Food Tank is hosting a panel and luncheon to launch a new research report spotlighting the external costs of food production and policy mechanisms to create a more transparent, accountable, and sustainable food system.
The just released report, The Real Cost of Food: Examining the Social, Environmental, and Health Impacts of Producing Food, synthesizes findings from many economic analyses, case studies, and reports, providing a uniquely broad view of the scope of environmental, health, and social externalities of the global food system. True Cost Accounting is a method of assigning value to the social, environmental, and health impacts of producing food. In the report, Food Tank describes the work of organizations across the globe working to research and implement True Cost Accounting, and also provides calls to action for stakeholders across food system sectors.
In partnership with Planet Forward and the Union of Concerned Scientists, Food Tank will hold a special panel discussion at American University’s School of International Service on Thursday, November 12th, 2015 at 10:30 AM EST. The event will coincide with the release of the new report.
Planet Forward Director Daniel Reed will moderate a panel, to include Michael Berger of Elevation Burger, Roni Neff of the Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future, Paul Shapiro of the Humane Society of the United States, Barara Ekwall of the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization, Jenn Yates of the Union of Concerned Scientists, and Adam Diamond of American University.
Keynote speakers include Ricardo Salvador, Director of the Union of Concerned Scientists Food & Environment Program, and Danielle Nierenberg, President of Food Tank.
Panelists will discuss how the food system is impacting the planet’s environment, resources, and health, and describe how stakeholders can realize a more environmentally and socially sustainable food system. By probing the topic of True Cost Accounting, speakers will investigate how agroecological farming can become desirable at scale, while discouraging practices that are harmful to human and environmental health.
“There’s no doubt that the current global food system has high and mostly hidden costs— for workers, for human health, the natural environment, and farmers,” says Danielle Nierenberg. “Researchers and policymakers are beginning to realize that the price paid for food at markets or grocery stores doesn’t reflect the true costs of production.”
Food Tank is a nonprofit organization focused on building a global community for safe, healthy, nourished eaters. We spotlight environmental, social, and economic solutions to the problems of hunger, obesity, and poverty; and we create networks of people, organizations, and content to push for food system change.
This event is sold out. TUNE in to the free livestream HERE!
