Latest news with #globalchallenges
Fast Company
3 days ago
- Business
- Fast Company
The secret behind innovation that matters: Scale
Everyone loves the 'aha' moment—that big idea, concept, or insight. But real impact happens when innovation takes root, at scale. This is where the rubber really meets the road. We are facing some of the biggest global challenges in decades—from socioeconomic changes and an aging population to climate impacts and the real need to feed our rapidly changing world. Innovation is how we turn challenges into ideas and actionable results. But it only matters when it can be scaled, making its way from whiteboards and pilot plants into the real world on shelves and in people's lives. So, what does it take to make that happen? The best recipe for scalable innovation starts with the right culture, partners, and willingness to stay the course. Build a culture of innovation You don't get world-changing ideas by staying comfortable. The essence of innovation is stepping into something new. Scaling innovation starts by intentionally building a culture of innovation, with the right mindset, beliefs and behaviors. My teams have done this by: Attracting top talent: Innovation begins with innovators. We consistently focus on recruiting deep expertise and curious minds to our team. Building world-class capabilities: Driving growth requires investing in capabilities needed for the future (looking at emerging spaces 3-5 years out) even in tough times. Focusing on customer and consumer needs: Know your 'why.' For us, it's fulfilling our purpose through solutions that deliver value to our customers and their consumers. Dedicated innovation and technical teams tagged to strategic customers have made all the difference. Enhancing innovation systems and processes. Governance and defined processes aren't optional. We got creative, working with our audit team to make innovation measurable and so it sticks. Innovation isn't just R&D. It's a mindset that thrives on experimentation, tolerates failure, and encourages rapid iteration. When you focus not only on the idea, but how that idea creates impact for customers across your organization or industry, that's where the magic happens. You can reinforce how your unique capabilities, processes, and portfolio connect, building conviction to act across an organization, together. Partnerships drive exponential possibility I've been asked a lot about what the benefits are of companies collaborating to drive scalable innovations. To me it's simple. Innovation is the ultimate team sport. No one succeeds alone. Period. Scaling innovations demands a connected system across the supply chain, geographies, and partners. This approach unites experts from academia, startups, VCs, suppliers, and brand-name companies around the same goal: finding science-driven innovations that work. Part of the equation is balancing profit, purpose, and demand. Innovations must make business sense and deliver profits. But you can't abandon ship at the first sign of short-term volatility. That's why this kind of integration is rare and powerful. Sharing risks and rewards requires a foundation of partnership, trust, and clear understanding of the role each of us plays in the full innovation ecosystem. For Cargill, which supports 30+ startups in 11 countries and almost every continent, partnership takes many forms. We have an early validation program to address the biggest startup challenges, moving from concept to scale. We also partner with universities and accelerators to advance critical research and innovations. And we partner with customers to achieve shared goals of improved health, nutrition, sustainability, and food system resilience Stay the course Great ideas are just the beginning. Too many innovations are celebrated early, hitting the top of the hype curve before getting filed away. Why? Because scaling isn't easy. Scale demands rigor, patience, and some grit. It takes science, systems, and the right incentives to stay committed long enough to see real results. It's the repeatable and reliable innovations that make the real difference, including those that are accessible. To make sure your innovations stick, build scalability into your innovation plans from the start. Think in systems, prioritize speed, and access and always collaborate. Balance delivering for today (we're all accountable to the bottom line) without losing sight of the long-term vision. The future belongs to those who not only imagine what's possible but who can build it at scale. That's how we move from 'aha' to innovations that truly change our world. Florian Schattenmann is CTO of Cargill.
LBCI
4 days ago
- Politics
- LBCI
UK, France seeking to deepen cooperation amid 'major challenges', Macron stated
French President Emmanuel Macron said Tuesday that Paris and London are seeking to "deepen" their cooperation to address key global "challenges" as he arrived in Britain on a three-day state visit. "Together, we will address the major challenges of our time: security, defense, nuclear energy, space, innovation, artificial intelligence, migration, and culture," Macron said on X, vowing to "deepen our cooperation in a concrete, effective, and lasting way."
The Independent
4 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
King to underscore French and British bond in face of ‘complex threats'
King Charles and Queen Camilla are hosting French president Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte for a three-day state visit to the UK. The visit, the first by an EU head of state since Brexit, aims to underscore the crucial partnership between the two nations in tackling global challenges such as defence, technology, and climate change. The itinerary includes a ceremonial welcome at Windsor Castle, a carriage procession, and an opulent state banquet, with the Prince and Princess of Wales also participating. Discussions between Mr Macron and UK leaders will focus on defence, economic growth, security, migration, and strategies for addressing small boat crossings, alongside support for a Ukraine peace deal. The King will emphasise 1,000 years of shared history and culture, highlighting the enduring bond between Britain and France in the face of a 'multitude of complex threats'.
South China Morning Post
05-07-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
More than ever, we need a UN that can tackle global challenges
The world is facing complex global challenges in acute need of solutions, from forging peace where there is war, to tackling climate change and combating poverty. Urgent solutions are needed, but they will only be possible if nations overcome their differences and work together for the common good. Former UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon, speaking in Hong Kong recently, made a timely call for solidarity in what he aptly described as 'an unprecedented era of new, interconnected crises and elevated global uncertainty'. The United Nations marks its 80th anniversary this year. It was formed amid the devastation caused by the second world war, to ensure such horrors would not be experienced again. Article 1 of the UN Charter says it is 'to maintain international peace and security' through collaborative measures to settle disputes peacefully. But the UN has been unable to prevent wars in Ukraine Gaza and Iran . It must show it can stay relevant and effective amid growing unilateralism, with international relations riven by differences, distrust and tension. There is also an urgent need for progress in other areas, notably on climate change. Last year was the hottest on record The UN set 17 sustainable development goals a decade ago, including on the provision of food and water, education and protection of the environment. Some progress has been made, but it needs to get much closer to its goals. Meanwhile, the size, efficiency and cost of the organisation is in question. Ban, rightly, highlighted the need to strengthen the UN through 'timely and necessary reforms'. But this will not be easy. The UN is well aware of the need for change. A 'pact for the future' was adopted in September, providing a basis for it to refocus and revitalise.
Zawya
04-07-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Morocco, Ecuador Reiterate Willingness to Further Bolster Bilateral Ties
The Kingdom of Morocco and the Republic of Ecuador reiterated on Friday in Rabat their mutual willingness to further strengthen the development of their bilateral relations. Following the meeting held between the Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates, Mr. Nasser Bourita, and the Ecuadorian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Human Mobility, Mrs. Gabriela Sommerfeld, both parties underscored the outstanding bilateral ties of friendship and solidarity, and agreed on the importance of sustaining these exchanges and regularly reviewing them to further strengthen cooperation. The ministers stressed that International Law is fundamentally based on mutual respect for the territorial integrity, sovereignty, and independence of States, as well as on fulfilling obligations under treaties and other sources of international law. Bourita and Sommerfeld said they were pleased with the convergence of their views on regional and international issues and reiterated their commitment to working for global peace and security. They agreed to pool efforts to address global challenges within various international and multilateral bodies, such as climate change, gender issues, human rights, the blue and green agendas, food security, health, pandemic prevention and response, and combating insecurity and corruption. The two sides also tackled the significance of implementing the SDGs in an integrated and holistic manner to eradicate poverty and fight climate change while promoting sustainable land use and water management. During their meeting, the two ministers also exchanged views on regional and international issues, including the situations in Africa and Latin America, and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. They reaffirmed the importance of people-to-people exchanges in strengthening mutual understanding, friendship, and cooperation in communication, culture, education, sports, arts, youth, civil society, and the economy. They also expressed their strong commitment to boosting investments through fluid commercial information exchange, promoting strategic alliances with the private sector, and actively supporting initiatives that facilitate and expand bilateral trade, in order to multiply business opportunities and explore the potential for diversified trade and investment between the two countries. The two parties explored collaborative prospects within various Atlantic cooperation initiatives. They also voiced their aspiration to make this space a geostrategic framework for dialogue, aimed at promoting development and ensuring security and solidarity, as well as bringing together the peoples of the Global South and North. Regarding migration, Morocco and Ecuador commended the efforts made in the area, especially within the framework of the Marrakesh Pact, the Rabat Process, and the Los Angeles Declaration, and reaffirmed their shared commitment to dynamic mobility that enables a safe, smooth, and orderly movement of people. The two officials also expressed their shared will to further strengthen the bilateral legal framework to address common areas of interest in cooperation. To this end, the ministers welcomed the signing of two legal instruments: a Memorandum of Understanding on diplomatic training and exchange of experiences between Morocco's Institute of Training, Research, and Diplomatic Studies (IMFRED) and the "Galo Plaza Lasso" Diplomatic Academy of the Ecuadorian Foreign Affairs Ministry; and a Memorandum of Understanding establishing a mechanism for bilateral political consultations. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Kingdom of Morocco - Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates.
