Flaam was pursuing a MS in Agriculture, Food, and Environment at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University in Massachusetts. She previously earned a BS in Environmental Science with a minor in Economics from McGill University in Montreal, Québec. Before starting graduate school, she worked for five years on small-scale vegetable and flower farms in Québec and California’s central coast, with a particular focus on market gardening and biointensive agroecological farming techniques. She had prior experience working as an environmental planner working on environmental review, sustainability planning, community development, and flood mitigation projects in New York’s Hudson Valley. She is passionate about building equitable supply chains and climate resilient food systems.
During the summer of 2021, she worked with Root Capital’s Impact Team as part of their Climate Resilience Initiative to explore natural climate solutions for agricultural businesses. Using primary data from the organization’s international coffee portfolio, she performed an analysis to determine the prevalence of natural climate solutions among farmers and clients surveyed. These results were used to help Root Capital identify and prioritize businesses engaging in meaningful climate action within their communities. Additionally, Flaam conducted research and provided recommendations regarding natural climate solutions relevant to other crops in Root Capital’s portfolio, such as cocoa, coconut, and macadamia.
Watch Flaam’s presentation here.
