Mike Aquino joined IDFA as Director, ESG in January 2023. Mike was trained as a food scientist at Drexel University and has since held several professional positions in the food and agriculture space, including with Danone’s research and development pilot facility in White Plains, N.Y., and on the Global Sustainability Team at General Mills addressing corporate citizenship issues such as Scope 3 emissions reduction planning and animal welfare. At IDFA, Aquino helps to manage the trade association’s work in sustainability, corporate social responsibility, and ESG policy and programming within the U.S. dairy supply chain. He is part of the IDFA Regulatory Affairs team and works cross-functionally with colleagues on the legislative, public affairs, communications, and membership teams, and in close collaboration with IDFA members. IDFA members are working each day to make progress on environmental, social, and governance issues facing their communities, people, and products. The IDFA Sustainability Initiative, which Mike helps to lead, positions IDFA members to play a vital role in sustainable, equitable and secure food systems by nourishing people, communities, and the planet.
Mike earned a master’s degree in sustainability management from Columbia University and, presently, is working toward an advanced degree in public affairs at American University, where his doctoral research focuses on analysis of environmental policy and the development of the ESG space.
In his free time, Mike enjoys learning about specialty cheeses and artistic printmaking techniques.
