Latest news with #ForceofNature
Forbes
4 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
Texan Trio Aims To Bring Regenerative Meats To American Dinner Tables
Katie Forrest, Taylor Collins, and Robby Sansom of Force of Nature. About an hour outside of Austin, near Fredericksburg, Texas, amidst Hill Country, three successful entrepreneurs have decided to invest in a new venture -- one that includes 900 acres of open lands, currently occupied by bison, turkeys, and pigs to name a few. Katie Forrest and Taylor Collins had started Epic Provisions over a decade ago after being endurance athletes who had shifted to a Paleo diet for nutrition. Robby Sansom, a close friend who was also interest in the food industry, had joined them as CFO and COO at Epic. The trio grew the company, and then sold it to General Mills for reportedly $100 million. While they continued to work with General Mills on how to grow Epic (and learn the pain points along the way), it was with that success -- and some of those earnings -- that they set their eyes on what would be next: building a go-to supply chain of pasture-raised and grass-fed meats. They'd already been immersed in the world of jerky and dried meats, and were working with regenerative ranchers like White Oak Pastures in Georgia. So the world of regenerative agriculture was not new. But instead of creating a snack, they wanted to create a one-stop shop for healthier, grass-fed, pasture-raised meats (such as beef, bison, elk, venison, boar, and chicken). Thus, their latest venture is Force of Nature. And their home office, you could say, is Roam Ranch, where not only do they look after a herd of bison but also host events, run workshops, welcome guests, and even live full-time. As Collins pulls out the golf cart from the driveway, he points out the soil difference between his neighbor's and his. He jokes, 'Ours is full of weeds, and we kinda prefer it that way.' When they bought the land, he said it was sandy, drought-ridden dirt. Today, it's buzzing with activity, even though they've been dealing with drought in the region, Forrest explains. This regeneration of soil is partly due to the bison. 'Bison are nature's iteration of the perfect soil builders,' Sansom says. Their hooves press on the soil, with all their weight, 3,000 pounds worth, he explains. That chips away at the soil crust and incorporates organic matter. Plus, as they roll on their backs, they spread seeds into the ground, further encouraging native grasses and flowers to grow. It's mid-March on the ranch. 'If you come back in a month, this is a jungle, a real food forest. The diversity, the pollinators, there is just so much going on,' says Collins. Plus, there will be baby bison roaming around, says Forrest. 'The majority of the herd is females, and we had a 100% pregnancy rate, which is really incredible. That's a demonstration of health and contextual appropriateness. But imagine this being 70% more animals in a couple of months.' Bison, in the States, have gone from being in the millions to then in periods of near extinction (in the 1800s) and now are seeing a revival thanks to conservation efforts. Yellowstone, which has the largest herd, at about 5,000 animals is perhaps the best demonstration of conservation at work. But at Roam Ranch, Forrest and Collins are tending to Texas, or Southern bison, which are more compact animals than their northern counterparts -- albeit from the same family. And they too have roamed these lands wild in the past, as did black bears, mountain lines, and black panthers says Collins. But most of those are now extinct, he adds. Roam Ranch is an example of one of the many ranches, the Force of Nature team works with to procure their meat. These range from Kansas to South Dakota to Nebraska and Montana. Most are family-owned and they're focused on regenerative grazing and using livestock as a way to revitalize soils and the land. Now they're also tackling America's most popular meat: poultry. 'We didn't use to eat a lot of chicken one generation ago. We eat now 350% more chicken than people would have eaten in the 40s and 50s. And if you go back, historically, there would not have been tribes of people nomadically roaming the grasslands following flocks of chicken,' Sansom says. So it's a challenging problem to solve. Can poultry be done at scale and regeneratively? Not yet, he says, but they're trying. Ultimately, it may also require people to curb their chicken addiction. Much of the problem lies in human's tendency to want to dominate nature. 'When we foce corn to grow, soy to grow, or in this case, force chickens to flourish in a places and in quantities that would be inconsistent with the evolutionary context, we're out of sync.' But Force of Nature wants to be that one-stop shop for regenerative meat -- and that would include poultry. Thus, the trio are tackling one of the most popular meat sources in America and finding ways to do it more regeneratively. 'We're trying to justify making these changes so that we can be the first domino that cracks the door for others to follow,' says Sansom. 'It's not us alone that is going to solve this problem. It has to be a community of growers, producers, brands, and even consumers to find the solutions.' The Cornish Cross chicken, he explains, was the winner in the late 1940s, which was bred to be raised indoors and grew fast. 99% of the chickens consumed today come from this one breed. Force of Nature is not selling this breed; but instead a slow-growing heritage breed, where the goal isn't to multiply them in size in 5 weeks indoors, but allow them to have a more nutritious diet and a life outdoors. And Sansom says clearly that while they're working towards a better poultry industry, they don't feel that 'a regenerative chicken exists at scale today -- yet.' That's because chickens need feed as their main source of food. And for every one acre of pasture-raised chickens, almost 40 acres of food crops are needed. So the answer is not so simple, given the demand for chicken in today's diet. While the Force of Nature believes deeply in regenerative, Sansom says they don't use any regenerative claims on their packaging. 'We work with ROC, Regenify, Savory Institute's Land to Market, and other certifications because the ranchers we source from use those certifications, but we ourselves do not make those claims at this time.' Instead, it's something they do on the backend -- and they welcome questions from customers. But at the moment, they argue that the costs involved with adding certifications on the product could increase the prices further, which they're not keen to do. Plus, it means juggling expectations of different parties. Grocery store buyers, for example, he explains, want price points that are affordable while hitting these values. For them, velocity is a key word: how many units can you sell in a particular category. Given that the trio have been working in the food industry for over 15 years now, they're well-versed in the needs of the different parties involved in retail and distribution. That's why their meats today are available through their website directly and in over 4,000 retailers. 'We had one of the largest health food retailers out here in 2016 to talk them about a regenerative approach to meats. These things take time as people begin to understand that importance of what we're doing. And we want it to be a relationship and a partnership, not transactional,' Sansom adds. Forrest, Collins, and Sansom have all seen the ups and downs of building new supply chains; the challenges are endless. That said, they're not giving up on a vision where Americans eat less, but higher quality meat -- a real shift from the commoditized, industrial approach that has dominated in recent decades.
USA Today
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Hugh Jackman and Deborra-Lee Furness divorcing after nearly 2-year separation
Hugh Jackman and Deborra-Lee Furness divorcing after nearly 2-year separation Show Caption Hide Caption Watch Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman joke about 'Deadpool & Wolverine' Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman chat with USA TODAY's Brian Truitt about "Deadpool & Wolverine," Marvel movies, their friendship and more. Hugh Jackman and Deborra-Lee Furness are officially ending their nearly three-decade marriage. Furness initiated the uncontested divorce in New York's Suffolk County Supreme Court on May 23, according to court records reviewed by USA TODAY May 27. The filing comes more than a year and a half after the former couple announced their separation in September 2023. USA TODAY has reached out to representatives for Jackman and Furness for comment. The Daily Mail was first to report the news. The actors, who co-starred in the 1995 Australian show "Correlli," married in 1996 and share two adult children, Oscar and Ava. Their 2023 separation was revealed in a statement to People, which read, "We have been blessed to share almost 3 decades together as husband and wife in a wonderful, loving marriage. Our journey now is shifting and we have decided to separate to pursue our individual growth." The statement continued: "Our family has been and always will be our highest priority. We undertake this next chapter with gratitude, love, and kindness. We greatly appreciate your understanding in respecting our privacy as our family navigates this transition in all of our lives." The "X-Men" alumnus, 56, last starred alongside Ryan Reynolds in the summer blockbuster DC film "Deadpool & Wolverine" in 2024, while Furness, 69, was last on the big screen in Robert Connolly's 2024 mystery thriller sequel, "Force of Nature." How did Hugh Jackman and Deborra-Lee Furness meet? Jackman, a relative newcomer as an actor in the mid-'90s, met "leading lady" Furness while filming "Correlli." "I was jealous, I had a crush and I was mortified. This was maybe six weeks into shooting," Jackman told People in 2017 about the beginnings of his romance with Furness two decades prior. "Deb and I are already best friends, and I'm like, 'I've got a crush on the leading lady. This is the thing you do not do. You never, ever have a relationship with your leading lady.'" He continued, "I was like, 'I bet everyone knows.' So I didn't talk to Deb for a week." He later hosted a dinner party, and as they made the meal together, he admitted to having a crush on her – a sentiment that she returned. "I never in a million years thought she reciprocated," he said.
Associated Press
06-03-2025
- Health
- Associated Press
Meridian Bioscience Congratulates Catherine Lufkin For Receiving Pure Earth's 2025 'Force Of Nature' Award
CINCINNATI, March 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Meridian Bioscience, Inc., a leading global provider of diagnostic testing solutions and life science raw materials, proudly congratulates Catherine Lufkin, Senior Director, Global Point of Care, on being honored with Pure Earth's 2025 'Force of Nature' Award. This prestigious recognition celebrates her leadership and dedication to advancing environmental health, particularly in the fight against lead poisoning. Lufkin is being recognized at Pure Earth's International Women's Day celebration for her unwavering commitment to ensuring access to fast, accurate blood lead testing in communities impacted by lead contamination. Her leadership has been instrumental in Meridian's partnership with Pure Earth, which has provided LeadCare® II blood lead testing technology to under-resourced communities worldwide since 2016. Her dedication to advancing lead testing was also a driving force behind Meridian winning the CDC's Lead Detect Prize, a prestigious competition that fostered the development of innovative, rapid lead detection technologies to enhance public health efforts. 'We are immensely proud of Catherine's achievements and this well-deserved recognition,' said Tony Serafini-Lamanna, President of Meridian Bioscience Diagnostics. 'Her work exemplifies our mission to improve global health through innovation and collaboration. In our ongoing partnership with Pure Earth, we remain committed to reducing lead exposure and its harmful effects on vulnerable populations.' The LeadCare II system, the only CLIA-waived point-of-care blood lead testing system, is a vital tool in Pure Earth's global efforts to combat lead poisoning. It enables rapid, reliable testing, allowing for timely intervention and treatment. Through strategic collaboration, Meridian and Pure Earth continue working to expand access to testing in communities with high lead exposure risks, helping to safeguard children's and families' health worldwide. 'I am deeply honored to receive the 'Force of Nature' Award from Pure Earth,' said Catherine Lufkin. 'Lead exposure is a preventable public health crisis, and I am proud to contribute to efforts that bring vital testing solutions to those who need them most. This award underscores the power of partnership in driving meaningful change.' Meridian Bioscience remains steadfast in supporting initiatives to reduce the global burden of lead poisoning. Through continued innovation and collaboration, the company is dedicated to protecting public health and improving lives, one person and one test at a time. About Pure Earth Founded in 1999, Pure Earth is a global leader in developing evidence-based solutions to mercury and lead pollution. Committed to transparency, collaboration, measurable impact, and technical excellence, we work with partners worldwide to tackle the root causes of these toxic threats. Our focus is protecting the most vulnerable—children and pregnant women living in toxic hotspots—by breaking the multigenerational cycle of poisoning that persists in many low- and middle-income countries. Through strategic partnerships with governments, communities, and industry, we identify and implement solutions that prevent toxic exposures, safeguard health, and restore contaminated environments. Learn more about Pure Earth's work to improve women's health at About Meridian Bioscience, Inc. Meridian is a fully integrated life science company that develops, manufactures, markets, and distributes a broad range of innovative diagnostic and life science products. We are dedicated to developing and delivering better solutions that give answers with speed, accuracy, and simplicity that are redefining the possibilities of life from discovery to diagnosis. Through discovery and development, we provide critical life science raw materials used in immunological and molecular tests for human, animal, plant, and environmental applications. Through diagnosis, we provide diagnostic solutions in areas including gastrointestinal and upper respiratory infections and blood lead level testing. We build relationships and provide solutions to hospitals, reference laboratories, research centers, veterinary testing centers, physician offices, diagnostics manufacturers, and biotech companies in more than 70 countries around the world. Meridian is a privately held company headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio. Meridian's website address is Courtney Schulz Meridian Bioscience, Inc. Phone: 513.991.1091
