MELISSA BAER:
The modern food system is broken, it hides value, reduces profits, and erodes trust from soil to shelf but I can fix that.
With 20 years of unparalleled experience working in every link of the food chain, from the organic farm I grew up on to the boardrooms where premium brands are built, I help companies, investors, and farming innovators rebuild value chains that are healthier for people, more profitable for growers, and built to last. Having walked in the boots of a farmer my approach is grounded but unapologetically focused on commercial outcomes.
I partner with food brands end-to-end, from farm and data, to product and market to rebuild trust from soil to plate.
Because what’s behind the label is what matters most.
The global food system has become industrialized, globalized, and opaque.
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Consumers struggle to trust labels
Farmers struggle to stay profitable
Brands struggle to differentiate
I work closely with a small, select group of companies across food, agriculture, and technology, leveraging over two decades of experience spanning the entire value chain, from farms to global consumer brands.
Operating at the board and CEO level, I help organizations optimize how value flows through their food systems, and I work best with companies aiming for reliable, sustainable growth.
I serve as a board director and advisor for organizations in agriculture, food, and technology. I work best with organisations that are looking to utilise technology to facilitate their strategy and are looking for growth and acquisition.
Regenerative Real Estate Development: Creating Resilient, Sustainable Places to Live.
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I've created a proprietary model of property development that combines working farmland, luxury residential living, and long-term land stewardship to support the development of regenerative land projects.
By integrating sustainable agriculture, energy resilience, and thoughtful design, these developments reconnect people with the land, restore human health, and insulate communities from energy dependency and food insecurity while supporting profitable, future-proof food ecosystems.
Drawing on my experience across healthy building environments, property development, food production and processing, and agricultural stewardship, this innovative approach reflects the latest research into the modern environments where people truly thrive.
Transforming Farms into Profitable Agricultural Enterprises: Unlocking Value Across The Entire Farm Operation
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I help farm owners or farm investors identify opportunities for revenue. Through strategic planning, operational optimization, and market positioning, I create farm enterprises that are economically viable, environmentally responsible, and aligned with modern consumer expectations.
We all consume the final products yet the farming and food systems that shape our health remain hidden from most. I want to change that.
Through personal storytelling, a bit of humor, practical insights, and systems thinking, I connect audiences to the deeper story behind food, farming, and human health, making the invisible forces shaping what we eat not only accessible, but interesting, fun, and unforgettable. My talks inspire people to reconnect with the places and people that produce real food and real health, and leave them seeing the world on their plate in an entirely new way.
"Melissa speaks from her own experience and weaves stories through her talks, provides equal parts laughter as well as facts" - Third Age University
If you think these perspectives would add value to your event, I’d love to hear from you.
I host farm-to-table experiences that reconnect guests with the land, the seasons, and the true journey of their food. I’ll weave together storytelling, hands-on activities, and insights drawn from my years in agriculture and food.
With more than 250 dinner seatings under my belt, ranging from intimate gatherings of 10 to events of 50, I am an expert at the delicate art of hosting and delivering a memorable luxury experience.I complement the chef and the landowner, elevating what's already there.
Whether you need end-to-end event creation or a world-class host to bring an exceptional evening to life, I can support landowners, brands, and venues in a variety of ways.
If you think a farm-to-table experience would add something special to your event or gathering, I’d love to hear from you.
I write about the hidden dynamics shaping our global food system from farming practices to nutrition, labeling, and consumer trust.
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My story starts in the soil… literally. I grew up on an organic farm in Canada, the daughter of a Mennonite (think Amish-ish) farming family. From a young age, I saw that real food systems are about more than farming; they're about economics, incentives, and trust.
I don't just talk about fixing food systems. I've spent my life doing it so I know what works.
I’m currently founder and CEO at Backstory helping premium brands, retailers and processors discover and scale the supply behind their most valuable products.
Our software helps you unlock value across your supply chain by:
The result is stronger, defensible premium positioning and more reliable growth.
Today, I work internationally across agriculture, technology, and food brands, helping organizations solve one core problem: the modern global food system hides value, disenfranchises growers, weakens trust, and disconnects consumers from the land. I’m a committed advocate and educator for the industry and as a result I am a regular public speaker on many topics surrounding food quality, value chains, the role of technology in food and agriculture.
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