Food is essential for life, it is emotive, it is personal, and it is deeply imbedded in our cultures and family histories. Let’s face it, we love it. However, not enough people know that climate change is changing the flavors, aromas, nutritional quality, and prices of the foods we love and need. Food is the ideal messenger for the climate change story and one that can make climate change relevant to everyone — we all eat. Regardless of political affiliation most people are interested in learning more about climate change impacts on their food — an audience awaits. We also talk a lot about food but far less about climate change yet talking about climate change is the first step in tackling it. It is time to meld these conversations. Everyone can tap the power of food to confront climate change and keep our favorites on the menu. And coincidentally, keep the planet livable.
Mike Hoffmann is dedicating his life to confronting the grand challenge of climate change by helping people understand and appreciate what is happening through the foods we all love and need. He has published climate change articles in the popular press – The Hill, Fortune, Medium, and USA Today and is lead author of Our changing menu: Climate change and the foods we love and need (Cornell Press 2021). He has also done a TEDx Talk – Climate change: It’s time to raise our voices and given >150 climate change – related talks. Mike’s life’s experiences include growing up on a one-cow dairy farm and serving in the Marines during the Vietnam War. He has held multiple leadership roles in Cornell’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. He received his BS Degree from the University Wisconsin, MS from the University of Arizona, and PhD from the University of California, Davis. He now holds the title of Professor Emeritus. He will tell the climate change story until he no longer can.
Meeting ID: 958 6631 3240
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