Scott Nichols

Founder and Principal

@SE_Nichols

Prior to founding Food's Future, Scott was co-founder and managing director at Verlasso Harmoniously Raised Fish. There, he led Verlasso to become the first ocean-raised salmon to receive a buy ranking from the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch program that recognizes environmentally responsible farming practices. In recognition of his efforts to communicate the value of sustainable seafood, he was named the 2015 Seafood Marketer of the Year by IntraFish.

In land-based agriculture, Scott’s experience includes product development research through commercialization for both vegetable and row crops. He is an inventor on 43 patents in a variety of plant and crop science areas. 

Scott is a frequent speaker on how to address the world’s future food needs and how ever-increasing sustainability must be an integral part of agriculture’s evolution. Recent addresses include the Environmental Defense Fund, Seafood Expo North America, Seafood Summit, Fortune Brainstorm Green, the Global Ocean Action Summit, University of North Carolina, Duke University, University of Chicago and the Wharton School.

Previously, Scott was a member of the JRS Biodiversity Foundation board of directors whose extensive work on biodiversity projects in Africa and South America gave him a deep appreciation for developing comprehensive approaches to sustainable food production.  He is currently a member of the board of directors for the Aquaculture Stewardship Council whose mission is to create a world where aquaculture plays a major role in supplying food and social benefits for mankind while minimizing negative impacts on the environment.

Scott’s education includes the Advanced Management Program at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and a Ph.D. in biochemistry from UCLA.

Scott as a speaker

Talks

Scott is a an engaging and thought provoking speaker who appears before business, university and non-profit audiences to address the world’s future food needs and how ever-increasing sustainability must be an integral part of agriculture’s evolving role. He has spoken recently at the Environmental Defense Fund, Seafood Expo North America, Seafood Summit, Fortune Brainstorm Green, the Global Ocean Action Summit, University of North Carolina, Duke University, University of Chicago and the Wharton School.

YouTube

Interview with the Economist Magazine

An excerpt from the interview, Contact Scott for full video.

University of North Carolina FoodCON

University of North Carolina FoodCON

Excerpts from the keynote address, Contact Scott for Full presentational video.

Wharton School of Business, University of Pennsylvania

Wharton School of Business, University of Pennsylvania

Excerpts from an address, Contact Scott for the full video.

Innovation

Awards A Sampling of Patents in Agricultural Areas Articles

A Sampling of Patents in Agricultural Areas

  • Title: Methods for regulating beta-oxidation in plants. Patent number: 6914170, Inventors: Chun Ping Li, Peizhong Zheng, Scott E Nichols

Abstract: The invention relates to the genetic manipulation of plants to increase oil accumulation in plant tissues, particularly seeds. Methods for decreasing β-oxidation in plants and optimizing oil accumulation in a seeds are provided. The methods find use in increasing the accumulation of oil or particular oil constituents in plant seeds. Isolated nucleotide molecules, isolated proteins, expression cassettes and transformed plants, plant tissues and plant cells are additionally provided.

 

  • Title: Production of polyhydroxyalkanoate in plants,  Patent number: 7176349, Inventors: Kristen K Briggs, Scott E Nichols, Matthias Liebergesell, William D Hitz, Jian G Dong, Chun Ping Li, Kanwarpal Dhugga.

Abstract: The invention relates to the genetic manipulation of plants to produce polyhydroxyalkanoate, particularly in the peroxisomes. Methods for producing such polymers in plants and host cells are provided. Such methods find use in producing biodegradable thermoplastics in plants and other organisms. Nucleotide molecules, expression cassettes, and genetically manipulated host cells, plants, plant tissues, and seeds are also provided.

 

  • Title: Substitutes for modified starch and latexes in paper manufacture, Patent number: 6284479, Inventor: Scott E Nichols

Abstract: The present invention provides methods of making paper, utilizing glucans, produced by the glucosyltransferase B, C or D enzyme of the species Streptococcus mutans, instead of modified starches. The present glucans are functionally similar to currently utilized modified starches and are particularly useful in the coating step of paper manufacture. The present glucans also exhibit thermoplastic properties and impart gloss to the paper during the coating step.

 

  • Title: Glucan-containing compositions and paper, Patent number: 6465203, Inventor:  Scott E Nichols

Abstract: The present invention provides methods of making paper, utilizing glucans, produced by the glucosyltransferase B, C or D enzyme of the species Streptococcus mutans, instead of modified starches. The present glucans are functionally similar to currently utilized modified starches and are particularly useful in the coating step of paper manufacture. The present glucans also exhibit thermoplastic properties and impart gloss to the paper during the coating step.

 

  • Title: Forages,  Patent number:  5985666, Inventors: Scott E Nichols, Francois J Loiselle

Abstract: A transgenic plant cell is provided containing a DNA molecule encoding an enzyme selected from the group consisting of fructosyltransferase, glucosyltransferase B, mutants of glucosyltransferase B, glucosyltransferase C, glucosyltransferase D, mutants of glucosyltransferase D and functional fragments of each enzyme. A transgenic plant regenerated from the plant cell is also provided. A method of improving the ensilability and the nutritional value of plants is also provided comprising introducing into the cells of the plant an expression cassette comprising the above DNA molecule operably linked to a promoter functional in the cells of the plant to yield transformed plant cells, and regenerating a transformed plant from the transformed cells. The transformed plants also provide improved digestibility in ruminants.

 

  • Title: Animal nutrition compositions, Patent number: 6207217, Inventors: Larry Beach, Scott Nichols Court Saunders, Oliver P Peoples

Abstract: Compositions providing increased energy content of animal feed using plant crop biomass which include a polyhydroxyalkanoate have been developed. In one embodiment, the compositions can be prepared using conventional techniques for harvesting and processing plant crops into forms useful as animal feed, wherein the plant, or parts thereof, have accumulated PHA, preferably in excess of 2% by dry weight of the plant tissue. In a preferred embodiment, the PHA is accumulated in corn or an oilseed. The feed compositions can include the PHA-containing meal byproduct from corn or oilseed processing. In another embodiment, the PHA can be provided with the green tissue of plants, such as clover, alfalfa, sorghum, and silage corn.

It's a very hopeful and exciting future.