Episode Details

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In this episode of The Intentional Agribusiness Leader, Mark sits down with Rob Dongoski, Ag & Food Partner at Kearney, for a wide-ranging conversation on leadership, consulting, and where the agriculture industry is headed next.

Rob defines intentional leadership in a way that hits at the core:

Clarity.

Knowing your purpose.

Aligning your actions to it.

And giving people around you enough visibility into your intentions that even when you fall short, they understand where you’re coming from.

Because failure isn’t the issue.

Lack of clarity is.

The conversation dives into the unique role consulting plays in agriculture. Leaders inside organizations often become insulated—seeing the same problems and relying on the same solutions. Consultants bring a different lens, connecting insights across the entire food system—from consumer demand all the way back to production.

That outside perspective matters.

Because the biggest shifts in agriculture don’t start on the farm.

They start with the consumer.

Rob highlights a major shift already underway:

The convergence of nutrition and health.

For decades, agriculture focused on feeding the world—producing more calories, more efficiently. But the next chapter is different.

It’s not just about how much we produce.

It’s about what we produce—and why it matters.

Consumers—especially younger generations—are becoming more intentional about what they eat. They’re willing to spend more on food that aligns with health, longevity, and values.

This is creating a new reality:

A “K-shaped” food system.

• One group prioritizing health, nutrition, and longevity
• Another continuing to prioritize convenience and cost

Both markets will exist.

But leaders need to understand which one they’re serving—and build accordingly.

The conversation also touches on the power of pattern recognition.

Working across the entire food system gives Rob and his team visibility into trends others might miss. Changes in consumer preferences ripple backward—impacting commodities, supply chains, and production decisions long before they show up in headlines.

The leaders who win are the ones who see those signals early.

Not the ones reacting late.

The episode closes with a powerful reminder:

The future of agriculture may not be entirely new.

In many ways, it’s a return to what once was—knowing where food comes from, how it’s produced, and building trust with the consumer.

Because the next era of agriculture won’t be defined by scale alone.

It will be defined by clarity, connection, and purpose.

Listen if you are:

• Leading in agriculture and trying to anticipate what’s next
• Looking for a broader perspective beyond your organization
• Navigating changing consumer preferences
• Thinking about the role of health and nutrition in ag
• Wanting to become a more intentional, clear leader