"Food Foundations" is a play on words that highlights foundations that work on improving global food and agriculture. The focus is on how food science could improve lives by increasing food supplies, extending shelf life, improving packaging and storage, reducing post-harvest loss and consumer waste, integrating nutrition and agriculture, training and education, food safety, sustainable food systems, etc. Other aspects may also be covered, depending on the foundation’s specific work. This episode features Grameen Foundation.
Guests
Mona McCord
Director, Agriculture Innovations, Grameen Foundation, is a committed international development professional with 15 years experience developing and implementing agriculture and food security programs. At Grameen Foundation, she leads the innovation in agriculture transformation strategy and oversees engagements with a range of public, private and government partners. She is a co-author on USAID’s Feed the Future publication Data-driven Agriculture: The Future of Smallholder Farmer Data Management and Use, which outlines the transformative aspects of digital farmer profile data to support market-led smallholder engagement strategies more efficiently, effectively and sustainably. She has professional experience related to agriculture finance for smallholder farmers in Malawi, Kenya, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Indonesia and Kyrgyzstan. Mona holds a Master’s degree in International Agriculture Development from the University of California, Davis, and served as a small enterprise development volunteer with the U.S. Peace Corps in Mali.
Co-Host:
Donna Rosa, 2018 - 2019 Feeding Tomorrow Liaison of the IFT International Division, is an international business development services (BDS) consultant specializing in food processing and agribusiness. She works with micro- and small enterprises in developing countries, offering advisory services such as business analysis, business plan development, market research, training, organization development, and counseling. She has a special interest in food security and utilizing food science to address it.
Host:
Matt Teegarden, Ph.D., recently completed his Ph.D. in Food Science at The Ohio State University where he also completed his B.S. and M.S. He now works as a Scientist in Product Research and Development at Abbott Nutrition. Matt’s scientific focus is in food chemistry and functional foods. He is also an active science communicator, as a co-founder of Don’t Eat the Pseudoscience and host of the IFTNext Food Disruptors podcast.
More News
Diverse skill sets needed for growing opportunities
To understand where the future of work in the science of food is headed, it’s necessary to first look at how the industry has changed, explained the panelists at an IFT Careers InFocus virtual event session titled “The Future of Work.”
Preparing for a new work paradigm
Speaking at IFT’s recent Careers InFocus virtual event and career fair, Andrew Yang, the founder of Venture for America and former U.S. presidential candidate, shared his perspective on the massive changes that are affecting the way we work.
No quick fix for employment inequities
Employment inequities related to gender and race are real, and correcting them must be a priority, but it isn’t going to happen overnight, said panelists at an IFT Careers InFocus virtual event session.
Call to action for stronger, better-funded federal nutrition research
According to a group of research, policy, and government experts, the United States needs to strengthen and increase funding for federal nutrition research and improve cross-governmental coordination in order to accelerate discoveries, grow the economy, and—most importantly—improve public health, food/nutrition security, and population resilience.
IFT, American Society for Nutrition offer joint membership
The Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) and the American Society for Nutrition (ASN) have announced a joint membership offer, combining benefits from both organizations to provide enhanced resources.
Latest News
Building Community Through Engagement
IFT President Christopher R. Daubert reflects
Scaling Up Cameroon’s Locally Made Baby Food
A program to scale up locally made baby food in Cameroon addresses food insecurity in early childhood.
Continuing the Conversation With Katie Stebbins
Katie Stebbins, executive director of the Food and Nutrition Innovation Institute at Tufts University, talked with Food Technology at IFT FIRST about the unique and important position the Institute has as a convener for industry, academia, and government to bring forth change in food and nutrition security.
Continuing the Conversation With Caree Jackson Cotwright
In her role as director of nutrition security and health equity at the USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service for more than a year, Caree Jackson Cotwright sat down with Food Technology at IFT FIRST to provide an update on the progress made and to issue a call to arms for everyone—industry and academia—to help advance food and nutrition security.
IFT Brings Us Together
IFT President Christopher R. Daubert reflects on the valuable role that IFT plays in bringing together the scientific community to advance the food system.