North Texas Local Food Dialogue on Inclusive Food Systems
September 15 | 9:00am - 11:30am Central
A Contributing Dialogue to the Biden Administration’s Food Policy Agenda, the UN Food Systems Summit, and national discussions, hosted by University of Texas at Arlington and ICLEI.
This is a big year for food.Globally, the UN’s Food Systems Summit will bring together science, business, healthcare and academic communities with farmers, Indigenous people, youth, local governments, and others to accelerate the Decade of Action for the SDGs. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is leading much of this work with partners to ensure the voice of cities, towns and counties is represented. At the same time in the U.S., the Federal Administration is leading a series of dialogues, led by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
ThisNorth Texas Local Food Dialogue on Inclusive Food Systems, hosted by University of Texas at Arlington and International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI) is intended to be the regional moment for official contribution from cities and counties to the proceedings. We aim to collate interests, issues, and priorities of local governments — including on food sustainability, security and resilience — in order to submit the outcomes to both FAO at the global level and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) within the U.S.
Objectives:
The exchanges at the event aim:
To highlight the role that local governments and other organizations are playing in improving their urban food systems as well as identify key food systems challenges, opportunities and priorities
To generate discussions, action and commitments from local stakeholders on food systems reforms to achieve the SDGS and the health and wellbeing of people and the planet. These will feed into the UNFSS processes such as game changing solutions (“actionable messages”)
To connect these dialogues with the national UNFSS Member States Summit Dialogues and involve Ministries as well as other strategic stakeholders working with the cities (e.g. UN bodies, organizations with consolidated work track on food with respective cities).
To contribute as a UN Food Systems Summit Independent Summit Dialogue and connect this U.S. event with those happening nationally.
To achieve a lasting collaboration on urban food systems in support of the RCE North Texas and North Texas Food Policy Alliance (NTFPA).
Featuring Keynote Speakers:
Panelists for Ensuring Food Security, Resilience and Equity in Cities
- Susan Alvarez, Assistant Director, City of Dallas
- Nicole Warhoftig-SEED, Manager, City of Plano
- Brenda Patton, Program Manager, Policy Blue Zones Project, North Texas Healthy Communities
- Tamara Cook, Senior Environment & Development Program Manager, North Central Texas Council Of Governments (NCTCOG)
Panelists for Regional Food Systems Approaches
- Owen Lynch, Founder, Restorative Farms
- Valerie Stone Hawthorne, Director of Government Relations, North Texas Food Bank
- Anga Sanders, Founder & Creative Spirit at FEED Oak Cliff & The Dallas VegFest
- Jenny Eyer, Vice President, Health Strategies, American Heart Association
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Facilitators
- Sarah Luxton, Sustainability and Environmental, Education Supervisor, City of Plano.
- Kale Roberts, Senior Program Officer, ICLEI USA.
- Stephanie Byrd, Marketing Director, Schneider Electric.
- Sandy Bauman, Sustainability Coordinator, UNT Health Science Center
Agenda
09:05 am - Welcome - Dr. Teik Lim, President UT Arlington
09:15 am - Global Food in Context: The UN Food Systems Summit and beyond
09:20 am - Opening Remarks - Alison Blay-Palmer, UNESCO Chair
09:30 am - Panel 1: Ensuring Food Security, Resilience and Equity in Cities
09:55 am - Breakout Discussions 1
10:20 am - Panel 2: Regional Food Systems Approaches
10:45 am - Breakout Discussions 2
11:10 am - Concluding Remarks