The Magic of Diversity: Why Inclusion is Essential in Nature, Business & Society
There’s a reason we don’t see monocrops in the Natural world.
Imagine an old-growth forest, where thousands of different species of plants, animals & fungi form an interconnected community; each playing its role in maintaining the balance of the ecosystem at large. In this thriving environment, energy flows in a continuous, symbiotic & regenerative cycle - from the oldest trees to the smallest insects, everything plays a role in maintaining this intricate web of life, ensuring balance, resilience & renewal.
Now, imagine a monoculture "forest". Every tree is the same, placed in systematic rows & uniformly cultivated to ensure they grow in a specific manner for easy farming - “weeds” & underbrush are removed, animals & insects are deterred from safeguarding the crop. While this may appear orderly & efficient from the outside, as we start to see the forest through the trees, we find this ecosystem is inherently vulnerable. A single pest or disease could decimate the whole stand. Resource sharing becomes ineffective & there are few symbiotic relationships to lean on in times of distress. The lack of diversity means this forest has fewer ways to adapt, recover & regulate itself.
The tension between Diversity & Uniformity has been a product of our society for generations. With the federal rollback of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives nationwide, we are witnessing a real-time decline in our society's progress and mindset. Regardless of what side of the political spectrum you’re on, fighting for or against the DEI Brand is a waste of time and energy.
Instead, we champion the policies and goals these programs intended to elevate.
A brand is only as good as the policies it creates, supports, & candidly achieves for itself. Our peers in the natural products industry have witnessed when well-intended third-party certifications (like some that support fair trade) fall short of their policies promised on paper - while in principle, they rely on the systemic glass ceiling that benefits larger farms, keeping the cost for certification high enough to exclude or burden smaller scale farmers. A large part of these certification premiums are captured by intermediaries instead of benefiting small-scale farmers - in principle, there’s a complete lack of accountability to fulfill the goals it boasts on paper.
Because of this, certifications and DEI initiatives can become trendy & ultimately lost through “look how good we are on paper” marketing schemes, instead of actually analyzing if their policies and goals are creating a more robust ecosystem in principle. This is where the rubber meets the road.
In the wake of WWII & the scarcity that followed, we found ourselves in the ineptly named “Green Revolution.” This shift to “Get big or get out” global agriculture took us from biodiverse, small-scale farms to mechanized & industrialized agribusinesses. We prioritized breeding high-yield, disease-resistant crops & farmers across the nation were encouraged to cultivate the same species over & over again to meet global demand. Initially, we found success - food shortages were reversed & rice & wheat production doubled globally.
However, the long-term ramifications of these practices are coming home to roost. After almost 80 years since the subsidization of mono-crop farming, we’ve degraded our soil health (to the point of desertification in some areas) & created chemically resistant “pests” & diseases, while simultaneously contaminating our water supply with pesticides, insecticides & fungicides. This industrialization of farming practices inevitably pushed out small-scale, diverse & regenerative mindsets to make way for big food & big profits. The overall reallocation of our global resources overwrote the regenerative & biodiverse tenets that came naturally to us.
As both time & history have proven, this celebration of monocultures in either our Conventional Industry or societal practices is profit-driven, small-minded & detrimental to the longevity of future generations. When a society prioritizes maximizing yield & profits through uniformity & standardization, this shortsightedness reduces profitability over time - this creates an ecosystem that is vulnerable, bereft of quality & the very life force that connects us with what it is to be Human. Numerous case studies have proven the positive financial impact of diversity in business ecosystems. Diversity leads to practices that produce a higher quality of work, spirited problem-solving, a higher level of employee engagement, & unique perspectives that offer insights as a business grows.
Diversity in Business: Exploring An Organic Mindset
The Conventional Mindset orders its business according to uniformity, efficiency & short-term gains - variance is suppressed & standardization is embraced. When a company makes conscious decisions to “weed out” diversity in its ecosystems, they’re left with a starved environment, lacking the adaptability & innovation to thrive against the tests of time. Never mind how it depletes soil health & increases vulnerability to corruption for future generations.
With the recent wave of encouragement to remove DEI Initiatives from our culture, we see this outdated & Conventional Mindset pervading our Societal Ecosystems in full force. If we start to depreciate diversity, we reduce our resiliency, vibrancy & the adaptability required not only to survive but thrive.
An Organic Mindset honors the Natural world of biodiversity, creating & maintaining resilient ecosystems. A high variance of cultures, minds & perspectives is required to form a diverse workplace & healthy business ecosystem. We nourish one another through our collaboration, unique perspectives, strengths & customs - this inclusive environment mirrors what we see in the Natural world, where the Individual strengthens the Whole. The allowance for healthy competition creates innovation - a fundamental principle of lasting success.
Diversity is Regenerative
The organic way of the world will always remind us of the truth, for Nature has never functioned as a monoculture. The healthiest & most sustainable ecosystems are diverse, self-sustaining & interdependent. Old-growth forests thrive not because every tree is the same, but because each species of flora & fauna plays a unique role in maintaining equilibrium.
When we apply this same inclusiveness to the natural products industry, we find businesses built upon the rich soils of diversity are capable of long-term sustained growth, transformation & evolution. Within the last few years, we noticed that the founders, leaders & brands gaining investment were not a diverse group of people, nor were the investors. Therefore, we take intentional steps ourselves as leaders in the industry to demand strong & sustainable business ecosystems, not reliant on just one type of thinker, background, or perspective.
Presently, our duty in the natural products industry is to continuously cultivate an environment where divergent voices contribute to our shared ecosystem - & there’s still work to be done to remain confident in our community’s ability to regenerate & adapt to the challenges ahead.
EY Survey finds global workers feel sense of belonging at their workplaces, yet most are uncomfortable sharing all aspects of their identity:
75% of respondents have felt excluded at work; checking in with colleagues remains paramount
For organizations that enable flexibility, respondents feel a boosted sense of belonging within the workplace
63% of respondents across generations currently prioritize Diversity, Equity and Inclusiveness (DE&I) in choosing a company over one that does not, and it’s of even greater importance to Gen Z and millennial talent
For example, Leadership Boards are more diverse now than ever, but the pace of diversification has slowed when it comes to gender identity & race. LGBTQ+ folks are also underrepresented in this sphere. We’re witnessing a disparity in funding, reducing the overall amount of diverse business ecosystems in our community. It is yet to be seen which retailers will continue to support DEI initiatives by adhering to the principles proven to lead to more resilient environments. As a collective, we need to have more conversations to find solutions to these obstacles.
It starts simply by acknowledging where we’ve been & by orienting ourselves to the present to continue our drive toward a more sustainable & diverse ecosystem. We must create safe spaces for authentic conversations where everyone is included in the exchange. Real transformation doesn’t happen in a bubble. It occurs in the here and now.
As a leader, you have the opportunity & responsibility to forge a more self-sustaining ecosystem for your business. We have the opportunity to support and feed future leaders in our industry. Just like the regenerative practice of adding compost to the old to nourish the new, we enrich the soil for future generations through mentorship, inclusion & equitable opportunity, allowing the innate talents of our vibrant workforce to grow & regenerate. Businesses that invest in professional development, education & unbiased promotional paths ensure the next generation of leaders rises organically, creating a self-sustaining cycle of growth & long-term profitable success.
Diversity, sustainability, and ethical business practices are not trends — they’re fundamental to how businesses operate. Brands that focus on fostering a biodiverse business will not only stand out as industry leaders but will also stimulate a stronger, more resilient ecosystem with the longevity required to benefit future generations.
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2025 DEI Industry Resources:
The National Organic Coalition champions Racial Equality in the Organic Food Industry
The Association for Talent Development offers courses on DEI Training in the workplace.
Good Food Jobs on How to Write a More Equitable Job Posting.
The Naturally Proud Network is a non-profit that unites LGBTQ+ natural products & nutraceutical industry community.
The Trevor Project provides a haven for the LGBTQ+ Community, along with Training, Resources & Support.
Project Potluck is the largest professional community inclusively for People of Color in the CPG Industry.
The Women on Boards Project works to increase the representation of women on successful, private, consumer company boards.
