The Bezos Center for Sustainable Protein at NC State is focused on the big picture — mainly how to build a sustainable agrifood system for future generations. To achieve this goal, the center engaged five leaders. 

Established by Co-Directors Rohan Shirwaiker and Bill Aimutis, the Center named three other NC State professionals to round out the Bezos Center’s leadership team: Tim Martin, Michelle Shroeder-Moreno and Khara Grieger. 

Martin focuses on the Bezos Center pillar of Innovation & Commercialization, Shroeder-Moreno heads up Workforce Development and Grieger leads Outreach & Engagement — their expertise helps the center to reach its goal to research, create and translate new technologies for manufacturing environmentally friendly, healthy and affordable protein products. 

Connecting Stakeholders 

At NC State, Grieger is an assistant professor and extension specialist in environmental health & risk assessment. She focuses on investigating potential risks and impacts of new technologies and the development of sustainable, responsible and inclusive solutions in food and agriculture. 

As the Associate Director of Outreach & Engagement at the Bezos Center, Grieger collaborates with the center directors and outreach & engagement team members to analyze the alternative protein stakeholder ecosystem and develop strategies, activities and events.

“We are driven by the goals of (1) sharing information about alternative proteins, (2) gathering insights and perspectives from a range of external stakeholders, and (3) facilitating engagement with diverse audiences across the alternative protein landscape,” Grieger says. 

Grieger shares that the Bezos Center is working toward exchanging knowledge about alternative proteins with a variety of stakeholders to support informed decision making and promote responsible innovation. 

“Within the Center’s Outreach and Engagement core, near-term impacts will be related to conducting research on stakeholders, alongside their perceptions and needs in the alternative protein landscape, and then sharing that information to support effective problem solving,” Grieger says.

As for long-term impact, her and the team’s work should help embed responsible innovation practices into research and development processes, ensuring they are responsive to evolving stakeholder needs and preferences.

Advancing Responsible Innovation

“I’m excited to be a part of the Bezos Center,” Grieger says, “especially given the urgent need for innovative approaches to reduce the environmental impact of conventional agriculture while aligning with evolving consumer and stakeholder preferences.”

She understands that research and innovation must not occur in isolation and sees her role as to actively engage stakeholders and follow the principles of responsible innovation. 

“The Center is uniquely positioned to drive sustainable progress while integrating diverse stakeholder needs, values, and preferences around food choices,” Grieger says. 

She stands ready to see the Center advance the overall sustainability of global food and agricultural systems.