The NYC Food and Climate Summit Showcases 'New Thinking about Food'

by Katherine Gustafson · 2009-12-14 06:00:00 UTC
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With the world's eyes turned toward Copenhagen, where the global summit on climate change is in full swing, another smaller summit flew under the radar over the weekend. The NYC Food and Climate Summit, which took place on Saturday, concerned itself with how to encourage public engagement on the role the food system plays in climate change.

Organized by Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer, the organization Just Food and New York University, the summit was aimed at everyone from family farmers and community gardeners to urban designers, civic leaders and elected officials to parents, communities and concerned citizens. Which includes more or less everyone.

Nutritionist Marion Nestle and Anna Lappé, founder of the Small Planet Institute, were the plenary speakers. The morning and afternoon breakout sessions included such topics as:

  • Faith-Rooted Climate and Food Justice Organizing

  • Tackle Hunger, Health and Environment in Your Community

  • What’s at Steak: Tips for Talking about Animal Food and Climate Change Connections

  • Urban Agriculture: Community Gardens, Urban Farms, and More

  • The Food Shed: Promoting Sustainable Local Agriculture

"The biggest transformation in the United States over the next generation may well come in the way we feed ourselves," the organizers wrote in a welcome letter published in the summit's brochure (PDF). "Everywhere there are unmistakable signs of new thinking about food. The moment for large scale change is here."

Hear hear!

Photo courtesy of stock.xchng

Katherine Gustafson is a freelance writer and editor with a background in international nonprofit organizations.
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