Food Tank, in partnership with The George Washington University, is hosting the 1st Annual Food Tank Summit in Washington D.C. on January 21-22, 2015.
This two-day event will feature more than 75 different speakers from the food and agriculture field. Researchers, farmers, chefs, policy makers, government officials, and students will come together for panels on topics including food waste, urban agriculture, family farmers, farm workers, and more.
Food Tank recently had the opportunity to speak with Brian Lipinski, Associate at the World Resources Institute, who will be speaking at the summit.
Food Tank (FT): What will your message be at the Food Tank Summit?
Brian Lipinski (BL): We’ve all heard figures about how much food is lost or wasted worldwide, but in most parts of the world it’s still not clear exactly how that breaks down at the local and regional levels. There are already a lot of people doing really important work on reducing food loss and waste, and strong data can be an important tool in that fight. Essentially, what gets measured gets managed. Having more and better data on food loss and waste allows governments, businesses, organizations, and individuals to all take smart, targeted action to reduce the amount of food that is lost or wasted before it reaches those who need it.
FT: How are you contributing to building a better food system?
BL: At WRI, along with our partners, we’re helping to develop the Food Loss and Waste Protocol, a global standard for tracking and measuring food that leaves the supply chain before reaching people’s mouths. We’re hoping this tool will help countries, businesses and other organizations to identify the extent of loss and waste happening within their own boundaries. That data can then help to improve existing reduction efforts or to design new efforts.
FT: What are the biggest obstacles or challenges you face in achieving your organization’s goals?
BL: The biggest challenge is that everyone at every stage of the food supply chain has a role to play in reducing food loss and waste, from the farm to the fork. This can make it tough to make sure that all voices are heard and accounted for, in any sort of effort to affect positive change to the food system. However, working inclusively and openly makes for a stronger end result, which is why we strive to embrace those principles in all of our work.
FT: In 140 characters or fewer, what is the most important thing we can all do to help change the food system.
BL: Our food system can only change through everyone doing their part; smart individual choices need to be joined by larger societal shifts.
The event is SOLD OUT, but interested participants can sign up for the live-stream HERE. Or JOIN US for dinner and a reception to celebrate Food Tank’s two-year anniversary on January 21st at 5:30pm EST. This event will also sell out fast, REGISTER NOW.
