A message from MBOLD's Managing Director

I’m writing to share some news. After many years working on everything from climate change and protein sustainability, to fostering regional food systems and building markets for family farms, I’ve decided that 2026 is the year I’m going to hang up my skates and launch the next phase of my life. In July 2026, I will retire from my role as MBOLD’s Managing Director.

I’m overjoyed as I look ahead to my next phase, but this decision has also been bittersweet. My time at the helm of the MBOLD Coalition has been nothing short of extraordinary. When I first heard about this role in 2019, MBOLD had no website, no mission statement, not even a logo. I remember thinking, “Does this thing actually exist? Is it real?” In conjunction with MBOLD’s executive leaders and our many beloved partners, we have since created something powerful together.

Working arm-in-arm with CEO’s, c-suite leaders, and industry experts at some of the world’s largest food and ag companies has been inspiring, instructive and a profound privilege. I’ve reveled in working with so many fantastic partner organizations and leaders who are deeply committed to regenerative agriculture, protein sustainability, innovation, and circular economies. I’ve learned more about extended crop rotations, amino acids and single-use shopping bags than I would have thought possible.

MBOLD is on a roll these days. Last fall, we launched our Protein Catalyst initiative that is working toward a more sustainable protein future, one of the thorniest challenges facing our food system globally. With the recent hiring of our new Director for Agricultural Resiliency, we’re poised to take our agriculture work to a whole new level. We’re now charting out our next phase on plastics circularity and we’re so proud to partner with colleagues in Canada and Europe as we continue tackling global challenges from our homebase in the beautiful, earnest state of Minnesota.  

This role has been amazing for me and it will be a great opportunity for the next person who is lucky enough to take the reins. GREATER MSP will launch a national search for a new Managing Director in the next few weeks. Please watch for more on that and help us find someone with the acumen, creativity and hutzpah to make MBOLD’s next phase a huge success.

In the meantime, I’ll be full-steam-ahead until July. Thank you to everyone who is making MBOLD’s collective success possible. Let’s keep up the good work together.

JoAnne Berkenkamp, MBOLD Managing Director

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