In 2025, acute hunger affects 343 million people globally, agricultural trade tensions are escalating, and nutrition-related diseases are placing a growing burden on public health systems. In light of these challenges, the need for policy-driven discussions has never been more critical.

This one-day, student-led symposium on March 28 brings scholars, policymakers, and industry leaders to Princeton’s campus to discuss the evolving policies shaping nutrition, food security, agricultural trade, and climate resilience. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage with leaders in the field and gain insights into solutions aimed at ensuring a resilient future for food and agriculture.

Point of Contacts: Sophie Pye ([email protected]) and Lina Singh ([email protected])

Schedule

9:30 - 10:00 am          Breakfast

10:00 am                     Opening Remarks by Vice Dean David Wilcove 

10:25 am                     Panel 1: The Trade Winds Shaping Agriculture

Moderator: Silvia Weyerbrock, Lecturer of Food and Agricultural Economics, School of Public and International Affairs, Princeton University

Speakers:

1. Darci Vetter, Former Chief Agricultural Negotiator, United States Trade Representative (2014 - 2017)
2. Johan Swinnen, Director General of the International Food Policy Research Institute
3. Zach Helder, Agricultural Business Council of Kansas City

11:15 am                     Coffee Break

11:30 am                     Panel 2: Food Security in a Changing Climate

Moderator: Tessa Desmond, Professional Specialist in Sustainable Agriculture at the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs, Director of the Seed Farm at Princeton, Co-Leader of the Princeton Food Project

Speakers:

1. Paul Skoczylas, Deputy Director of the U.N. System and Multilateral Engagement Division, World Food Programme
2. Tim Searchinger, Senior Research Scholar at the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs, Senior Scholar at the World Resources Institute
3. David Dayhoff, North America Director of Sustainability & Precision Services for dsm-firmenich Animal Nutrition & Health

12:15 - 1:00 pm          Lunch

1:05 pm                       Panel 3: U.S. Food and Nutrition Policy

Moderator: Susan Marquis, Charles and Marie Robertson Visiting Professor, Princeton School of Public and International Affairs

Speakers:

1. Cindy Long, Former Deputy Under Secretary, Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services, U.S. Department of Agriculture
2. Dariush Mozaffarian, Director of Tufts Food is Medicine Institute
3. Jerold Mande - CEO of Nourish Science, Former Deputy Under Secretary for Food Safety at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (2009 - 2011).

2:00 pm - 2:15 pm      Closing Address

Contributions to and/or sponsorship of any event does not constitute departmental or institutional endorsement of the specific program, speakers or views presented.