This year’s Food Tank Summit, held in Washington, D.C., from April 20-21, 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 as well. 

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.

Confirmed speakers are listed below, and more will be announced.

  • 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, Washington Post
  • William Burke, Research Scholar, Center on Food Security & the Environment, Stanford University
  • Tim Carman, Food Writer, Washington Post 
  • Jason Clay, Senior Vice President, Food & Markets and Executive Director, Markets Institute, WWF 
  • Mitchell Davis, Executive Vice President, James Beard Foundation 
  • Dennis Dimick, Former Executive Editor, Environment, National Geographic 
  • Jeff Dunn, President – Campbell Fresh, 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, USAID
  • Sam Fromartz, Editor-in-Chief, Food & Environment Reporting Network 
  • April Fulton, Contributor, National Geographic
  • Chip Giller, Founder and CEO, Grist 
  • Dan Glickman, Vice President, Aspen Institute; Former 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, Senior Vice President, 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, Executive Director, Global Alliance for the Future of Food
  • 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

This year, Food Tank is quadrupling its reach by hosting additional summits in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Chicago, and Sacramento, California.

The event will take place at the School of International Service Building at American University.

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