🧠Learn scenario planning strategies and skills ðŸ§
🧠Be prepared by planning for uncertainty ðŸ§
🧠Build more nimble and resilient food businesses and systems ðŸ§
Cost: $1,000
What is scenario planning?
- Scenario planning is a process of planning for multiple futures, and identifying what it will take to be successful in each of them.
- In food business, scenario planning prepares us to succeed amid changes in public policy, the economy, international conflict, our climate, and more.
- Together, leaders in food systems can use scenario planning to develop strategic foresight and create a more stable food and farm ecosystem.
This is right for you, if you’re …
Facing shifts in food markets and policy
Considering a strategic change in scale, structure, or resource use
Making consequential operational or investment decisions amid uncertainty
Navigating food supply chain or system disruptions
Participants Say …
“Phenomenal! Everything I’ve been searching for, in a nutshell. As I work to launch my own business, Eric was amazing at identifying groups that are succeeding in my specific area with regional, organic, regenerative food — there’s no other way I could have known about them. And for my work supporting food hubs, I received comprehensive scenarios and investment strategies that are so useful in helping them scale and sustain themselves!”
— Chris Massa, Producer Engagement Specialist,
California Department of Food and Agriculture
What You Get
This fast-paced, immersion training takes entrepreneurs and their teams out of their day-to-day context and gives them the clarity and focus to navigate changes in markets, operations, and finance.
Attendance for each training is limited to eight businesses. Two people from each business are encouraged to attend.
Come out with greater resilience in times of high levels of uncertainty.
Included in the Training:
- 4 days of content delivery and work time
- 2 hours of 1-on-1 coaching
- Scenario planning template
- 3-4 scenario narratives with supporting strategies
- Business presentations with scenario feedback from coaches and industry experts
Walk Away With:
- Tools, templates and resources
- Developed strategies for uncertainty
- New connections with food-focused entrepreneurs and service providers
What to Expect
Frame Your Stories for Your Future
WHAT YOU’LL DO:
- Identify a powerful question about the future of your business or organization
- Scan the future for key trends, what’s clear, & what’s uncertain
OUTCOMES:
- The foundation of your presentation
Create Your Potential Futures
WHAT YOU’LL DO:
- Outline and draft different, possible futures
OUTCOMES:
- Deeper understanding of the assumptions behind your mission, business model, and market
- A common language for your leadership team to make sense of the unfolding future
Present Your Potential Futures
WHAT YOU’LL DO:
- Present different, possible futures
- Receive observations, reflections and insights from invited guests with deep experience and expertise
- Learn from peer presentations
OUTCOMES:
- Coherent, relevant stories about your organization’s core, path forward, and changing ecosystem
Developing Robust Strategies and Strategic Foresight
WHAT YOU’LL DO:
- Identify and future-test strategies
- Explore strategic implications from your presentation and vet potential strategies
OUTCOMES:
- A shortlist of robust strategies to navigate uncertain times and move forward
- Planning with strategic foresight
Meet Your Trainer: Eric DeLuca
Eric DeLuca has engaged in over $10 million in funding decisions benefiting working lands enterprises since 2010 and serves on the national Food Systems Finance Advisory Council of the Council of Development Finance Agencies. He serves on the Board of Hanover Consumer Cooperative Society, DBA Co-op Food Stores. In 2021, Co-op Food Stores created a $15.5M retail market for 403 local producers, representing 18% of over $87M total sales. He curates the Financing for Farmland Access Priority Strategy Team in the VT Farm to Plate Network. From 2016-2021, he served as vice-chair of the Vermont Working Lands Enterprise Board. For three years he led the Slow Money VT network catalyzing impact investment in the food system asset class. He co-founded the University of Vermont Food Hub Management Professional Certificate program, the first of its kind in the country. DeLuca managed the U.S. Program for the UN-declared International Year of Cooperatives. He guided the development of the Neighboring Food Co-op Association—now a network of over 35 food co-ops in New England and NY State with $90 million sales of local products annually.
Scholarship Opportunities are available, learn more.