Washington, DC - Food Tank, in partnership with American University, will hold a two-day summit, Wednesday, April 20, 2016 and Thursday, April 21, 2016 from 9AM-5PM. The Summit will take place in the School of International Service Building at American University.

The event will bring together more than 70+ expert speakers who are among the top leaders across all sectors of the food industry, including business, government, and elected officials; nonprofit groups; farmers’ organizations; unions; funders; chefs; and more. Each panel will be moderated by an expert journalist or food advocate.

Researchers, farmers, chefs, policy makers, government officials, and students will come together for interactive panels on topics that include Uncommon Collaborations, Improving Nutrient Density, Protein for the Planet, Investing in the Food Movement, Legislating Change in Agriculture, Chefs Leading the Food Movement, Innovating and Adapting to a Changing Food System, Food Security and Conflict, among other topics. The entire two-day event will be live streamed on www.FoodTank.com.

This event will sell out. Confirmed speakers include (in alphabetical order – many more to be announced soon):

• Allison Aubrey, Food Journalist, NPR
• Eliza Barclay, Reporter and Editor, National Public Radio
• Laura Batcha, CEO and Executive Director, Organic Trade Association
• Charles Benbrook, Research Consultant, Benbrook Consulting Services
• Patricia J. Beneke, Regional Director, UNEP Regional Office for North America
• Claire Benjamin DiMattina, Executive Director, Food Policy Action
• Michael Berger, Founding Partner, Elevation Franchise Ventures
• Ali Berlow, Author, The Food Activist Handbook
• Jane Black, Food Writer
• William Burke, Research Scholar, Center on Food Security & the Environment, Stanford University
• Jason Clay, Executive Director, Markets Institute, WWF
• Tim Carman, Food Writer, Washington Post
• Mitchell Davis, Executive Vice President, James Beard Foundation
• Dennis Dimick, Former Executive Editor, Environment, National Geographic
• Jeff Dunn, President, Campbell Soup Company
• Rodney Ferguson, President and CEO, Winrock International
• Pierre Ferrari, CEO, Heifer International
• Pam Fessenden, Director, Office of Market and Partnership Innovations, Bureau for Food Security at USAID
• Sam Fromartz, Editor-in-Chief, Food & Environment Reporting Network
• April Fulton, Contributor, National Geographic
• Chip Giller, Founder and CEO, Grist
• Dan Glickman, Executive Director, Aspen Institute; Former U.S. Secretary of Agriculture
• Eileen Gordon, Founder, Barnraiser
• Roger Gordon, Founder, Food Cowboy
• Danielle Gould, Founder and CEO, Food + Tech Connect
• Diane Hatz, Founder and Executive Director, Change Food
• Wenonah Hauter, Founder and Executive Director, Food & Water Watch
• Pamela Hess, Executive Director, Arcadia Center for Sustainable Food and Agriculture
• Tim Huelskamp, U.S. Congress (R-KS)
• Daniela Ibarra-Howell, Co-Founder, Savory Institute
• Eric Kessler, Founder, Arabella Advisors
• Dan Kish, Head Chef, Panera Bread
• Ashley Koff, RD, The Better Nutrition Simplified Program
• Jeremiah Lowery, Political Appointee, D.C. Food Policy Council
• Evan Lutz, Founder, Hungry Harvest
• Riana Lynn, Founder and CEO, FoodTrace
• Alexander Müller, Study Leader and Steering Committee Chair, TEEBAgFood
• Regina Northouse, Executive Director, Food Recovery Network
• Ari Novy, Executive Director, U.S. Botanic Garden
• Amanda Oborne, Director of Food and Farms, Ecotrust
• Patrick O’Neill, CEO, Amp Your Good LLC
• Tinia Pina, Founder and CEO, Re-Nuble
• Chellie Pingree, U.S. Congress (D-ME)
• Ruth Richardson, Open Blue Consulting
• Cheryl Rogowski, Founder, Rogowski Farm
• Nancy E. Roman, President and CEO, Capital Area Food Bank
• Sara Roversi, Co-Founder, You Can Group
• Rodney Scruggs, Executive Chef, Occidental Grill
• Simran Sethi, Author, Bread, Wine, Chocolate: The Slow Loss of Foods We Love
• Greg Sewitz, Co-Founder, Exo Inc.
• Howard Shapiro, Global Director of Plant Science and External Research, Mars, Inc.
• Lauren Shweder Biel, Executive Director, DC Greens
• Bill Telepan, Founder, Telepan Restaurant
• Rachel Tepper, Editor, Yahoo Food
• Roger Thurow, Senior Fellow, Chicago Council on Global Affairs
• Shen Tong, Venture Partner, SOSV; Founder, Food-X
• Marianne Williamson, International Spiritual Leader, Lecturer, and Author
• Paul Willis, Founder, Niman Ranch Pork Company
• Serena Wu, Co-Founder and CCO, Kitchenbowl
• Ulises Zatarain, Program Director, Washington Youth Garden
• And many more to be announced soon!

Sponsors include; Global Environmental Politics Program of the School of International Service at American University; Elevation Burger; Niman Ranch; Organic Valley; Conflict Cuisine; Barilla Center for Food & Nutrition; Edible DC; and Leafware. More to be announced soon. 

Last year’s Food Tank Summit in partnership with the George Washington University brought together 400 in-person attendees (completely sold out) from more than 25 states and waiting list of more than 1,500 people. There were an additional 15,520 livestream participants from more than 125 countries. 70+ expert speakers in food and agriculture presented and 11 top food journalists were stage as panel moderators from major media outlets including National Public Radio, Bloomberg, The Washington Post, Voice of America, Politico, and more. This year, Food Tank is quadrupling our reach by hosting additional summits in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Chicago, IL,  Sacramento, CA, and New Orleans, LA.

• 70 expert speakers who are among the top leaders across all sectors of the food industry
• Two-Day Summit hosted by Food Tank and American University
• Wednesday, April 20, 2015 and Thursday, April 21, 2016 from 9AM-5PM. For more information: http://foodtanksummit.com/dc/
• School of International Service Building at American University 4400 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20016

About Food Tank

Food Tank (www.FoodTank.com) 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. Food Tank also creates networks of people, organizations, and content that push for food system change.

About American University

American University creates meaningful change in the world. With highly ranked schools and colleges and internationally recognized faculty, AU offers a balance between class time and career-advancing experience in Washington, D.C., and beyond. Its students, among the country’s most politically active, distinguish themselves for their service, leadership, and ability to rethink global and domestic challenges and opportunities.