Periodic Table of Food Initiative

Celebrating Food Diversity, Scientific Advances, and Community Innovation 2024, hosted by the Periodic Table of Food Initiative and others, will be held in New York, USA, on the 23rd and 24th of April, 2024.

This event is poised to be a seminal gathering for championing the richness of global food biodiversity and the innovative strides in food science and community practices. 

The conference

By convening a renowned collective of scientists, educators, policymakers, and advocates, this conference will follow a critical juncture in recognizing the essential role of diverse food systems in promoting human and planetary health, underscored by increasing threats from globalization, land-use changes, and the climate crisis.

The agenda

The agenda is meticulously designed to navigate the complexities of food biodiversity, from the molecular level to comprehensive systems, aiming to foster an actionable dialogue on sustaining and enhancing the vibrancy of our food landscapes. The conference will split its focus across two thematic days. 

Day 1, “Biodiversity of Foods: From Molecules to Systems,” will explore the dynamism of food species and their critical roles within ecosystems, hosted at the scenic New York Botanical Garden. Day 2, “Mapping Food Quality,” will shift gears to the pioneering efforts in cataloging foods’ nutritional and ecological value, setting the stage for future research and policy initiatives.

CGIAR participation

Header photo: Bean Market in Kampala, Uganda. Neil Palmer/CIAT