Mickael Barbier

The recent success of the just concluded #World Cocoa #Conference in Brussels, #Belgium especially on the implementation of the EUDR #policy and the willingness to adhere to new regulations has reinforced the commitment of stakeholders to change inimical practices hindering the sustainability of the global cocoa industry. However, many questions are begging for answers like who pays for the cost of the compliance at the cocoa origin countries without necessarily overburdening again the producers that have always at the receiving end of the value chain? The level of preparedness of other origin countries aside #Ivory Coast and #Ghana that have always received the highest investment from sustainability programs? Models of cooperation between the Forestry department {Afforestation mandate arm of Government} and the Agriculture department {Contributed to the high level of #deforestation} of the cocoa origin countries vis-a-vis the implementation of the #EUDR policy, Procedure for the calculation of sustainable pricing or fair pricing that takes into consideration the cost of production and the profit margin without leaving the market model at demand and supply mechanism which has always short-changed the producers in past years? What happens to the encroached conserved areas with large cocoa plantations after 2020 which contributes almost 30% of the #global cocoa supply if not more? How does cocoa origin countries strengthen the implementation of #carbon credit in order for the producers to be encouraged in compliance? Aside these questions that demand an answer from our stakeholders, Brussels people which we mirror the #EU countries have demonstrated their uncommon passion for the consumption of chocolate at every corner of their daily activities. No doubt, who pays the piper dictate the tune so says an adage. West African cocoa origin countries must start to #chocolatize the toques of our children in order to change the culture of low #cocoa consumption that transcends from one generation to another. Our power must not only lies in production but more energy must be put into consumption in order to raise the livelihoods of our producers for sustainability of the cocoa economy of our region.

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🔥 Celebrating Resilience and Innovation at the 2024 Olympics Kevin Piette, a French paraplegic tennis player, etched his name in history during the 2024 Olympics. Despite being paralyzed for 11 years due to a motorcycle accident, Piette defied all odds by carrying the Olympic flame through the streets of Paris. His secret weapon? A cutting-edge robotic exoskeleton. 🤖 The Exoskeleton Revolution: Piette’s exoskeleton suit, known as the “Atalante X,” is a marvel of technology. Developed by French company Wandercraft, this self-stabilizing exoskeleton allows impaired individuals to walk hands-free in their communities. It’s not just a tool for rehabilitation; it’s a symbol of resilience and progress. 🌟 From Rehab to Torchbearer: Piette isn’t just a torchbearer; he’s also one of the exoskeleton’s initial tests “pilots.” These suits, currently used in rehab, may soon become available for personal use. Imagine a future where people like Piette regain independence, moving freely despite physical limitations.  Human Ingenuity in Action: Wandercraft’s journey from concept to reality is awe-inspiring. Co-founder Jean-Louis Constanza’s motivation came from his son’s struggle with neuropathy. Kevin Piette’s participation in the torch relay embodies the Olympic spirit: overcoming adversity, pushing boundaries, and celebrating human achievement. Let’s cheer not only for Piette but also for the brilliant minds behind these robo-suits. They’ve turned science fiction into tangible hope for a more inclusive future. 🙌🏼🔥 !Kevin Piette Carrying Olympic Flame #Olympics #Innovation #Resilience #Exoskeletons #HumanAchievement

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Every Ingredient Has a Purpose In food distribution, transparency, responsibility, and quality are our guiding principles. Just as sustainable manufacturing prioritizes functionality and durability over fleeting trends, Julius Silvert ensures every ingredient we deliver serves its intended purpose—delighting customers while upholding environmental and operational responsibility. Lately, I’ve faced unjust accusations and difficult challenges that tested my commitment to doing what’s right. Those experiences shaped my resolve to prioritize innovation, accountability, and transparency in all that I do. I’m proud to apply these values toward optimizing systems, reducing waste, and delivering exceptional service. For those wondering, my door remains open—I’m always willing to lend support and share insights. Let’s continue building a future where every decision leaves a lasting, positive impact. Eric, Sam, Edward, James, Neil, Jerry, John, Adam, Tricia, Mark, Ray, Everyone, Old Team &, New Team, Network far and wide I hope your holidays have gone well, and I look forward to collaborating in the new year. #Leadership #FoodDistribution #Sustainability #Innovation

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Another helpful insight from World Economic Forum's 2025 Jobs Report. I like keeping an eye on megatrends, something I learned from Indra Nooyi during her time at PepsiCo, and from her masterclass in MasterClass. The attached chart shows the impact of 12 megatrends on business transformation over the next five years. PS: I just finished reading the full report and will share my key takeaways soon #business #jobs #skills

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Nice article how dsm-firmenich Animal Nutrition and Health is unlocking sustainability in the animal protein industry! 🐓🌎 How? By expanding the reach of Sustell™ through partnerships, our smart sustainability platform. Processing farm-level data, it provides clear insights on how to reduce environmental impact without compromising profitability. #Sustell #PrecisionServices #MakingTheInvisibleVisible #SaaS

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Putting Sustainability on the Board agenda I just came back from a 2 day workshop at IMD in Lausanne. Great professors and participants guaranteed very insightful answers to the question: Putting Sustainability on the Board agenda: what, why, when and how? A few insights: - sustainability has moved from voluntary storytelling to mandatory reporting requirements - ESG is investor-company centric and sustainability is people-planet centric (both are complimentary) - prepare a double materiality matrix to define a sustainable strategy taking into account input from all relevant stakeholders - investigate which of the 9 planetary boundaries are affected by your company and define a transition plan to reduce impact - financial and impact materiality drive reporting requirements following the CSRD framework (EU) - dependent on the progress of ESG thinking in your company, a dedicated or mixed Board committee is required to provide appropriate governance - global risks are more and more related to environment, social & geopolitical issues and IT Happy to discuss with any Board members in my network. Just send me a DM.

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I have been reading this interesting article from IMD “ The myth of flashy innovation” and how companies feel like they’re innovating because they have an innovative environment. Leading the innovation process of a global Food company, I want to add a FMCG perspective of what great companies have & do in order to be successful with their innovation.   The article explains the secret of successful innovation as getting a clear mandate & breaking down silos - shown in the chart under "The pitfalls of superficial innovation". I see the former as a pre-requisite whilst the latter is aiming to improve efficiency in the ways of working of different functions in an organization.   If we define success not as a successful launch of a new product but a long term sustainable incremental business, then -in order to be successful with innovation - I propose to look at effectiveness and answer the following questions with FMCG in mind:   - Is there a real consumer problem with a current product or service which is big enough to offer a business opportunity? And who (which segment of consumers) will adopt it? - Is the proposition able to address this problem in a unique and meaningful way? And how long can one defend this position against competition? - Is the consumer willing to pay for such a solution and what price? - Is the trade (or the point of sale) willing to sell and at which margin?    Success with innovation is defined by matching a consumer problem with a relevant benefit of the solution.      With such a unique, relevant product or service in hand, what comes next is execution and this is where efficiency comes in: how to make the implementation process faster, better etc.   Finally, Innovation should be intrinsic, in a company’s DNA, how a company works and a mindset a company has. It does not need certain (office or entrepreneurial) environments. You do not create innovation, you live innovation.  #innovation #innovationstrategy #sucessfullinnovations #fmcg #nestle #projectmanagement #IMD #efficiency #effectivness #consumer

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#AgthiaGroup’s newly announced values are a key part of the company’s ambitions and helps define ways of working and expected behaviors as never before. A big thanks to the #Tamkeen team in human capital for driving us towards this. My favorite value is #Accountability. It’s the foundation for every action we do and every decision we make in the company, as it is our own.

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Massive audience for the AFMA symposium today. I had a blast with this talk and I could feel the energy of the room. The objective of AFMA was innovate for success in disruptive times. And that was the starting point of my talk. Ok, I think it is clear: we live in disruptive times. We always spend hours explaining the disruptive times but very few time on how we should react! Truth is, everybody always use the same approach and this is the clockwork universe paradigm: determinism, reductionism, causality, stability. And yet, year after year, we attend meetings where we hear always the same problems, always the same solutions developed using always the same tools and ways… and eventually leading to marginal and incremental improvements. It is time to question the approach. The problems of our industry are not clock work any longer. They are not! With all the new (pressing and legitimate) considerations around sustainability, consumers’ choices, etc., these problems became networks of patterns, and with the help of multiple feedback mechanisms, non linearity reigns now. If we want to move forward, we need to alter our mental models. Again: scientific agility is required. Complicated solutions for complicated problems. And process works very well to get to these solutions. Clockwork universe is then key. Complex solutions for complex problems. And for that, then come visit us at Nutreco! An immense thank you to Westside and Trouw Nutrition Africa ! Trouw Nutrition Nutreco Skretting #TrouwNutrition #Skretting #NutrecoExploration #NutEx #PhytoComplex #Complexity #GardenoftheFuture #Nutreco #PlantGenius #AFMAsymposium

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Last week I attended a famous marketing convention, where best cases and future trends were shared with 1000+ marketeers from all over the world. The event left me in a quite depressing mood as most of the cases where creative, interesting, but with no intention to make any impact beyond the presenter's own business. I am a strong believer, that until sustsinability starts being a priority for marketing departments and as the result it becomes a consumer demand, we will continue moving slowly 🐌 One of the main barriers to introduce sustainability in brand communication (in my POV) is the lack of the business case. Most of marketer's KPIs are linked to market share and brand equity, and there is still quite few data how sustainability can impact these KPIs unless you are born as an impact brand from the start. In this context it's always great to see initiatives like #HealthierLives. This partnership between a retailer, producers and chefs not only was aimed to promote more sustainable & healthy eating habits, but it directly impacted sales. And what's more, this business result is publicly shared, that helps other companies to make sustainability "a marketing topic".

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A new study has found that the pea protein supply chain faces two main risks: geopolitical turbulence and disruption to pea processing. Conflict in particular is driving up prices and interfering with supply, making it essential for us to prepare for bottlenecks in advance. At Prinova, we're committed to working with suppliers to proactively address these issues. Strong relationships will be key for keeping a steady supply even in the face of global tension and disruption. #WeArePrinova #PrinovaGlobal #PeaProtein #SupplyChain

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circular economy is our DNA

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🙏 𝑺𝒆𝒓𝒗𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝑳𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒑 🙏 𝑴𝒂𝒏𝒖’𝒔 𝑴𝒐𝒏𝒅𝒂𝒚 𝑺𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔 🎤 📣 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝟭: 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 Following my speach at HRko last week, many of you asked me if there has been a recording, and if you can hear from me about Servant Leadership. Hmm... the bad news is that, there is no recording 🤷‍♂️, but... But! 📣 I'm happy to share with you here what I spoke about on the stage of #HRko. For that, I have cutted it in pieces, and you will have 7 "Mondays of Manu's Servant Leadership" here 😜 Ready? Go 🚀 📣 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝟭: 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝐹𝑖𝑟𝑠𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑎𝑙𝑙, 𝐼'𝑑 𝑙𝑖𝑘𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝑚𝑎𝑘𝑒 2 𝑐𝑙𝑎𝑖𝑚𝑠: 1️⃣ 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑖𝑠 𝑜𝑛𝑙𝑦 𝑚𝑦 𝑤𝑎𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑙𝑖𝑣𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑆𝑒𝑟𝑣𝑎𝑛𝑡 𝐿𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑒𝑟𝑠ℎ𝑖𝑝, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑖𝑡 𝑖𝑠 𝑏𝑎𝑠𝑒𝑑 𝑜𝑛 𝑚𝑦 𝑒𝑥𝑎𝑚𝑝𝑙𝑒𝑠. 𝐼𝑛 𝑛𝑜 𝑐𝑎𝑠𝑒 𝑖𝑡 𝑖𝑠 𝑎 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝑠𝑡𝑢𝑑𝑦 𝑜𝑟 𝑎 𝑑𝑖𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑛𝑎𝑟𝑦 𝑑𝑒𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛. 2️⃣ 𝐼'𝑙𝑙 𝑒𝑥𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑖𝑛 𝑡𝑜 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑤𝑎𝑦 𝐼 𝑙𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑖𝑡, 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑎 𝑙𝑜𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑚𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑘𝑒𝑠, 𝑎 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑢𝑜𝑢𝑠 𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑛𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑎 𝑏𝑖𝑔 𝑤𝑖𝑙𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑔𝑛𝑒𝑠𝑠 𝑡𝑜 𝑖𝑚𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑣𝑒 𝑓𝑢𝑟𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟 So, Servant Leadership according to me? 👉 It is a leadership style where, as a manager, your people are not "working for you", but You are working for them 👉 You work to make sure they have what they need to do their job, to grow, and to be happy at work 👉 Because I believe that someone who smiles does a better job 👉 I don't know if there's a work manual for this, but in the coming weeks, I can show you how I do it 👉 There are 5️⃣ main areas: ◾ Empathy ◾ Empowerment and Involvement ◾ Recognition and Rewards ◾ Celebration of small Achievements ◾ Leading by example 📣 𝗡𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸: 𝗘𝗺𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗵𝘆 #NejsladsiPrace #SweetestJob #TeamMDLZ #ServantLeadership #Leadership

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🌍 Happy Earth Day! Today, let us reflect on the poignant words of Carl Sagan: "Cherish the blue dot, the only home we have." As the current generation, we hold a unique awareness of our planet's fragility and the profound impact of our actions. How are you leveraging this knowledge to better the Earth? This Earth Day, I challenge all professionals in my network to consider how our skills, resources, and innovations can drive positive change. Whether through sustainable practices in our industries, advocating for environmental policies, or fostering communities that prioritize the planet’s health—every action counts. Let's rise together to protect and cherish our irreplaceable world. How are you living your life for the betterment of Earth? #EarthDay #Sustainability #ActionForEarth 🌱

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Reflecting on my journey from Sweden to the USA, I've encountered numerous cultural contrasts that have enriched my perspective. Almost ten years ago, I embarked on a new chapter, ready to embrace the American way of life. Little did I know, the transition wouldn't just be about adapting to a new environment, but also navigating through a sea of cultural differences. From the outset, the pace of life was strikingly different. In Sweden, there's a strong emphasis on work-life balance, while in the USA, the hustle culture is prevalent. It took time to adjust to the faster pace and longer work hours, but I've learned to find harmony between productivity and personal well-being. Communication styles also presented an interesting challenge. In Sweden, directness is valued, while in the USA, there's often a more indirect approach to communication, layered with politeness and subtlety. Understanding these nuances was key to effective collaboration and building relationships in my professional journey. Moreover, the concept of personal space varies greatly between the two cultures. In Sweden, there's a respect for privacy and a comfortable distance in social interactions, whereas in the USA, a warm embrace or a friendly pat on the back is common. Learning to navigate these differences helped me forge deeper connections and foster a sense of belonging in my new community. Despite the initial clashes, embracing cultural diversity has been immensely rewarding. It's broadened my horizons, enriched my experiences, and strengthened my adaptability. As I look back on my journey, I'm grateful for the opportunity to learn from both cultures and integrate the best of both worlds into my personal and professional life. Here's to celebrating our differences and embracing the beauty of diversity! Cheers!

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2025 : A YEAR OF CHANGE & OPPORTUNITY: 2025 will be a year of change - and with it comes opportunity - Times to embrace complexity, be curious, challenge norms, and strengthen connections. As I focus on creating impact in new ways, 4 priorities stand out: 1. CLARITY to STEER THE WAY: Leadership begins with simplifying the complex - providing compelling vision, specific goals, clear strategies and prioritized initiatives. Aligning cross-functional executives and their teams around the above with shared KPI's is essential to delivering the year. 2. CURIOSITY to FUEL INNOVATION: Curiosity encourages progress. By asking questions, exploring new ideas and learning emerging trends & technologies, leaders uncover opportunities. Continuous learning is essential to be future-focused and drive innovation. 3. COURAGE to DRIVE TRANSFORMATIONAL GROWTH: Innovation requires more than ideas - it demands courage to take action. Courage transforms vision into reality, by taking calculated risks, embracing uncertainty and pushing boundaries to achieve sustainable growth. 4. COLLABORATION for LASTING SUCCESS: It takes a village to drive change. By fostering trust, collaborating with teams, external partners and network, we unlock greater potential and create lasting meaningful impact together. 2025 is a pivotal year. Lead with CLARITY, CURIOSITY, COURAGE & COLLABORATION to drive progress in a purposeful manner. 2025 is OURS! Let's SHAPE THE FUTURE TOGETHER! #Leadership #Management #Innovation #Future #GrowthMindset #Collaboration

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Sustainability is not a compliance/regulation topic at BC it is a key differentiator and core to our business success.

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Highlights from Camille Bouchat and my first Climate Fresk as facilitators 🌏 1. Enthusiasm to Learn: Despite the varying degrees of knowledge and expertise in the room, all participants were open and enthusiastic to learn more and challenge their thinking 🤗 2. Honesty: All participants remained true to themselves. We are not going to change the world tomorrow (even if we want to). And living in a capitalistic world makes it incredibly hard. I think everyone acknowledged that they might not always get it right but are willing to try their best ❤️ 3. Drive for Action: As soon as we were done with the Card Game bit of the workshop, first question- "when are we talking about actions?" and wow, the number of tangible actions they came up with was truly impressive 👏 I think it's safe to say it was a success and we absolutely enjoyed our first fresk, so of course we couldn't wait for the next one! If you are in and around Amsterdam, join us for our next fresk: https://lnkd.in/ePyqUrhq #ClimateScience #ContinuousLearning #Sustainability

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