About Pat

Dr. Patrick O. Brown is a world-renowned geneticist, biochemist, and entrepreneur who dedicated the latter half of his career to solving the global climate crisis by radically transforming the food system. Formerly a distinguished Professor of Biochemistry at Stanford University and an inventor of the DNA microarray technology, he left academia in 2011 to focus entirely on this mission. Pat founded Impossible Foods on the belief that the only way to eliminate the environmentally destructive practice of animal farming is to create plant-based meat and dairy products that taste better, cost less, and are more sustainable than the animal versions. Using his deep knowledge of biochemistry, he discovered that heme, an iron-containing molecule, is the key ingredient that gives meat its distinct flavor. While he stepped down as CEO of Impossible Foods in 2022 to become the Chief Visionary Officer, Pat remains focused on the company’s future innovation. He also co-founded Kite Hill (Lyrical Foods), a company specializing in nut milk-based cheeses. Beyond food, he co-founded the Public Library of Science (PLOS), which championed the open-access model for scientific research. In a new venture that reflects his deep environmental commitment, Pat is working on the “Carbon Ranch” project, which models how former cattle ranches can be successfully reforested to capture carbon and restore biodiversity, a critical step in reversing climate change.