Global Food+ Symposium 2026
About
Welcome to the sixth annual Global Food+ Symposium on April 10th, hosted this year at Boston College! Building on the momentum of our previous gatherings across the city, this 2026 event continues our mission to unite the brightest minds in the Boston area to tackle the most pressing challenges in global agriculture, food systems, and nutrition.
April 10th, 2026 12:30-5 PM - Hosted at Boston College Walsh Hall 131 Function Room, reception to follow at 5-6 PM
What to Expect
Whether the research is rooted in archaeology, biology, chemistry, economics, engineering, nursing, physics, psychology, theology, or any other discipline, each presentation follows a concise seven-minute structure covering Motivation, Method, Results, and Implications. Each presentation will be recorded (for presenters who opt in), but not livestreamed.
- Diverse Perspectives: Explore research across agriculture, environmental sustainability, nutrition, health, and related fields.
- Rapid-Fire Insights: Catch the "greatest hits" of Boston-area research in a single afternoon.
- Meaningful Connection: Transition from intense learning to active networking during our breaks and closing reception.
Organizers
This year's organizing committee consists of:
- Megan Elias (BU Food Studies)
- William Masters (Tufts Nutrition)
- Wolfram Schlenker (Harvard Kennedy)
- Edson Severnini (BC Economics)
- Greg Sixt (MIT Water and Food Systems Lab)
Program
SESSION 1: 12:30-1:50pm | |
|---|---|
| Presenter | Title |
| Steven Block | Diet Quality During Drought: Evidence from Tanzania (Slides) |
| Chen Chu | Planning Food Systems at the Regional Level (Slides) |
| Yongyi Pan | How Ultra-Processed Foods Shape U.S. Diets (Slides) |
| Charlotte Siegmann | Trends in the Livestock Industry (Slides) |
| Edson Severnini | Climate Shocks and Household Consumption in Mozambique (Slides) |
| Eric Verploegen | Cooling Technologies to Reduce Food Loss After Harvest (Slides) |
| Robert Paarlberg | What COVID Did to Food Politics (Slides) |
| Michael Foley | Tracking Crop Production as Borders Change (Slides) |
| Wensu Hao | Mapping Global Nitrogen Use in Crop Production (Slides) |
| Winnie Bell | How Nutritious Are School Meals Around the World? (Slides) |
| BREAK: 1:50-2:05 pm | |
SESSION 2: 2:05-3:25pm | |
| Katherine Gregory | Diet During Late Pregnancy and Newborn Health (Slides) |
| Khristopher Nicholas | Community-Driven Food Systems for a Changing Climate (Slides) |
| Elena Martinez | Are Ultra-Processed Foods Cheaper Worldwide? (Slides) |
| Liping Wang | Innovations in Sustainable Indoor Farming (Slides) |
| Ben Chrisinger | What If SNAP Disappeared? Food Needs During the 2025 Shutdown |
| Ploy Khunisorn | Culinary Diplomacy: Vietnamese and Indonesian Food Globalization (Slides) |
| Erin Coughlan de Perez | Early Action to Prevent Food Crises (Slides) |
| Babak Momeni | Reducing Aflatoxin Risks in Infant Foods (Slides) |
| Etienne Berthet | Food Security in Africa Under Climate Change (Slides) |
| BREAK: 3:25-3:40pm | |
SESSION 3: 3:40-5:00pm | |
| Parke Wilde | Who Is Affected by the 2025 SNAP Cuts? (Slides) |
| Dhini Purnamasari | Climate Change and Worker Safety in the Fishing Industry (Slides) |
| Bryan P. Galligan, S.J. | Coral Bleaching, Fisheries, and Nutrition in East Africa |
| Eleanor Vance | Farmer Protests and the Limits of Nitrogen Regulation (Slides) |
| Gabriele D'Oria | Designing Fiber Textures for Better Food Mouthfeel (Slides) |
| Emily Craig | Food, Folk Medicine, and “Trad-Wife” Social Media (Slides) |
| Claire Gorman Hanly | Carbon Incentives for Peatland Restoration in Northern Ireland (Slides) |
| Cheryl Doss | Women’s Empowerment, Shocks, and Food Security (Slides) |
| Hanqin Tian | Rice Production and the Global Methane Challenge (Slides) |
| Alyssa Papantonakis | Climate Disasters and Emergency Food Aid in Plymouth County (Slides) |
RECEPTION: 5:00-6:00pm | |