The Natural List - Hot topics for Natural Products Expo West 2025 with Jenna Fitch

Co-host Adrienne Smith discusses Expo West 2025 with Jenna Fitch, covering AI, sustainable agriculture, regenerative practices and purpose-driven business strategies. Watch on demand.

October 14, 2024

In this episode of The Natural List, co-host Adrienne Smith is joined by Jenna Fitch, senior conference content director, to discuss the latest topics shaping Natural Products Expo West 2025.

The conversation kicks off with an update on the speaker application window, open until Nov. 1, and the call to bring impactful conversations to the table, specifically on topics such as artificial intelligence, food access and sustainable agriculture. With 20 breakout sessions, a full day of Climate Day programming and an expanded Business School program, Expo West 2025 will address critical industry issues, helping brands scale purposefully and maintain profitability.

Adrienne and Jenna also talk about the growing influence of AI in the natural products industry and how brands and retailers can use it to boost efficiency and creativity, among other things. The episode explores key topics like purpose-driven business collaboration, the significance of regenerative agriculture and the increasing emphasis on longevity and women’s health. Jenna offers tips on creating a strong session proposal and shares the topics she’s most excited to see at the event. Tune in for more insights, and don’t forget to rate and subscribe to the vodcast!

In this episode:

1:55 – Jenna Fitch is back with the latest Expo West scoop!

6:20 – Jenna explores the latest industry topics coming to Expo West.

6:45 – Artificial intelligence: how to use AI responsibly.

9:45 – The importance of purpose-driven business and collaboration.

11:15 – Longevity, health span, and women’s health.

14:20 – The changing consumer and the future of retail.

15:35 – Regenerative agriculture: from natural disasters to nutrient deficiencies.

16:45 – Jenna shares her advice for speakers at Expo West 2025.

Interested in speaking at Natural Products Expo West 2025? Apply now. Submissions will accepted until 5 p.m. MT, Nov. 1.

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Jenna Fitch, Senior Conference Content DirectorNew Hope Network

Jenna Fitch is the Senior Community and Conference Content Director at New Hope Network. In this role, she is passionate about using education and relationship building to empower and connect individuals in the natural products industry. With a background in environmental studies and public policy, Jenna focuses on opportunities to use business as a global force for good to serve communities doing their best for generations to come. In addition to her work with New Hope Network, Jenna also serves as a board member for Naturally Boulder and is a mentor for the CU Leeds Professional Mentorship Program.

About Jessica Rubino 

Jessica Rubino is a natural products industry expert and content strategist with more than 15 years experience in media, events and natural products. As New Hope Network’s vice president of content, Jessica oversees digital and print content, conference programming and branded content for CPGs, retailers, investors and service providers. Jessica is passionate about using innovation as a force for good and leveraging content to spark the changes we want to see in the world. 

About Adrienne Smith 

Adrienne Smith is the director of content for newhope.com and the editor-in-chief of Natural Foods Merchandiser magazine where she helps ideate and produce content for natural products retailers, brands and entrepreneurs. Before coming to New Hope Network, she spent nearly two decades writing about food and beverage products and trends for the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Trade in Madrid, Spain, as well as for publications including the International Herald Tribune/New York Times and El País.