Can knowledge institutions like universities address seemingly intractable issues like global hunger? How can they get critical research into the hands of policymakers? And how can universities co-create solutions with communities that are the most impacted by climate change and food insecurity?
These questions were front and center on September 21 at Food for Humanity: Unlocking the Potential of Universities to End Hunger and Malnutrition, hosted by Jessica Fanzo, professor of climate at the Climate School and director of the Food for Humanity Initiative; and Glenn Denning, professor of professional practice in the School of International and Public Affairs and director of the Master of Public Administration in Development Practice. It was the first of Columbia Climate School’s events as part of New York City’s Climate Week, and the first of Columbia’s Bollinger Convenings—a series that showcases innovative work from Columbia that advances human welfare and benefits society, named after former Columbia University president Lee Bollinger. It was also the launch of the Food for Humanity initiative, which supports fresh approaches to interdisciplinary research and educational offerings on healthy and sustainable food systems.
The event opened with the year’s first World Leaders Forum. Columbia interim president Katrina Armstrong welcomed the visitors and stressed the importance and timeliness of actions to end hunger and malnutrition. Denning moderated a lively discussion on challenges and solutions for achieving food security with Lazarus Chakwera, president of Malawi; Garry Conille, prime minister of Haiti; and Ambassador Ertharin Cousin, CEO and founder, Food Systems for the Future, and a second discussion included Rosângela da Silva, first lady of Brazil; Angela Olinto, provost of Columbia University; and Thomas J. Trebat, director of the Rio Global Center.
The world leaders shared the complexities—and differences—of the food security challenges faced by their respective countries. “Climate change is an enemy of food production,” Chakwera said, continuing that countries like Malawi need to move beyond subsistence farming to ensure long-term food security. Chakwera also discussed the role that universities have in research and innovation regarding agriculture and climate resilience. “Universities are indispensable to this equation, because these policies cannot be implemented to the standard and the speed that we require without their involvement,” he said.
The World Leaders Forum was followed by a set of panels exploring the role of research, universities, and partnerships in addressing hunger, food security and food systems transformation. Fanzo opened the conference, laying out the urgent stakes at hand. With global conflict, climate extremes and COVID-19 disrupting food production and supply chains, “The world faces a hunger crisis of unprecedented proportions….Diets are contributing to this burden and the global food system is not delivering on its most fundamental mission: to provide adequate, nutritious food for everyone at all times,” she said.
Yet, Fanzo added, there are unique opportunities for collaboration: “This convening aims to bring together leading universities, research institutions, and key international and national organizations with a goal to identify new mechanisms for partnership and resource mobilization that will drive the positive transformation of our global food systems.” Denning agreed with that sentiment. “Out of adversity can come opportunity,” he said, especially with universities playing a role in transforming food systems.
Wafaa el-Sadr, from Columbia University’s Columbia Global program, moderated the first session, which included representatives from the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, UN Women and the International Food and Policy Research Institute. Purnima Menon, senior director, International Food Policy Research Institute, opened the session, highlighting the critical role researchers can play in connecting the dots between data, evidence and policy. She pointed out that researchers must align their research and interests with policy needs as well as be proactive in policy circles.
Other speakers noted the importance of communicating research as well. Ana Maria Loboguerrero, director, adaptive and equitable food systems at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, stated: “There is a call for universities and research institutions to fill the gap in food data. But the issue is so complex. We can’t stop there. We must fill information gaps and also package this data to persuade. You can’t persuade policy makers by making a graph.”
Another panel, comprised of people representing the International Fund for Agricultural Development, the University of Chicago, the State Department, Clim-Eat and Columbia University, highlighted the role of partnerships between universities and others. Cary Fowler, special envoy for Global Food Security, the U.S. Department of State, and Cynthia Rosenzweig, senior research scientist at the Climate School, spoke about their partnership in the Vision for Adapted Crops and Soils (VACS), a large project with a range of partners. The State Department leads the project, and Fowler discussed how his office had a convening role regarding what they saw as the priorities, while the university piece led by Agricultural Model Intercomparison and Improvement Project (AgMIP), under the direction of AgMIP co-founder Rosenzweig, helped develop the evidence around climate impacts. This was just one example illustrating how different types of institutions in a partnership can have distinct roles.
Finally, at the convening, students from Columbia University and beyond also presented their research in agriculture and food systems projects, illustrating that students can both play an integral part in the activities, but their participation can also be transformative for their own role as future leaders in this space. Michael Sheldrick, a co-founder of Global Citizen, likewise discussed the dynamic role that student movements can have in pushing forward the development agenda. Rehman Hassan, an Act4Food youth leader and human rights advocate, stated, “We must focus on intersectoral action, and youth must be involved. Because we are the people who are going to be living in the world we create.”
The Bollinger Convening was an important moment to showcase the global research and policy collaborations that SIPA, Columbia’s Climate School and the wider Food for Humanity Initiative curate. As Fanzo said, “It is an opportune moment to bring distinct and diverse communities together to ensure that university research remains relevant to real-world food policy challenges and that research addresses the most pressing need to improve food security for everyone, everywhere.”
