News & Updates

Prof. Sandra Albrecht shared this exciting food-related event: Columbia University Epidemiology Grand Rounds (CUEGR) 

Talk Title: Food Politics 2026: Science vs. Ideology

Date/time: Wednesday, March 11, 2026; 4:00 – 5:30pm

Speaker: Marion Nestle; Paulette Goddard Professor of Nutrition, Food Studies, and Public Health Emerita, NYU

In-person location: Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health; 701 West 168^th Street; Room 301

To attend this lecture via zoom, register here:https://bit.ly/4sxRzgW_CUEGR_MARCH11

Michael Puma, Director of the Center for Climate Systems Research at Columbia Climate School, has been appointed Interim Director of the Food for Humanity Initiative following Jessica Fanzo's transition to Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies.

F4H is grateful for Jess's leadership in establishing the Initiative and launching its 2025-2030 strategy. She will continue collaborating with F4H as an external partner.

To build momentum and demonstrate impact from this strategic vision, the Initiative is launching with three foundational pillars that leverage Columbia Climate School's unique strengths: Network Science, Operational Intelligence & Forecasting, and the Living Lab. This structure concentrates initial efforts where F4H creates genuine comparative advantage while positioning the Initiative for expanded partnerships as opportunities develop.

The pillars integrate fundamental climate science research with operational decision support platforms and hands-on student learning experiences spanning campus and city scales. Network Science reveals how climate shocks cascade through global food trade networks. Operational Intelligence & Forecasting translates climate forecasts and network insights into decision support platforms for humanitarian organizations and policymakers. The Living Lab provides experiential research integrating climate science, AI, and food production from Lamont campus to New York City's urban food ecosystem.

Over the coming months, Puma will connect with F4H's collaborative network to share this framework and explore how it supports the diverse food systems work happening across Columbia and with external partners.

F4Hi Director Jessica Fanzo will be leaving F4Hi and Columbia University at the end of this month, having accepted a chaired professorship at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International studies (SAIS) in Bologna, Italy.

Jess has a long and respected career in food systems, nutrition, and climate change, including several positions at Columbia University over the last two decades, serving as the Director of the Earth Institute's Nutrition Policy at the Center on Globalization and Sustainable Development, the Nutrition Director at the Center for Global Health and Economic Development, as well as holding roles at Columbia's Irving Medical Center and School of International and Public Affairs.

Under her leadership, F4Hi became the Columbia Climate School’s inaugural food program and launched a 5-year strategy. She will continue her relationship with the Initiative as an external collaborator. The F4Hi core group is grateful for Jess’s guidance, tenacity, and collaboration over the past three years and wishes her success in her future endeavors.

The world faces the urgent challenge of feeding a growing population while addressing the significant greenhouse gas emissions from food and agriculture production.

Meals do not have to contribute to the climate crisis—they can be part of the climate solution. Food system transformation can address food and nutrition security as well as drive climate mitigation, adaptation, and resilience.

Here in New York City, we're applying our determination to take bold climate action to our food system. The NYC Food and Climate Strategy presents a vision for the city to contribute to global climate efforts, as well as continue learning from others' expertise.

Read more on the NYC Food Policy website

You love your morning coffee and you love the planet. So, you might wonder what your caffeine habit means for climate change.

Coffee isn’t a huge climate polluter, but it does produce greenhouse gases. On the high end, a kilogram of roasted coffee can produce 40 kilograms or more of carbon dioxide equivalent, according to Dave White, director of the Global Institute of Sustainability and Innovation at Arizona State University. That means a single bag of beans can represent the same emissions as driving a few dozen miles in a gas-powered car.

We asked the experts about the ground rules for coffee and climate.

Read via New York Times