LoginKeystone Policy Center Update
Dear Friends of Keystone Policy Center,
Keystone is working at the forefront of the most important issues and debates driving our world. From conservation to emerging genetic technologies to the future of food, we are proud of how our team is working to inspire others to reach common higher ground — and we’re not alone.
This year will mark the 25th anniversary of the Keystone Leadership Awards and will feature a truly impressive slate of individuals whose work and leadership embody the collaborative spirit at the center of our work and mission. On June 6 we are bringing together several truly spectacular and inspiring leaders from the public, private, and NGO sectors who strive every day to inspire their peers and organizations to reach common higher ground:
- The Hon. John Bel Edward, Governor of Louisiana
- Paula Gold-Williams, President and CEO of CPS Energy
- Andrew Steer, President and CEO of the World Resources Institute
Keystone Trustee, Newseum Vice Chair, and veteran newsman Shelby Coffey III will lead the discussion at the Newseum in downtown Washington, D.C. We hope you will join us for this important event and milestone for Keystone.
Visit keystone.org/awards to learn more about this exciting event and how to attend.
Sincerely,
Christine M. Scanlan
President and CEO
Keystone’s Work
CRISPRcon
Emerging genetic technologies, like CRISPR, have the potential to reshape the worlds of food, health, agriculture, conservation, and countless other sectors. They also pose significant questions for society. That’s why Keystone is working through CRISPRcon to broach these issues with a wide-ranging group of experts in science, ethics, and communities from around the world. CRISPRcon is being held June 4-5 in Boston and will feature a keynote address from noted author and journalist Charles Mann and a keynote interview with Feng Zhang from the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard and the McGovern Institute for Brain Research at MIT. Learn more at crisprcon.org.
Next 100 Coalition
More diverse, inclusive management of our public lands is essential to their long-term conservation and success. The Next 100 Coalition, a Keystone project, is working to bring this vision to Capitol Hill and leaders across the United States. The Coalition has recently stepped up its advocacy following recent comments from leaders at the Interior Department. From meeting with leaders from the U.S. House of Representatives to national media outreach, the Coalition is leading this critical dialogue. Learn more at next100coalition.org.
Honey Bee Health Coalition
Keystone has brought together a diverse array of more than four-dozen organizations representing beekeepers, farmers and agri-business, researchers, and consumer brands to improve honey bee health in the context of production agriculture. The Coalition recently announced several exciting, collaborative efforts to improve pollinator health. One is bringing together an international team of 12 scientists to support a $1.1 million effort, funded in part by the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research, to test new compounds that could help beekeepers more effectively treat Varroa mites. Learn more at https://honeybeehealthcoalition.org.
Keystone’s Leadership
Farm Futures spoke with General Mills Chief Sustainability Officer and Keystone Board Co-chair Jerry Lynch about his company’s innovative work to “unleash the vast capabilities of the agriculture sector” to reduce carbon emissions and sequester carbon in the soil.
The Wall Street Journal highlighted the expertise of TNTP CEO and Keystone Trustee Dan Weisberg following recent teacher’s strikes in West Virginia, Oklahoma, and other states.
Keystone Trustee and former U.S. Ambassador to Morocco Ed Gabriel penned a guest opinion piece for The Hill on positive signs for religious freedom in the Middle East.
Salon spoke with Keystone Policy Center’s Kevin Bryan about the Next 100 Coalition’s reaction to comments from U.S. Department of the Interior leadership’s comments disparaging diversity within the agency.
The Los Angeles Times interviewed Keystone Trustee and National Consumers League Executive Director Sally Greenberg regarding changes to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s work and regulatory direction under the current administration.
MIT News highlighted the leadership of Keystone Trustee and MIT Washington Office Director David Goldston in a Q&A about the importance of federal funded research and the latest budget from Congress.
Effective March 1, 2025, Thomas J. Vilsack, former United States Secretary of Agriculture and Governor of Iowa, became the first Chief Executive Officer for the World Food Prize Foundation. In this new role, Governor Vilsack is focusing on expanding the Foundation’s global network, and will further position the Foundation as a leader in addressing global food and nutrition insecurity, continuing his lifetime of public service.
Shelby Coffey III is a distinguished journalist, media executive, and thought leader whose career has helped shape the landscape of American news and public discourse. Over several decades, Coffey has held some of the most influential roles in journalism, including serving as editor of the Los Angeles Times, executive vice president of ABC News, and deputy managing editor of The Washington Post. His editorial leadership extended to key roles as president of CNN Financial News, editor of the Dallas Times Herald, and U.S. News & World Report.
Jerry Steiner has spent 40 years involved in agriculture following growing up on a Wisconsin dairy farm. He began his career with Monsanto, in multiple business leadership roles. From 2003-2013 he served as a member of the Executive team, as the company’s Executive Vice President of Sustainability and Corporate Affairs. He led the company’s global Government, Public and Industry Affairs teams across the 70 countries where Monsanto conducts business. This experience got Jerry connected to the Keystones centers work in agriculture. Key among his responsibilities were shaping the company’s public policy and building partnerships aimed at helping farmers around the world produce more food, while conserving valuable resources like water and energy. Two unique partnership that developed under his leadership were drought tolerant corn with 5 African countries, CIMMYT and the Gates foundation, and a building a sustainable business model in Brazil with the value chain leading to significant multi-company investment and soybean varieties that can protected themselves.
Jennifer Morris is the Chief Executive Officer of The Nature Conservancy, leading a team of nearly 6,000 staff working in more than 80 countries and territories tackling the dual crises of the 
Congressman Joe Neguse represents Colorado’s 2nd District in the U.S. House of Representatives. He was elected to his first term in November 2018, becoming the first Black Member of Congress in Colorado history. In December 2022, Rep. Neguse was elected by his colleagues to serve as Chair of the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee (DPCC), becoming the first Coloradan to serve in a senior elected leadership role in the House in over 85 years. He serves on the Natural Resources and Judiciary Committees, and was also appointed by House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries to serve as one of four Democrats on the prestigious Rules Committee. Rep. Neguse serves as Ranking Member on the House Subcommittee on Federal Lands, which he previously Chaired in the 117th Congress.
Llewellyn King was born in Southern Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe. He went into journalism as soon as he turned 16, stringing for Time magazine and United Press in Africa.
Steven Williams is the Chief Executive Officer of PepsiCo North America, overseeing a more than $48 billion business that spans PepsiCo’s Foods and Beverage operating units. His leadership encompasses more than 125,000 associates and over 900 locations across the U.S. and Canada. Steven joined PepsiCo in 2001 as part of PepsiCo’s acquisition of the Quaker Oats Company, which he joined in 1997, and has held leadership positions of increased responsibility since.