Growing Forward
The Global Food Institute and Food Tank are proud to present a weekly editorial series by thought leaders that spotlights innovative approaches to the most pressing food and agriculture system challenges. See all pieces in the series:
Together, We Can Build Better Food and Agriculture Systems
May 13, 2025
Read the inaugural essay by GFI's Carbonell Family Executive Director Stacy Dean.
Food, Conflict, and the Weaponization of Food
October 14, 2025
Johanna Medelson Forman, founder of the the Conflict Cuisine Project at American University, shares how ending hunger will not be possible without ending the weaponization of food.
The Promise of Urban Agroecology to Enhance Food and Nutrition Security in the 21st Century
October 7, 2025
Mchezaji “Che” Axum, Director of the Center for Urban Agriculture and Gardening Education, shares how the urban environment more resilient because it is run for and by the people who reside there.
Cutting Through the Noise on Food and Climate: Q&A with Jonathan Kung
September 30, 2025
Chef influencer Jon Kung shares what it means to be a third culture cook, how to combat misinformation around nutrition and health, and the grassroots communities that he hopes to see more young people plug into to drive change.
Seeing the Signs: Pioneering New Tools to Get Ahead of Future Food Crises
September 23, 2025
Zacharey Carmichael, Senior Agriculture Economist in the World Bank Group’s Agriculture and Food Global Department, describes the Global Food and Nutrition Security Dashboard.
Putting Power in the Hands of the People: Q&A with Karen Washington
September 16, 2025
Farmer and activist Karen Washington knows that food is more than sustenance—it’s the foundation of strong, healthy, and connected communities. In a Q&A, she shares how she’s working to strengthen regional food and farming systems, and the power of community in times of instability.
Act Now: Join Young People in the Fight to End Food Waste
September 9, 2025
Regina Harmon, Executive Director of Food Recovery Network shares how students effort against food waste and hunger.
Steady Work, Lasting Change: How Maine is Leveraging Federal Nutrition Programs to End Childhood Food Insecurity
September 2, 2025
Justin Strasburger, the Executive Director of Full Plates Full Potential, shares how the non profit works tirelessly to ensure that all Maine kids are fed - every meal, every day.
Food for All: Addressing the Allergy Crisis to Build a Better Food System
August 26, 2025
Ilana Golant, founder and CEO of the Food Allergy Fund (FAF), shares why addressing the food allergy crisis is important for all people, though her lived experiences.
Lessons from Renewable Energy for an Agri-food Systems Overhaul: Q&A with Zitouni Ould-Dada
August 19, 2025
Zitouni Ould-Dada, Senior Advisor for the FAIRR Initiative shares how food systems reform can be a force for environmental, economic, and social restoration.
From Capitol Hill to the School Cafeteria: Q&A with Dan Glickman on Fixing Our Food System
August 12, 2025
Former US Secretary of Agriculture, Dan Glickman reflects on the shifting politics of food and agriculture in a Q&A with GFI’s Priya Fielding-Singh.
From Scarcity to Abundance: Unlocking Solutions to the Food Crisis
August 5, 2025
Evan Fraser, the Director of Arrell Food Institute at the University of Guelph, addresses growing concerns surrounding the stability of international trade, and the implications it might have on our food systems.