black pod disease, both of which can severely damage yields. The episode also looks at land loss caused by illegal mining in Ghana and the way regulation, including EUDR, is reshaping where cocoa can and cannot be grown.

The demand side is changing too. Manufacturers are reformulating products, shrinking bar sizes, and substituting ingredients as cocoa becomes more expensive and harder to source. Saif closes with a sober prediction: cocoa supply is likely to keep under pressure, volatility will remain high, and the industry may be heading toward a less abundant future.

Let Saif know what you think by emailing Saif@altruistiq.com.

To discover how leading organisations are improving sustainability reporting and carbon management, visit Altruistiq.com.

This podcast is produced by The Podcast Coach.