Food Talk with Dani Nierenberg (by Food Tank)

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. 

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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...

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 1 of the event as panelists come together to discuss what it means to implement holistic approaches to improving access to healthy, nourishing foods; the empowerment of youth; and how we ensure that the opportunities presented by Food is Medicine aren’t wasted.

Speakers include Erika Allen, Urban Growers Collective; Dr. Kofi Essel, Elevance Health; Rachel Fisher, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; Kathleen Merrigan, Swette Center for Su...

On Food Talk with Dani Nierenberg, Dani speaks with Dr. Ismahane Elouafi, Executive Managing Director of CGIAR, the world's largest global agricultural innovation network. They talk about the impact of global events on farmers, the hope that science brings and why it’s so  important to invest in research, and the technology that will make careers in agriculture more appealing to young people.

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 Will Masters, a Professor in the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, with a secondary appointment in Tufts University's Department of Economics. They talk about U.S. tariffs on imported goods, how measuring the cost of a healthy diet can drive policy change, and the frustrating setback the world is seeing in efforts to advance global food and nutrition security. Plus hear about the recent remarks from the U.S., calling for a “back to basics” approach at the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization, where funding for humanitarian aid...

On Food Talk with Dani Nierenberg, Dani speaks with Andy Jarvis, Director for the Future of Food at the Bezos Earth Fund. They discuss the kind of solutions emerging in response to today’s crises, the need to re-orient existing money to drive food and agriculture systems transformation, and Jarvis’ faith in human ingenuity. Plus, hear about author and nutritionist Marion Nestle’s on the Make America Healthy Again movement, the steps that one chef is taking to strengthen Indigenous foodways, and the growing uncertainty about the future of USDA and the agricultural communities they serve.

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On Food Talk with Dani Nierenberg, Dani speaks with Kimber Lanning, Founder and CEO of Local First Arizona. They discuss the value of desert-friendly crops in a changing climate, the fear that many immigrant business leaders are living with, and the power that communities can build through place-based, local economies. Plus, hear about the limited U.S. response to the 7.7 magnitude earthquake that killed more than 2,000 in Myanmar and the devastating effects that a reduction in aid from countries in the Global North will have on hunger and child mortality.

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On Food Talk with Dani Nierenberg, Dani speaks with Dr. Antony Chapoto, Executive Director of the African Network of Agricultural Policy Research Institutes (ANAPRI) Secretariat. They discuss the importance of localization and capacity building to improve food and agriculture systems across Africa, the effect that soil degradation has had on farmers’ productivity, and the importance of providing a pathway for young people to retain talent in Africa.

Plus, hear how farmers are responding to the U.S. government’s recent funding decisions, how Mexico is taking a stand against genetically modified corn to protect biodiversity and the coun...

On Food Talk with Dani Nierenberg, Dani speaks with Alissa Viera and Lindsay Williams of the Toledo, Ohio-based ice cream manufacturer Swanky Scoops. They discuss the grants that allow local economies to flourish, the impact that delays in the reimbursement of funds can have on small food businesses, and how federal grant freezes — even when temporary — can undermine trust.

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.

Food Tank, in partnership with Driscoll’s and Huston-Tillotson University and with the support of Organic Valley, recently hosted the “All Things Food” Summit at SXSW. This bonus episode of Food Talk with Dani Nierenberg features two conversations from the event.

First, Dani sits down for a fireside chat with Sam Acho, an author, humanitarian, ESPN analyst, a nine-year NFL veteran, and the Director of Human Capital at AWM Capital. They discuss how Acho worked with young entrepreneurs in Chicago to transform a liquor store into a food mart, the importance of letting the ego die to drive...

On Food Talk with Dani Nierenberg, Dani speaks with Kerstin Plehwe, President of the Physicians Association for Nutrition (PAN) International Foundation. They discuss why nutrition education for doctors is still lagging, the link between diet and mental health, and the efforts underway to make sure that hospitals are serving healthier, more climate-friendly food.

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 Mark Lewis, a Managing Partner at Trailhead Capital. They discuss what ag-tech investors can learn from the renewable energy sector; collecting the proof to demonstrate the social, environmental, and economic benefits of regenerative farming; and why Lewis remains an “eternal optimist.”  

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 author and historian Toni Tipton-Martin. They talk about what happens when any essential community is left out of the conversation, the stories embedded in recipes, and the value of empathy as they dive into the new cookbook “When Southern Women Cook.” Plus, learn how the foreign aid freeze is already impacting global hunger and public health, what’s happening with USDA funding, and the progress taking place to safeguard biodiversity and local knowledge.

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On this special episode of Food Talk with Dani Nierenberg, Dani and Patrick Holden sit down for a conversation about the future of food and farming systems. They talk about reckoning with the idea that business as usual is no longer working, the fragility of food systems, and the value of measuring—and finding solutions to address—the true cost of food.

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 Gerardo Reyes Chavez, a key leader of the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW). They discuss the abuses that many farm workers in the U.S. face, the development of the CIW’s Fair Food Program and its model of worker empowerment, and what recent attacks on immigrant communities could affect the farm workers who put food on our plates.

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On Food Talk with Dani Nierenberg, Dani speaks with Tom Philpott, a Senior Research Associate at the Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future. They talk about the forces that have affected food and agriculture news coverage and opportunities to equip journalists with the training they need to cover this sector, what President Trump’s cabinet picks may mean for the future of food policy in the U.S., and why consolidation in the food system is an attack on democracy.

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Food Tank, in partnership with Nespresso, recently hosted the “All Things Food and Environment” Summit, held during Sundance 2025. This episode of Food Talk with Dani Nierenberg features two conversations from the event highlighting the inspiring stories of food systems transformation that can be told through film.

First, Chef Pierre Thiam, an author and the Founder of Yolélé, and Anne Marie Hagerty, the Host and Founder of The Envoy Show, sit down with Dani to discuss the forthcoming episode of a new docuseries focused on the power of fonio. They talk about the importance of scaling production of tra...

On Food Talk with Dani Nierenberg, Dani speaks with Jessica Padula, Vice President of Marketing and Head of Sustainability for Nespresso. They discuss the environmental and economic benefits of knowledge sharing between coffee farmers and agronomists, efforts to manage packaging waste and create a more circular economy, and initiatives that can help producers overcome challenges caused by natural disasters or political conflict to establish resilient coffee farms.

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On Food Talk with Dani Nierenberg, Dani speaks with Joel Salatin, a farmer and Co-owner of Polyface Farm about his hopes for the future of farming systems under the new Trump Vance Administration. They touch on regulatory and policy changes that Salatin believes can help entrepreneurs in the agri-food sector, the potential impact of mass deportations on producers, and the importance of regional processing for greater food systems resilience.

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On Food Talk with Dani Nierenberg, Dani speaks with Brita Lundberg, a fourth-generation
farmer and the Chief Storyteller at Lundberg Family Farms. They talk about what it means to
read the rice and care for the crops without chemically herbicides, how a holistic approach to
farming can heal soils while supporting wildlife, and the work Lundberg Family Farms is carrying
out to show that regenerative organic agriculture is possible to achieve at scale.

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have yo...

Dani kicks off a new year of Food Talk with Dani Nierenberg by sitting down with Kim Severson, an award-winning national food correspondent for the New York Times, to talk about what to expect for food and agriculture systems in 2025. They discuss what’s happening to portion sizes in restaurants as GLP-1s like Ozempic become more popular; how the changing political landscape in the U.S. may impact everything from agricultural research to the future of journalism; and the foods and flavors that Severson expects to see more of, including why 2025 is the year of sauce.

Plus, a...

On Food Talk with Dani Nierenberg, Dani speaks with Dr. Bram Govaerts, the Director General
of the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT). They talk about the
information and other resources farmers need to grow resilient crops and support soil health,
what an additional climate shock will do to a fragile food and agricultural system like the one we
have today, and the ambitious goals that must be set to protect the world’s most vulnerable
communities.

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On “Food Talk with Dani Nierenberg,” Dani speaks with Jose Mai, the Minister of Agriculture,
Food Security, and Enterprise for Belize and Dr. Rattan Lal, a Distinguished Professor of Soil
Science at The Ohio State University. They discuss the spirituality of soil, the responsibility
placed on producers as stewards of the land, and the resources needed to ensure that no
farmer is left behind in the transformation of food and agriculture systems.
This conversation was part of a fireside chat organized by Food Tank and the Inter-American
Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture at the...

On “Food Talk with Dani Nierenberg,” Dani speaks with Dr. Andrew Bremer, Director of the Office of Nutrition Research at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). They talk about the concerning state of nutrition security today, why it remains difficult to link foods to specific health outcomes, and the opportunity the U.S. has to transform the country’s food system into one that doesn’t only fill eaters up, but also nourishes them.

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 “Foo...