Laura Sands

About Laura Sands

I spearhead the food and agricultural initiatives at KCoe Isom, which focuses on food and agricultural production. My work focuses on the nexus of public policy, agriculture, and environmental challenges including climate change, landscape level agricultural sustainability and supply chain sustainability. Some of my work includes:Advising supply-chain sustainability programs for the US Dairy industry and other leading ag groups and companies. Bringing people together with experts and NGO partners to address sustainability in a way that is practical and meaningful to do as an industry. My clients include a variety of agencies, associations, and public policy initiative groups, including AGree, the Bipartisan Policy Center, the U.S. dairy and wheat industries, Environmental Defense Fund, the Energy Foundation, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and many international agribusinesses. I have been a frequent speaker on agricultural sustainability trends and topics, presenting at Commodity Classic, The Executive Program for Agricultural Producers (TEPAP), and the Agricultural Association of Production Executives (AAPEX) as well as the DTN Summit and Top Producer conferences.Growing up on a farm in Northwestern Minnesota, my entire career has centered around subjects that matter to a changing world and the key issues that face agriculture. I was the Washington editor for Farm Journal Media publications and features editor for Top Producer. As the world nears 9 billion inhabitants, all of whom have to eat, I firmly believe ag will be the most important industry in the world-and will face the most significant challenges.

Experience

1. Principal

   Pinion

   Jan 2013 — Present · US

Skills

• Environmental Policy
• Climate Change
• Sustainability
• Research
• Sustainability Framework Development, Including Measurement and Communication
• Agricultural and Supply Chain Sustainability
• Public Policy
• Policy
• Ecosystem Services
• Policy Analysis
• Rural Development
• Strategic Planning
• Agriculture
• Public Relations
• Management
• Environmental Awareness
• Sustainable Agriculture