Oh captain, my COVID-19 captain
I was looking at the tired faces in the video call. Their eyes were red, with black circles underneath. Their shoulders were rounded and bent. Only one or two made an effort to smile. A dozen of young, bright and [...]
“It is the process of community building that really makes a difference”
I recently gave an interview at the European Commission's Digital Single Market web site about a 3-year innovation project that we have been coordinating. The project aimed to explore how digital infrastructures may support scientists in food and agriculture, by [...]
“How can data innovation drive agricultural & food innovation?”
It was a pleasure to talk to Eline Chivot from the Center for Data Innovation. Her questions focused a lot on how data innovation drives food and agricultural innovation, as well as the business challenges that data innovation can respond [...]
A collaborative data ecosystem in food & agriculture
In the GODAN Data Ecosystem White Paper of 2016, it was boldly stated: Agriculture would benefit hugely from a common data ecosystem. Produced and used by diverse stakeholders, from smallholders to multinational conglomerates, a shared global data space would help [...]
How much thinking takes place in your business?
During the first 3–4 years of our company, I was so much busy. I was constantly after a deadline, a project, a client, a crisis. I didn’t have time to do any thinking. I didn’t believe that I needed to. [...]
Why am I a CEO?
An essential question to all the CEOs out there, before I start digging into the 10 Essentials: why do you do this job? I started my business because I enjoyed problem solving. I liked addressing a new challenge. I loved [...]
The 10 essential tools that every CEO should master
Doing this job has been a learning journey. I’ve been digging into books, attending seminars, watching online courses, asking consultants to help, and so much more. From each of these resources, I got something back: a tool that I can [...]
Using big data to predict food fraud
How can one monitor food fraud incidents around the world in almost real time? Can large-scale data analysis reveal patters related to the way that people modify food products, ingredients or packaging for economic gain? Is it possible to predict [...]
Getting the open science aficionados together
What if all European research could be made available to everyone, for free? How about making all scientific outcomes that EU taxpayers fund a common, shared resource that may fuel innovation from the public and private sector? Is it possible [...]
What I have learned about the glue that keeps a team together
Let me state the obvious: “Culture eats strategy for breakfast”. I have read all about it in business books, with my favorite one being Delivering Happiness (describing the Zappos case). It is all about the set of values that drive [...]
Food safety innovation in the making: do you want to be part of it?
Things are changing so fast in the food sector. Food safety has emerged as a critical topic that is high in the agenda of consumers, governments and the food industry alike. It took a series of food safety scandals and [...]
What makes us great at our job?
Here is what’s on top of my reading list at the minute. It’s a booklet all about the way you can be crystal clear on the added value you bring to your clients. It’s Intercom’s Sales Handbook , a collection [...]
Do CEOs like Mondays?
Do you always feel like going to work on Monday? Do you ever have one of those lazy weekends you enjoy so much that it makes you wish Monday would never come? Have you ever experienced such a challenging time [...]
A scientific data engine for global food security: 3 challenges ahead
The world’s largest global agricultural innovation network. Bringing together the scientific power of 15 independent, non-profit research organizations. Amassing an annual investment of more than US$900 million devoted to global food security. Being the home of more than 11,000 scientists, [...]
What does a new Era mean for us
May 2018. In Crete, enjoying Open Harvest once more. Small groups of people, getting lost in secret corners of Chania’s medieval town. Learning about how you tell data stories, using only 6 words. My work-group is busy developing their own [...]