
Food Talk with Dani Nierenberg (by Food Tank)
Food Tank's Danielle Nierenberg chats with the most important folks in the food industry about the most important food news, released every Thursday.
Latest episodes

May 8, 2025 • 39min
488. 15,000 Leave USDA, SNAP Cuts, Traditional African Diets, and a conversation with Lisa Moon on the Resilience Offered by Food Banks as Global Crises Spike
On Food Talk with Dani Nierenberg, Dani speaks with Lisa Moon, President and CEO of The Global FoodBanking Network. They discuss the thriving grassroots network of food banks operating around the world, the large void left by foreign aid cuts, and the support that food banks offer communities as crises, from natural disasters to conflict, continue to increase. Plus hear about the workforce reduction at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the most recent proposed cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and new research that demonstrates the importance of traditional and indigenous African crops to global sustainable and healthy diets. While you’re listening, subscribe, rate, and review the show; it would mean the world to us to have your feedback. You can listen to “Food Talk with Dani Nierenberg” wherever you consume your podcasts.

May 2, 2025 • 56min
487. Bonus Episode: Food is Medicine and Eating for Health, Part 2
Food Tank, in partnership with the Sprouts Healthy Communities Foundation, recently hosted a special series on “Food is Medicine and Eating for Health.” This webinar features conversations from Part 2 of the event as panelists come together to discuss avenues to scale Food is Medicine programs at the state level, the importance of ensuring communities have access to culturally relevant foods, and why the best Food is Medicine programs serve eaters, farmers, and the planet. Speakers include Katie Garfield, Harvard Law School’s Center for Health Law and Policy Innovation; Devon Klatell, The Rockefeller Foundation; Radha Muthiah, Capital Area Food Bank; Tambra Raye Stevenson, Women Advancing Nutrition Dietetics and Agriculture (WANDA); Chef Sean Sherman, North American Traditional Indigenous Food Systems (NATIFS); and Lyndsey Waugh of the Sprouts Healthy Communities Foundation. While you’re listening, subscribe, rate, and review the show; it would mean the world to us to have your feedback. You can listen to “Food Talk with Dani Nierenberg” wherever you consume your podcasts.

May 1, 2025 • 1h 3min
486. Food is Medicine and Eating for Health, Part 1
Food Tank, in partnership with the Sprouts Healthy Communities Foundation, recently hosted a special series on “Food is Medicine and Eating for Health.” This webinar features conversations from Part 1 of the event as panelists come together to discuss what it means to implement holistic approaches to improving access to healthy, nourishing foods; the empowerment of youth; and how we ensure that the opportunities presented by Food is Medicine aren’t wasted. Speakers include Erika Allen, Urban Growers Collective; Dr. Kofi Essel, Elevance Health; Rachel Fisher, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; Kathleen Merrigan, Swette Center for Sustainable Food Systems at Arizona State University; A-dae Romero-Briones, First Nations Development Institute; Alice Waters, American chef, restaurateur, and author; and Lyndsey Waugh, Sprouts Healthy Communities Foundation. Plus, hear about the staffing cuts expected at the world’s largest humanitarian organization, the push for countries to release their updated climate action plans, and the new legislation that could make it harder to win a legal case against the agrochemical company Bayer. While you’re listening, subscribe, rate, and review the show; it would mean the world to us to have your feedback. You can listen to “Food Talk with Dani Nierenberg” wherever you consume your podcasts.

Apr 24, 2025 • 36min
485. Dr. Ismahane Elouafi on the Hope that Lies in Scientific Innovation
On Food Talk with Dani Nierenberg, Dani speaks with Dr. Ismahane Elouafi, Executive Managing Director of CGIAR, the world's largest global agricultural innovation network. They talk about the impact of global events on farmers, the hope that science brings and why it’s so important to invest in research, and the technology that will make careers in agriculture more appealing to young people. While you’re listening, subscribe, rate, and review the show; it would mean the world to us to have your feedback. You can listen to “Food Talk with Dani Nierenberg” wherever you consume your podcasts.

Apr 17, 2025 • 41min
484. The U.S. Pushes for a ‘Back to Basics’ Approach at FAO, the Latest on Humanitarian Aid Funding, Advice for Young People Coming of Age, and a conversation with Will Masters on the Billions of Eaters Who Can’t Afford a Healthy Diet
On Food Talk with Dani Nierenberg, Dani speaks with Will Masters, a Professor in the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, with a secondary appointment in Tufts University's Department of Economics. They talk about U.S. tariffs on imported goods, how measuring the cost of a healthy diet can drive policy change, and the frustrating setback the world is seeing in efforts to advance global food and nutrition security. Plus hear about the recent remarks from the U.S., calling for a “back to basics” approach at the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization, where funding for humanitarian aid stands after additional cuts, and one journalist’s advice for young people. While you’re listening, subscribe, rate, and review the show; it would mean the world to us to have your feedback. You can listen to “Food Talk with Dani Nierenberg” wherever you consume your podcasts.

Apr 10, 2025 • 40min
483. A Nutritionist’s Thoughts on MAHA, Strengthening Indigenous Foodways, Staff Cuts at USDA, and a conversation with Andy Jarvis on the Creativity, Innovation, and Funding Needed for Food Systems Transformation
In this engaging discussion, Andy Jarvis, Director for the Future of Food at the Bezos Earth Fund, shares his insights on transforming agricultural systems to combat the climate crisis. He emphasizes the importance of innovation and investment in sustainable practices. The conversation also critiques the Make America Healthy Again movement and celebrates Indigenous foodways, highlighting Chef Sean Sherman's efforts to integrate cultural foods into communities. Further, they address challenges faced by the USDA and the future of sustainable protein sources in food systems.

Apr 3, 2025 • 33min
482. Earthquake in Southeast Asia, What a Drop of Global Aid Means for Child Hunger, and a Conversation with Kimber Lanning on Building an Inclusive Food Economy
On Food Talk with Dani Nierenberg, Dani speaks with Kimber Lanning, Founder and CEO of Local First Arizona. They discuss the value of desert-friendly crops in a changing climate, the fear that many immigrant business leaders are living with, and the power that communities can build through place-based, local economies. Plus, hear about the limited U.S. response to the 7.7 magnitude earthquake that killed more than 2,000 in Myanmar and the devastating effects that a reduction in aid from countries in the Global North will have on hunger and child mortality. While you’re listening, subscribe, rate, and review the show; it would mean the world to us to have your feedback. You can listen to “Food Talk with Dani Nierenberg” wherever you consume your podcasts.

Mar 27, 2025 • 50min
481. Farmers’ Discontent Grows, a New Ban on GMO Corn, Legislation to Protect Pollinators, and a conversation with Dr. Antony Chapoto on Strengthening Agricultural Research in African Countries
Dr. Antony Chapoto discusses the vital need for localized agricultural research in Africa to enhance food systems. Farmers express their concerns over recent U.S. funding decisions, while Mexico takes a bold step by banning GMO corn to protect biodiversity and cultural heritage. The conversation also touches on the UK's initiative to reduce pesticide use by 10% to protect crucial pollinators like bees, highlighting the broader implications for agriculture and sustainability.

Mar 20, 2025 • 33min
480. Alissa Vieira and Lindsay Williams on the Impact of the Federal Grant Freezes on Small Food Businesses
On Food Talk with Dani Nierenberg, Dani speaks with Alissa Viera and Lindsay Williams of the Toledo, Ohio-based ice cream manufacturer Swanky Scoops. They discuss the grants that allow local economies to flourish, the impact that delays in the reimbursement of funds can have on small food businesses, and how federal grant freezes — even when temporary — can undermine trust. While you’re listening, subscribe, rate, and review the show; it would mean the world to us to have your feedback. You can listen to “Food Talk with Dani Nierenberg” wherever you consume your podcasts.

Mar 19, 2025 • 50min
479: Sam Acho and Karen Washington on Not Succumbing to Fear in Uncertain Times
In this conversation, Sam Acho, a former NFL player and humanitarian, shares his inspiring journey in transforming a Chicago liquor store into a community food mart, emphasizing humility and support for local entrepreneurs. Meanwhile, Karen Washington, a passionate farmer and activist, dives into the challenges of food justice amidst social inequities. They discuss the need for community empowerment, the impact of fear in uncertain times, and the shift from ‘food deserts’ to the more accurate concept of ‘food apartheid,’ advocating for systemic change in food access.
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