This is a profile image of Joshua Katz

Joshua Katz

PartnerConnecticut – Darien

Advises companies across the food-and-agriculture value chain on strategy and M&A and works closely with investors and investor-owned companies to identify and execute on food-and-agriculture opportunities globally

With more than 15 years of experience in working with businesses around the world, Josh brings deep expertise in agriculture and private equity, which he draws on when advising companies and investors in the food-and-agriculture sector.

During ten years at McKinsey, Josh has worked on core strategy issues, including growth, M&A, portfolio strategy, and innovation. In addition, he often counsels private-equity companies and institutional investors on the life cycle of investments across the agriculture-and-food value chain. His support includes setting thematic investing strategies, evaluating specific opportunities, and working with investor-owned companies on value-creation strategies. He has also worked with several early-stage and fast-growth agriculture and food companies.

Examples of Josh’s recent client work include the following:

  • conducting dozens of due-diligence efforts to evaluate potential agriculture and food investments, including consideration of assets across the value chain in both developed and developing markets, for private-equity and corporate clients
  • developing a long-term, global, macroeconomic outlook and strategic vision for a Fortune 200 agriculture company
  • advising several Fortune 1,000 companies on growth strategy and due diligence
  • pursuing opportunities in digital strategy, including bringing executive teams to meet with leading agriculture-technology start-ups, for multiple agriculture and financial institutions
  • developing growth-oriented business plans and pipeline strategies for venture-stage agriculture-technology companies

Josh frequently shares his perspectives and insights at agriculture-technology conferences and has been a long-time member of the team collaborating with the World Economic Forum on food systems. Before joining McKinsey, he worked for a venture fund in Cambodia focused on water-related opportunities, an association of US businesses working in Africa, and a boutique consulting firm.

Video

Exploring cultivated meat,” McKinsey & Company, October 2021

Alternative proteins and the future of meat,” McKinsey & Company, October 2019

Published work

Companies are broadening their commitments to nature beyond carbon,” McKinsey & Company, December 2023

How feed supplements can reduce methane emissions in agriculture,” McKinsey & Company, August 2023

The agricultural transition: Building a sustainable future,” McKinsey & Company, June 2023

Why restoring natural capital is good for business,” McKinsey & Company, April 2023

Nature in the balance: What companies can do to restore natural capital,” McKinsey & Company, December 2022

Where the world’s largest companies stand on nature,” McKinsey & Company, September 2022

Learning and earning: The bold moves that change careers,” McKinsey & Company, July 2022

How to reduce postharvest crop losses in the agricultural supply chain,” McKinsey & Company, November 2021

Curbing methane emissions: How five industries can counter a major climate threat,” McKinsey & Company, September 2021

Rethinking meat: A leader in the cultivated meat industry envisions the future,” McKinsey & Company, September 2021

Cultivated meat: Out of the lab, into the frying pan,” McKinsey & Company, June 2021

Why investing in nature is key to climate mitigation,” McKinsey & Company, January 2021

Building an R&D strategy for modern times,” McKinsey & Company, November 2020

Agriculture’s connected future: How technology can yield new growth,” McKinsey & Company, October 2020

An incredible year for Impossible Foods,” McKinsey & Company, August 2019

A hard row to hoe—what’s in store for agricultural-input suppliers this year?,” McKinsey & Company, April 2019

Innovation with a purpose: Improving traceability in food value chains through technology innovations, McKinsey & Company and World Economic Forum, January 2019

Innovation with a purpose: The role of technology innovation in accelerating food systems transformation, McKinsey & Company and World Economic Forum, January 2018

Past experience

Insitor Management
Analyst

HR&A Advisors
Senior consultant

Corporate Council on Africa
Research analyst

Education

University of Michigan
MBA, strategy and finance

Connecticut College
BA, government