Contact:
Amy Weiss, [email protected]
OR Elleni Almandrez [email protected]
The George Washington University to Host Summit Focused
on Innovations in Food Production & Security
Day-Long Event Featuring
GMO Debate and Key Breakthroughs Discussed by Experts
EVENT:
George Washington University’s “Feeding the Planet” summit to feature celebrity chefs, Jose Andres and Spike Mendelsohn, USAID Administrator, Rajiv Shah and USDA’s Margaret Walsh Ph.D. USDA will present new data being gathered for a 2015 food security report focusing on climate change and food security.
The summit will explore innovations in food production -- from seed and soil to visionary ideas such as 3D printed food, high protein cricket flour and mobile technology for smallholder farms in the developing world.
The GMO debate to focus on the concerns and the potential surrounding GMO. It will include experts from Monsanto, the Union of Concerned Scientists and others.
The Feeding the Planet Summit is hosted by Frank Sesno, Director of GW's School of Media and Public Affairs, Creator of Planet Forward and former CNN Washington Bureau Chief.
WHO:
For a full list of presenters and panelists, go to: http://food.planetforward.org/
Participants include:
José Andrés - chef/owner of ThinkFoodGroup, founder of World Central Kitchen, and culinary creator and advocate
Dennis Dimick - executive editor for the environment, National Geographic Magazine
Dan Glickman - former United States Secretary of Agriculture
Corby Kummer - senior editor, The Atlantic
Rick Leach - CEO, World Food Program, USA
Margaret Mellon - Senior Scientist, Union of Concerned Scientists Food and Environment Program
Spike Mendelsohn - chef/owner, Good Stuff Eatery, Béarnaise and We, The Pizza
Philip W. Miller, Ph.D. - vice president, Global Regulatory, Monsanto
Chris Policinski - president and CEO, Land O’Lakes
Frank Sesno – director of GW’s School of Media and Public Affairs
Rajiv Shah - administrator, USAID
Jeff Simmons - president, Elanco
WHEN:
Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2013; 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.
WHERE:
The George Washington University
Jack Morton Auditorium
805 21st St., NW
Washington, D.C.
Foggy Bottom-GWU Metro (Orange and blue lines)
SCHEDULE:
8:00 AM On-Site Registration Opens – Coffee Service and Networking
9:00 AM Welcome & Food for Thought
- Dr. Steven Lerman, Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs, The George Washington University
- Chris Policinski, President and CEO, Land O’Lakes, Inc.
- Frank Sesno, Director, School of Media and Public Affairs, The George Washington University
9:20 AM Spotlight Talk – Setting the Table: How Will We Eat? What’s at Stake?
In 2014, National Geographic will be rolling out a year-long initiative, “Year of Food,” which will lay out the issues, challenges, and opportunities for all of us as we consider answers to the question of how to feed feeding nine billion people in 2050 and beyond. Get a sneak peek at the range of the issues and ideas that they will address, illuminating and animating these questions - and possible answers.
- Dennis Dimick, Executive Editor for the Environment, National Geographic Magazine
9:40 AM Spotlight Talk - Changing Climate, Changing Food Security, Changing Business Models
Using data being gathered by the USDA for a Food Security report - part of the 2015 National Climate Assessment - this presentation will help us better understand the scientific relationship between climate change and food security and how the agricultural world is going to need to adapt as we try to feed the planet.
- Margaret Walsh Ph.D., Climate Change Program Office, USDA
10:05 AM Opening Tastemaker Talk - José Andrés
10:15 AM Panel - Policy, Palate and the Plate - Innovation, Changing Tastes and Food Security
This wide-ranging discussion will explore the future of food and how policy can impact practice.
- Marie Nelson, Senior Director and Executive Producer of News & Original Programming, BET Networks, Moderator
- José Andrés, Chef/Owner of ThinkFoodGroup, founder of World Central Kitchen, and culinary creator and advocate
- Shenggen Fan Ph.D., Director General, International Food Policy Research Institute
- Krysta Harden, Deputy Secretary, United States Department of Agriculture
10:45 AM Spotlight Talk - The Balance: Feeding 9 Billion People and Maintaining the Planet
Jason Clay explores why food production is the most important conservation issue in the 21st century, where we stand today and with 'business as usual' projections for 2050, and what the nine food wedges are that would allow us to produce enough food for all, but still have a planet. There is no perfect recipe to solve this problem, but there is something that each of us can do.
- Jason Clay, Senior Vice President, Market Transformation, World Wildlife Fund
11:05 AM Panel - A GMO Debate
Perhaps no topic in food security stirs more emotion than Genetically Modified Organisms. Advocates applaud GMOs as a game-changing innovation, but opponents are concerned about the ethics and potential risks of GMOs. Acclaimed journalist Corby Kummer will guide a diverse panel through a candid discussion of the concerns, rewards, and the future of our food supply.
- Corby Kummer, The Atlantic, Moderator
- Amy Harmon, Correspondent, The New York Times, Pulitzer Prize Winner
- Greg Jaffe, Director, Project on Biotechnology, Center for Science in the Public Interest
- Margaret Mellon Ph.D., Senior Scientist, Union of Concerned Scientists Food and Environment Program
- Dr. Phil W. Miller, Vice President, Global Regulatory, Monsanto
12:00 Noon Luncheon in GW’s University Yard for Attendees and Participants
1:15 PM Welcome/Intro/Remarks
- Frank Sesno, Director, School of Media and Public Affairs, GWU
- David Hollinrake, Vice President, Agricultural Commercial Operations Marketing, Bayer CropScience, LP
- Julie Borlaug, Assistant Director of Partnerships for the Norman Borlaug Institute for International Agriculture
1:30 PM Keynote – The 5 Most Innovative Things the U.S. is Doing to Feed the Planet
- Rajiv Shah - Administrator, USAID
1:40 PM Conversation - Rajiv Shah and Frank Sesno
2:05 PM Leadership Roundtable - Feeding 9 Billion People by 2050 - How are Corporations, NGOs and Governments Innovating and Partnering to Feed the World?
- Rick Leach, President and CEO of World Food Program USA, Moderator
- Helene Gayle, CEO, CARE USA
- David Hollinrake, Vice President, Agricultural Commercial Operations Marketing, Bayer CropScience LP
- Chris Policinski, President and CEO, Land O’Lakes, Inc.
- Jeff Simmons, President, Elanco
3:10 PM Innovations Showcase
Chef/Owner of Good Stuff Eatery, Béarnaise and We, the Pizza hosts an in-the-room showcase of innovations in sustainable food production and security, including 3D printed food, cricket flour and mobile technology for smallholder farms in the developing world.
Host
- Spike Mendelsohn, Chef/Owner, Good Stuff Eatery, Béarnaise, We, The Pizza
Innovators
- Diana Gravallese, Development Associate, Grameen Foundation
- Harman Johar, Founder, World Entomophagy
- Mary Njenga, PhD, World Agroforestry Centre Consultant: Biomass Energy, Environment and Resilient Livelihoods
- Jayden Yosefzai, CEO, Essential Dynamics
4:00 PM Wrap it Up To Go!
Audience Q&A
4:30 PM Reception for Attendees and Participants
RSVP: Press must RSVP to Elleni Almandrez at [email protected] in order to reserve a space.