Our nineteenth guest is Caroline Cotto, a Director at Food System Innovations who oversees NECTAR, an initiative accelerating the alternative protein transition through taste. Her commitment to saying “yes” has led her on an unconventional path to transform the global food system, taking her from White House intern to Fulbright Fellow to UN World Food Programme assistant to regenerative farmer and ultimately to Forbes 30 Under 30 start-up founder and advisor. Caroline grew up in food, working for her family’s ice cream business in the town of Sandwich, MA.

Welcome to Fork The System — a podcast spotlighting the innovators, researchers, and advocacy leaders reimagining how we feed the world.

Resources:

• Sign up for the 2026 Reducetarian Summit to meet people and organizations working to increase plant-based eating: https://www.reducetarian.org/summit-2026
• NECTAR's website (sign up for their newsletter to stay up-to-date with their initiatives): https://www.nectar.org/
• Caroline's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolinecotto/

Feedback Form: bit.ly/forkthesystemfeedback

Our eighteenth guest is Monica Chen, the Executive Director of the New Roots Institute. New Roots educates high school and college students on the devastating impacts of factory farming and supports them as they become advocates for a just and sustainable food system. A veteran teacher, Monica taught environmental education to students at all grade levels and in residential settings, and earned her BA at UC Berkeley and her Master’s in Education at the University of New Mexico.

Welcome to Fork The System — a podcast spotlighting the innovators, researchers, and advocacy leaders reimagining how we feed the world.

Resources:

• Learn more about the New Roots Fellowship at the webinar this Wednesday, September 16th: https://luma.com/14xjx3p4
• New Roots Institute Website: https://www.newrootsinstitute.org/
• Monica's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/monica-chen-new-roots/

Feedback Form: bit.ly/forkthesystemfeedback

Our seventeenth guest is Matthew Dominguez, the U.S. Executive Director at Compassion in World Farming, where he leads a team dedicated to improving the welfare of farmed animals and advancing a food system that is better for animals, people, and the planet. With more than 15 years of experience in animal welfare and food policy, he has driven major corporate commitments and public policy reforms for farmed animals and regenerative agriculture. The grandson of a cattle rancher, Matt brings a unique and grounded perspective to conversations about food, farming, and animal welfare.

Welcome to Fork The System — a podcast spotlighting the innovators, researchers, and advocacy leaders reimagining how we feed the world.

NOTE: The Senate Agriculture Committee is scheduled to mark up the Farm Bill this Thursday, August 6th, when the Save Our Bacon Act (SOBA) could still be added as an amendment. Now is the time to speak out.

• Contact Your US Senator BY THURSDAY, AUGUST 6TH TO STOP SOBA: https://secure.humaneworld.org/page/186341/action/1?ea.tracking.id=web_aa
• SHARE this post: https://www.instagram.com/p/DVq3KegFueE/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==
• Matt's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewdominguez/
• Matt's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/matthew_t_dominguez/

Feedback Form: bit.ly/forkthesystemfeedback