We moved the Food Systems Summit online. That means everyone can tune in, for free.
Dear Supporter,
Suffering from FOMO (Fear of Missing Out)? No need! You can now join the Food Systems Summit online.
We had planned to join Richman Law Group and the CUNY Urban Food Policy Institute for a Food Systems Summit in New York City, starting the week of Earth Day. COVID-19 put an end to our plans to gather in person. But lucky for you, we’ve moved the summit online, which means anyone can join—at no cost!
Join the Food Systems (online) Summit Thursday, May 21, noon - 1 p.m. EDT and Thursday May 28, also at noon - 1 p.m. EDT.
Register here for the Thursday, May 21 event (Session 5). (Registration for May 21 is open until Wednesday, May 20, 5 p.m. EDT).
Register here for the Thursday, May 28 event (Session 6). (Registration closes May 27 at 5 p.m. EDT).
Session 5 (May 21) will explore building coalitions to fight factory farming. We’ll discuss the impacts of Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) on rural communities and beyond; collaborating with farmers on anti-CAFO advocacy; working with food companies to raise industry animal welfare standards; and assisting farmers with transitions from animal to plant agriculture with the aid of private funding.
Session 5 speakers include:
• Traci Bruckner, Policy Program Director for Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems Funders (Moderator). SAFSF members make investments at local, regional, state, Tribal, national and international levels to support activities and strategies related to justice, farms and farming systems, environmental sustainability, markets, health, agricultural products, and much more within the food system.
• Danielle Diamond, Director of Field Operations for the Socially Responsible Agriculture Project (SRAP). Danielle is an attorney, community organizer and environmental policy advocate focused on addressing the critical problems arising from industrial livestock production in rural communities. SRAP works to help communities across the U.S. replace industrial livestock production with ecologically sound, socially equitable, and economically viable animal agriculture.
• Leah Garcés, President of Mercy For Animals (MFA). Leah is the author of “Grilled: Turning Adversaries into Allies to Change the Chicken Industry.” MFA is on the front lines fighting to protect farmed animals. From factory farms to corporate boardrooms, courts of justice to courts of public opinion, MFA is there to speak up against cruelty and for compassion.
Session 6 (May 28) will focus on the biggest issues facing our food systems, from food deserts to climate change, in addition to exploring bold and forward-looking solutions like the Green New Deal.
I’ll be moderating Session 6. Speakers will include our very own Ronnie Cummins, International Director of the Organic Consumers Association, a founding member of Regeneration International and author of the book “Grassroots Rising: A Call to Action on Climate, Farming, Food, and a Green New Deal.” Joining Ronnie will be:
• Craig Willingham, Deputy Director of the CUNY Urban Food Policy Institute. He came to CUNY from New York City’s Center for Health Equity where he developed and implemented strategies to make it easier for people to buy healthier food. The CUNY Urban Food Policy Institute conducts research, education and action projects that can contribute to solving the food problems of New York City.
• Henry Rowlands, founder of Sustainable Pulse, a sustainable food and agriculture news services that reaches 1 million people/month in 125 countries each month. Rowlands is also founder of the The Detox Project, a research and certification platform that encourages transparency around the use of toxic chemicals, and promotes unique new testing technologies that enable you to find out what levels of toxic chemicals are in your body and in your food.
• Ben Kallos, New York City Council Member, District 5, is a legislator, public health advocate and NYC Council Progressive Caucus Co-Chair. He’s a leader on many good causes, including protecting New Yorkers from the use of toxic pesticides in the city's parks and open spaces, requiring fast food marketed to children to be less unhealthy, and supporting a #greenjobsrecovery.
Please join us for Session 5 on May 21 and Session 6 on May 28.
Missed out on earlier sessions? You can watch recordings here:
• Session 1: Creating a Transparent Food System
• Session 2: How advocacy organizations are making an impact
• Session 3: Fighting for Food Policy Progress Across Legal Arenas
• Session 4: Fighting greenwashing
There’s never been a better time to envision a better food and farming system. Join us to learn what’s being done, and how you can help.
P.S. To help support this, and other campaigns, please consider making a donation to OCA. Nearly 80 percent of our support comes in the form of small donations from individual donors. Thank you!
