I learned about an organization called Food Tank when a friend mentioned one of their events last year in Washington, D.C. that focused on a discussion of the real cost of food and the long-term health, agricultural, and environmental consequences of having a food system based on cheap food. Since then, thinking about how this topic would inspire so much conversation and debate and attract so many interesting speakers such as professors, entrepreneurs, food and environmental activists, and elected officials, we have discussed planning a similar event in Chicago through Community Dining, and how it would be great to connect with Danielle Nierenberg, the founder of Food Tank, to gain some insights.
Well it turns out that Food Tank is hosting a summit right here in Chicago later this month – and I just had a chance to speak with Danielle who expressed how much she is looking forward to the summit:
“Food Tank is thrilled to come back to Chicago to highlight the work of Midwestern farmers, entrepreneurs, students, universities, and advocates from Chicago and around the world. Part of Food Tank’s mission is to highlight stories of hope and success in food and agriculture and Chicago is ‘ripe’ with the incredible organizations and individuals who are making the food system more environmentally, economically, and socially sustainable.”
I will be there with a press pass, live tweeting and meeting the speakers, and following up with another post after the event. So if you are interested in an opportunity to learn more about our food system and connect with numerous local, national, and global food and agriculture thought leaders, check out the details on the summit below.
40+ Top Local, National, and Global Food and Agriculture Experts Coming to Chicago for Major One-Day Summit
WHO
The Food Tank Chicago Summit features an unprecedented collection of more than 40 different speakers, journalists, and experts from the food and agriculture field.
Some of the speakers include:
Gene Baur, Farm Sanctuary; Rick Bayless, Frontera; Alesha Black, Chicago Council on Global Affairs; Alexander Borschow, Semillero Ventures, LLC; Ben Burkett, National Family Farm Coalition; Kevin Cleary, Clif Bar & Company; Mel Coleman, Niman Ranch; Bill Daley, Chicago Tribune; Monica Eng, WBEZ; Bruce Friedrich, The Good Food Institute; Shayna Harris, Farmer’s Fridge; Pamela Hess, Arcadia Center for Sustainable Food and Agriculture; Fred Iutzi, The Land Institute; Greg Kearns, Heifer International; Fred Kirschenmann, Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture, Iowa State University; Stacey Kole, University of Chicago Booth School of Business; Karen Lehman, Fresh Taste; Cassandra Ly, Barilla Center for Food & Nutrition (BCFN) Alumni Association; Juliette Majot, IATP; Angela Mason, Windy City Harvest; David MacLennan, Cargill; Anuradha Mittal, Oakland Institute; Lisa Moon, The Global FoodBanking Network; Danielle Nierenberg, Food Tank; Jonathan Pereira, Plant Chicago; Harry Rhodes, Growing Home; Jim Slama, FamilyFarmed; Elanor Starmer, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA); Roger Thurow, Chicago Council on Global Affairs; Sarah Vared, ReFED; William Warshauer, TechnoServe; and Emily Zack, LUREC.
For the complete agenda and purchase opportunities, please click here:
WHAT
Food Tank, in partnership with the Chicago Council on Global Affairs and the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, is hosting the 1st Annual Chicago Food Tank Summit.
WHEN/WHERE
The Food Tank Summit is being held at the Gleacher Center (450 North Cityfront Plaza Drive) on Wednesday, November 16, 2016 from 9 AM–5 PM and reception along with a four-course dinner combined with wine pairings specially curated by the executive chef at Eataly (43 E Ohio St., Chicago) from 6 PM–9 PM.
The entire event will be broadcast on a free live stream at FoodTank.com with backstage interviews on Facebook Live. More than 15,000 people from around the world streamed the last Food Tank Summit in Sacramento a few weeks ago.
About Food Tank
Food Tank, a global nonprofit founded in Chicago, is focused on building a global community for safe, healthy, nourished eaters. We spotlight environmentally, socially, and economically sustainable ways of alleviating hunger, obesity, and poverty and create networks of people, organizations, and content to push for food system change.