Putting Sustainable Food on the Table: A Biotech CEO’s Experience at COP27

The 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27) was a series of milestones for myself and TurtleTree. It was our very first time attending the conference and on top of that, we were showcasing our vision of sustainable food through our very first concept beverage, Zenith, to the world.

On the first day, a few COP staff members wandered into the Singapore Pavilion where our TurtleTree booth was at. Intrigued by Zenith, they each took a can and sipped it conservatively, commenting on its refreshing ginger-lime flavor and attractive packaging.

The next day, this same group of COP staff came back to our booth, but this time with some extra friends. In between enthusiastic gulps of Zenith, they told us how they had felt the effects of Zenith soon after finishing the can.

These staff had been on-site for nearly three weeks, spending late nights and early mornings trying to get Sharm El-Sheikh ready for the world. None of the sugary beverages or caffeinated drinks available at the venue had been able to give them that much-needed, sustained energy boost the way Zenith had.

Over the next two weeks, we continued to hear many of such similar stories in between handing out can after can of Zenith to everyone from passionate activists to journalists and world leaders. We came to Sharm El-Sheikh with 2,500 cans, and I’m glad to say that we left without a single one.