Food Talk with Dani Nierenberg (by Food Tank)

This episode of Food Talk features two conversations from Food Tank’s recent Summit in Phoenix, Arizona to uplift the partnerships that will help us eat for health while supporting the wellbeing of farmers and the planet.

First Crystal FitzSimons, President of the Food Research & Action Center (FRAC) talks about human impact of the policies threatening food and nutrition security as well as the bright spots we shouldn’t overlook in a conversation moderated by Kathleen Merrigan, Executive Director of the Arizona State University Swette Center for Sustainable Food Systems.

Then Michel Nischan, a Chef and...

On Food Talk with Dani Nierenberg, Dani speaks with Sam Kass, a Partner at Acre Venture Partners, the former senior policy advisor for nutrition in the Obama Administration, and the author of the new book, The Last Supper: How to Overcome the Coming Food Crisis. They compare the rhetoric and the actions of the Make America Healthy Again movement, discuss how the climate crisis is already upending global food and farming systems, and offer advice on how we avoid the worst of it by shifting culture.

Plus, hear about the nutrition assistance benefits drying up as the...

On Food Talk with Dani Nierenberg, Dani speaks with Keithlin Caroo-Afrifa, the Founder and Executive Director of Helen’s Daughters. They discuss how the organization is strengthening the capacity of women farmers in the Caribbean by teaching them technical skills and financial literacy, the mental health toll of changing weather patterns, and concerns that U.N. Climate Change Conferences have become networking events that leave little space to focus on the implementation of solutions.

Plus, hear about how the African Union is mobilizing funds to support the continent’s agri-food systems and what Food Tank is thinking abou...

On Food Talk with Dani Nierenberg, Dani speaks with Stacy Dean, the Carbonell Family Executive Director for the Global Food Institute at GW. They discuss the changes from the Trump-Vance Administration that have weakened the federal nutrition safety net, the need to translate research and knowledge into actionable recommendations for policy officials, and how we can pave a path for young people to help them transform food and agriculture systems for the better.

Plus, hear about the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s deadline for states to prepare for changes to the Supplement Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), ho...

On Food Talk with Dani Nierenberg, Dani speaks with Jonathan Kung, a chef, cookbook author, and influential content creator known for his vibrant “third culture” cooking—blending cultural traditions, flavors, and ingredients that hold personal meaning. They discuss what it means to be a third culture cook, how to combat misinformation around nutrition and health, and the local, grassroots communities that he hopes to see more young people plug into to drive change.

While you’re listening, subscribe, rate, and review the show; it would mean the world to us to have your feedback. You can listen to “Food...

Food Tank is live all week at WNYC-NPR’s The Greene Space running food and agriculture programming at Climate Week NYC with over 300 speakers, 60 performers, and 15 events. Watch these conversations live on Food Tank’s YouTube channel, or by visiting FoodTank.com. While you are on our website please also become a Food Tank member to ensure programming like this continues.

This episode takes you to our summit A Night Honoring Our Farmers, in partnership with Niman Ranch. Academy Award–nominated actor Stephanie Hsu (Everything Everywhere All at Once, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel) opens the evening as Emcee...

Food Tank is live all week at WNYC-NPR’s The Greene Space running food and agriculture programming at Climate Week NYC with over 300 speakers, 60 performers, and 15 events. Watch these conversations live on Food Tank’s YouTube channel, or by visiting FoodTank.com. While you are on our website please also become a Food Tank member to ensure programming like this continues.

This episode takes you to our summit Regenerative Food Systems: Scaling Impact from Soil to Shelf, in partnership with Arva and Kiss the Ground. Our first conversation features David Moscow (actor, producer, From Scratch) where he refl...

Food Tank is live all week at WNYC-NPR’s The Greene Space running food and agriculture programming at Climate Week NYC with over 300 speakers, 60 performers, and 15 events. Watch these conversations live on Food Tank’s YouTube channel, or by visiting FoodTank.com. While you are on our website please also become a Food Tank member to ensure programming like this continues.

This episode takes you to our summit Chefs Change the World, in partnership with Organic Valley and the James Beard Foundation. Our first conversation  with Florence Fabricant (The New York Times) and our own Danielle Nierenberg. They...

Food Tank is live all week at WNYC-NPR’s The Greene Space running food and agriculture programming at Climate Week NYC with over 300 speakers, 60 performers, and 15 events. Watch these conversations live on Food Tank’s YouTube channel, or by visiting FoodTank.com. While you are on our website please also become a Food Tank member to ensure programming like this continues.

Our first conversation features a discussion with Grace Young, James Beard Award-winning cookbook author and Chinatown advocate, and Stacey Vanek Smith of Bloomberg, about food, history, and resilience. Then, Dani sits down with U.S. Congressman Dani...

Food Tank is live all week at WNYC-NPR’s The Greene Space running food and agriculture programming at Climate Week NYC with over 300 speakers, 60 performers, and 15 events. Watch these conversations live on Food Tank’s YouTube channel, or by visiting FoodTank.com. While you are on our website please also become a Food Tank member to ensure programming like this continues.

This episode takes you to our summit Nourishing People, Planet, and our Future, in partnership with The Rockefeller Foundation. Our first conversation features Eitan Bernath (United Nations World Food Programme).They discuss  inspiring youth to take actio...

Food Tank is live all week at WNYC-NPR’s The Greene Space running food and agriculture programming at Climate Week NYC with over 300 speakers, 60 performers, and 15 events. Watch these conversations live on Food Tank’s YouTube channel, or by visiting FoodTank.com. While you are on our website please also become a Food Tank member to ensure programming like this continues.

This episode takes you to our summit Sustainable Foods Showcase in partnership with  J.P. Morgan, features conversations and lightning talks with leaders across food, climate, and business, highlighting innovation and solutions for a more sustainable food...

Food Tank is live all week at WNYC-NPR’s The Greene Space running food and agriculture programming at Climate Week NYC with over 300 speakers, 60 performers, and 15 events. Watch these conversations live on Food Tank’s YouTube channel, or by visiting FoodTank.com. While you are on our website please also become a Food Tank member to ensure programming like this continues.

This episode takes you to our summit The Sustainability Leadership Summit: Strategies for Founders, CSOs, and Changemakers, in partnership with Nature’s Fynd, Applegate, King Arthur Baking, Certified Origins, and ButcherBox. Our first conversation features Helena Bottem...

Food Tank is live all week at WNYC-NPR’s The Greene Space running food and agriculture programming at Climate Week NYC with over 300 speakers, 60 performers, and 15 events. Watch these conversations live on Food Tank’s YouTube channel, or by visiting FoodTank.com. While you are on our website please also become a Food Tank member to ensure programming like this continues.

This episode takes you to our summit Food Security Solutions in a World of Climate Extremes, in partnership with World Food Program USA. Our first conversation features Maddy DeVita (World Food Program USA Zero Hunger Activist Coun...

Food Tank is live all week at WNYC-NPR’s The Greene Space running food and agriculture programming at Climate Week NYC with over 300 speakers, 60 performers, and 15 events. Watch these conversations live on Food Tank’s YouTube channel, or by visiting FoodTank.com. While you are on our website please also become a Food Tank member to ensure programming like this continues.

This episode takes you to our summit Keeping Farmers on the Land, in pertnership with American Farmland Trust. Our first conversation is with Alice Waters, Chef, Author, Food Activist, Founder and Owner of Chez Panisse, and Foun...

Food Tank is live all week at WNYC-NPR’s The Greene Space running food and agriculture programming at Climate Week NYC with over 300 speakers, 60 performers, and 15 events. Watch these conversations live on Food Tank’s YouTube channel, or by visiting FoodTank.com. While you are on our website please also become a Food Tank member to ensure programming like this continues.

This episode takes you to our summit "The Performing Arts Light the Way,” In partnership with the McKnight Foundation and the Broadway Green Alliance. Award-winning actress and environmental activist Alysia Reiner (Orange Is the New Black, Ms. Ma...

Food Tank is live all week at WNYC-NPR’s The Greene Space running food and agriculture programming at Climate Week NYC with over 300 speakers, 60 performers, and 15 events. Watch these conversations live on Food Tank’s YouTube channel, or by visiting FoodTank.com. While you are on our website please also become a Food Tank member to ensure programming like this continues.

This episode takes you to our summit "Roadmap to a Delicious, Nutritious, and Regenerative Food Future for All,” In partnership with Unilever. Our first conversation is with Rasmus Monk, (Alchemist, Spora) who speaks with Kim Severson (The Ne...

Food Tank is live all week at WNYC-NPR’s The Greene Space running food and agriculture programming at Climate Week NYC with over 300 speakers, 60 performers, and 15 events. Watch these conversations live on Food Tank’s YouTube channel, or by visiting FoodTank.com. While you are on our website please also become a Food Tank member to ensure programming like this continues.

This episode takes you to our summit Climate Action: A Food Waste Breakthrough in partnership with Food Tank, ReFED, UNEP, Apeel Sciences, Flashfood, and AFFI. Our first conversation is with Dana Gunders, President, ReFED. Together they disc...

Food Tank is live all week at WNYC-NPR’s The Greene Space running food and agriculture programming at Climate Week NYC with over 300 speakers, 60 performers, and 15 events. Watch these conversations live on Food Tank’s YouTube channel, or by visiting FoodTank.com. While you are on our website please also become a Food Tank member to ensure programming like this continues.

This episode takes you to our summit Hope on a Plate: An Interactive Celebration of Regenerative Agriculture and Shared Possibility, in partnership with Lundberg Family Farms.

In our first session, Dani sits down with Dan...

On Food Talk with Dani Nierenberg, Dani speaks with Ben Mand, CEO of the yerba mate beverage company Yerba Madre. They discuss how companies can support partner farmers in the transition to regenerative agriculture practices, the changing expectations of consumers, and starting small for a big impact.

Plus, hear about the struggles of American farmers as the consequences of U.S. tariffs on China play out, a new proposal from the EPA to end a program requiring polluters to report greenhouse gas emissions, the economic toll of unsustainable practices, and a new AI tool that’s being ro...

On Food Talk with Dani Nierenberg, Dani speaks with Dr. Jane Nyaranga Ambuku Wamatu, a Senior Small Ruminant Nutritionist at the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA). They discuss the role that animal agriculture plays in regenerative food systems, how scientists can work alongside farmers to develop resilience, and training youth to become agri-preneurs.

Plus hear about what’s in the latest report from the Make America Healthy Again Commission, what new findings reveal about women’s role in sub-Saharan food and agriculture systems, the devastation caused by heavy rains in India and Paki...

On Food Talk with Dani Nierenberg, Dani speaks with Cary Fowler, President of the new Food Security Leadership Council and Anna Nelson, Executive Director of the Food Security Leadership Council. They discuss the link between food security and peace, the self-inflicted harm created by the U.S. government’s decision to retreat from the global stage, and the incredible returns that are possible when we invest in agricultural research and development.

Plus, hear about the upcoming programming at Climate Week NYC that matters more than ever, why the climate crisis is likely to send childhood poverty rates so...

On Food Talk with Dani Nierenberg, Dani speaks with Maximo Torero, Chief Economist for the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization. They discuss what the latest numbers reveal about progress on food and nutrition security in the world, why food price inflation is outpacing global inflation, and the opportunities food and agriculture systems offer youth—along with the policies that can help them unlock this potential.

Plus, hear about the first human case of a flesh-eating parasite detected in the United States and why it matters for farmers, a key deforestation agreement that’s under threat in Braz...

On Food Talk with Dani Nierenberg, Dani speaks with Dion Dawson, the Founder and Chief Dreamer of Dion's Chicago Dream. They discuss how Dawson’s experiences with homelessness and food insecurity fuel his mission to end hunger, why his organization is breaking away from a volunteer-dependent model, and and how the growing momentum behind Food is Medicine can transform food and nutrition security.

Plus, hear about the environmental data being scrubbed from government websites, Europe’s historic wildfire season, and how Mexico’s efforts to tackle poverty are paying off. 

While you’re listening, subscribe, rate, and...

On Food Talk with Dani Nierenberg, Dani speaks with Zitouni Ould-Dada, a Senior Advisor with the FAIRR Initiative, an investor network representing US$80 trillion dollars in assets under management, and former former Depurty Director at the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization. They discuss the clarity investors need from governments, the urgency of replacing words with actions if we are going to keep pace with today’s crises, and the powerful lessons the energy sector can offer food and agriculture systems to speed up their transformation.

Plus, hear about the new steps Mexico is taking to address th...

On Food Talk with Dani Nierenberg, Dani speaks with Erin Martin, Founder of FreshRx Oklahoma. They discuss the benefits that holistic Food is Medicine programs offer to everyone from patients to farmers, an exciting piece of legislation just signed into law that promises to scale this work further, and what it will take to make these programs self-sustaining.

While you’re listening, subscribe, rate, and review the show; it would mean the world to us to have your feedback. You can listen to “Food Talk with Dani Nierenberg” wherever you consume your podcasts.

On Food Talk with Dani Nierenberg, Dani speaks with Moti Jaleta, a Senior Agricultural Economist with the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT). They discuss the soil erosion happening beneath farmers' feet, how food producers in sub-Saharan Africa are responding to the crisis through conservation practices, and the new AI tools helping communities adapt to changing weather patterns.

While you’re listening, subscribe, rate, and review the show; it would mean the world to us to have your feedback. You can listen to “Food Talk with Dani Nierenberg” wherever you consume your podcasts.

On Food Talk with Dani Nierenberg, Dani speaks with the 2025 World Food Prize laureate, Dr. Mariangela Hungria about her award-winning research that has helped farmers boost yields and improve their livelihoods while using fewer chemicals. They discuss the social and environmental benefits of this work, what researchers can learn when working hand-in-hand with farmers, and Hungria’s path as a woman in STEM.

Plus, hear about Kenyan eaters’ rising interest in Indigenous crops, a new platform that promises to help Tanzanian farmers access technical assistance, and what the latest data tell us about efforts to end global chil...

On Food Talk with Dani Nierenberg, Dani speaks with Morgan Gillespy, Executive Director of the Food and Land Use Coalition (FOLU). They discuss whether it’s a lack of understanding or political will that keeps policymakers from addressing the hidden costs of food and agriculture systems, why she’s hopeful that true action will come from the 30th U.N. Climate Change Conference in Brazil, and the small actions that can drive big breakthroughs in food systems transformation.

Plus, hear why a leading wildlife conservation organization is sounding the alarm on biodiversity decline in Africa’s rivers, lakes...

On Food Talk with Dani Nierenberg, Dani speaks with Janie Simms Hipp, President and CEO of Native Agriculture Financial Services. They discuss the barriers farmers face in accessing capital and technical assistance; how the closure of local government offices will hurt rural communities, including Tribal nations; and why we need food and financial systems that come to terms with reality and gives farmers more grace by creating room for them to experiment, make mistakes, and recalibrate. Plus, hear about what the federal tax-and-spending will mean for food and health systems, Japan’s progress on food loss and waste, the he...

On Food Talk with Dani Nierenberg, Dani speaks with Christa Barfield, the Owner and Founder of FarmerJawn, a 128-acre working farm. They discuss the relationships that sustain farmers, a new model of community-oriented corner stores that prioritize healthy foods, and why the way we eat is just as much about ourselves as it is about the generations that come before and after us.

While you’re listening, subscribe, rate, and review the show; it would mean the world to us to have your feedback. You can listen to “Food Talk with Dani Nierenberg” wherever you consume your podcas...

On Food Talk with Dani Nierenberg, Dani speaks with Michael Grunwald, author of the new book We Are Eating the Earth: The Race to Fix Our Food System and Save Our Climate. They discuss what land use in agriculture has to do with the climate crisis, whether factory farms should be part of the solution to feed a growing population in a warming world, and why behavior change among eaters is hard but doable. Plus, hear about highlights from London Climate Action Week, the effect of rising greenhouse gas emissions on crop yields, and a new study looking into...

On Food Talk with Dani Nierenberg, Dani speaks with Amesh Adalja, a Senior Scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security and an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. They discuss the outbreak of avian flu on poultry and dairy cattle farms, the federal funding cuts that are weakening government agencies’ ability to track and prevent the spread of the virus, and why the lack of proactivity is cause for concern.

While you’re listening, subscribe, rate, and review the show; it would mean the world to us to have your...

On Food Talk with Dani Nierenberg, Dani speaks with Daniel Moss, Co-Director of the Agroecology Fund. They discuss what it means to build a model of trust-based philanthropy, the benefits that agroecology offers to women and youth, and the flexibility that allows for the experimentation inherent in agriculture.

Plus, here about progress being made to halt deforestation in the Amazon rainforest, Kenya’s plan to address the rising rate of diet-related diseases, U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s decision to remove all members of the CDC’s vaccine advisory committee, and the key crops that c...

On Food Talk with Dani Nierenberg, Dani speaks with Shawna Nelson, CEO of Organic Valley. They discuss the power of the cooperative business model and the mentorship farmers can find in this network, why it’s so important to invest in succession and transition plans to help producers keep the lights on, and what the future holds for organic farming.

Plus hear about the Trump-Vance Administration’s decision to cancel its contract with Moderna to develop a bird flu vaccine, the latest bans on cultivated meat in the U.S., and budget cuts that affect investment in natu...

On Food Talk with Dani Nierenberg, Dani speaks with Rob Larew, President of the National Farmers Union. They talk about the uncertainty farmers are experiencing in the face of changing weather patterns and policies from the Trump-Vance Administration, why cuts to foreign aid affect American food producers, and how recent legislation is pitting farm and nutrition priorities against one another.

Plus, hear about the dietary recommendations contained in the recent report from the Make America Healthy Again Commission, the cancellation of projects from the U.S. Department of Agriculture that will impact childhood nutrition and access to...

Food Tank, in partnership with the Food is Medicine Institute at Tufts University, recently hosted a luncheon on Capitol Hill to uplift Food is Medicine solutions. This episode of Food Talk with Dani Nierenberg features conversations from the event where speakers discussed the public health and economic benefits of Food is Medicine programs, the opportunities to scale their impact, and the partnerships that can accelerate these efforts.

Speakers include U.S. Members of Congress Vern Buchanan, Buddy Carter, Robin Kelly, Greg Murphy, and Chellie Pingree; Laura Carroll, U.S. Food and Drug Administration; Dion Dawson, Dion's Chicago...

On Food Talk with Dani Nierenberg, Dani speaks with U.S. Senator Angela Alsobrooks, who recently called for Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to resign. They discuss the Senator’s concerns with the “irresponsible” and “callous” actions of the Trump-Vance Administration, how cuts to medical research and nutrition assistance programs will harm public health, and advice for navigating uncertain times.

Plus, hear about what the Budget Reconciliation Bill could mean for nutrition assistance, school meals, and nutrition education; what the latest data suggests about efforts to limit global warming to 1.5 °C; and the first case of avian flu r...

On Food Talk with Dani Nierenberg, Dani speaks with Matthew Dillon, Co-CEO of the Organic Trade Association. They discuss why the organic label continues to resonate with eaters, what the budget cuts and staffing reductions at the U.S. Department of Agriculture could mean for food producers, and why support for organic agriculture remains so important for communities today and in the future.

Plus hear about the recent decision to approve CRISPR gene-edited pigs for human consumption in the U.S., a new project that will help Libyan producers farm in some of the driest conditions, and...

On Food Talk with Dani Nierenberg, Dani speaks with Lisa Moon, President and CEO of The Global FoodBanking Network. They discuss the thriving grassroots network of food banks operating around the world, the large void left by foreign aid cuts, and the support that food banks offer communities as crises, from natural disasters to conflict, continue to increase.

Plus hear about the workforce reduction at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the most recent proposed cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and new research that demonstrates the importance of traditional and indigenous African crops to...

Food Tank, in partnership with the Sprouts Healthy Communities Foundation, recently hosted a special series on “Food is Medicine and Eating for Health.” This webinar features conversations  from Part 2 of the event as panelists come together to discuss avenues to scale Food is Medicine programs at the state level, the importance of ensuring communities have access to culturally relevant foods, and why the best Food is Medicine programs serve eaters, farmers, and the planet.

Speakers include Katie Garfield, Harvard Law School’s Center for Health Law and Policy Innovation; Devon Klatell, The Rockefeller Foundation; Radha Muthiah, Capital Area Fo...