The Center for Food Integrity’s 2023 Transparency Summit is coming to Chicago, Nov. 14-15.

The Summit will focus on the practical action food system stakeholders can take to build trust through transparent practices through learning sessions, workshops, keynote presentations and networking opportunities. Registration is now open for the event, which will take place Tues., Nov. 14, 12 p.m., to Wed., Nov. 15, 1 p.m. at Loews Chicago O’Hare Hotel.

“The food supply chain faces increasing skepticism from customers, consumers and investors who are asking questions about topics like food safety, ingredients, animal welfare, labor and business practices, the environment and climate change,” said Mickie French, CFI executive director. “The public demands authentic openness and engagement from those growing, processing and supplying their food. In this rapidly evolving environment, transparency is the key to earning the trust that supports freedom to operate and the ability to innovate.”

The CFI Transparency Summit brings together stakeholders and leaders from all facets of the food and agriculture value chain to explore the challenges and opportunities that come with transparency and to learn from each other through the sharing of best practices and solutions.

Speakers and panelists from across the food value chain will share key insights, lessons learned, and cross-industry perspectives on the practical actions food system stakeholders can take to build trust through transparency.

Industry experts and the topics they will cover include:

• The Second City will open the Summit with an interactive session that sets the stage for collaborative and open discussion.
• FMI – The Food Industry Association, Merck Animal Health, NielsenIQ and The Hartman Group will share hot-off-the-press consumer research outlining transparency in food.  
• Deloitte will discuss how transparency and trust-building are paramount to organizational resiliency and how organizations can strengthen relationships with stakeholders, manage risk, enhance brand reputation and grow their business.
• Farmer leaders from Iowa Farm Bureau will join The Kroger Co., Compeer Financial and PepsiCo. to discuss lessons learned and the must-dos your organization can consider immediately to ensure the equitable distribution of the cost and value of operating sustainably. 
• Chick-fil-A, Wawa and Bush Brothers (Bush’s Beans) will share their experience and the outcomes of measuring transparency through CFI’s Transparency Model & Assessment and their next steps to integrating the learnings across their organizations.
• SmartLabel by Consumer Brands Association, Cargill, Corteva Agriscience and Ahold Delhaize will share best practices and solutions to enable the food system to operate transparently and build stakeholder trust.
• Closing panel discussion with Mars, World Wildlife Fund, Fair Oak Farms, Wawa and Cargill will share how prioritizing transparency and trust-building practices has improved the culture of their businesses.

The Summit is sponsored by Cargill, Iowa Farm Bureau Federation, Chick-fil-A, Smart Label by Consumer Brands Association, Sosland, Wawa, FMI-The Food Industry Association, Merck Animal Health, U.S. Soy, Corteva Agriscience and Genus.