what happens when you bring together cutting-edge university research and a network of food leaders shaping policy and practice on the ground? that’s the idea behind the collaboration between the aspen institute’s food leaders fellowship and george washington university’s global food institute (gfi).

gw’s global food institute, founded in 2023 by activist and chef josé andrés, was created to transform food systems in service of healthier populations and a healthier planet. utilizing cross-disciplinary research and teaching, gfi serves as a hub for diverse parties to come together and advance solutions to food systems issues impacting their communities. the institute connects academic research with real-world problem-solving, drawing on public health, business, journalism, technology, international affairs, and other disciplines.

for tara scully, ph.d., director of curriculum development for gfi, the collaboration fills a critical gap between research and practice. scully sees gfi as a “facilitator and connector” of creative minds eager to better the world around them. 

“we’re hearing from our community at gw the desire for their work to have real-world impact and application,” scully said. “this partnership creates space for us to engage in meaningful and impactful partner-driven work.”

food and society at the aspen institute works to help today’s food leaders achieve their career goals and make a tangible impact on food systems across the country, according to scully. its food leaders fellowship brings together leaders from a multitude of disciplines for an 18-month experience designed to sharpen leadership skills, foster collaboration, and accelerate solutions for more sustainable, equitable food systems.

this year, the fellowship announced its fourth cohort of 18 food leaders who have ideas for the research they want to do and the collaborations that best suit their goals. fellows not only exchange ideas, but also design projects that directly engage with the communities they serve. 

this partnership between gfi and the aspen institute, supported by josé andrés’ longer tables fund, aims to connect aspen fellows with the gw community. each fellow will not only get the chance to utilize the resources provided by gw, but also to work with innovative and thoughtful gw faculty, staff, and students.

the collaboration officially kicked off at the aspen institute campus in colorado in mid-august, when gfi’s scully and its program manager laura mindlin joined the fellowship’s newest cohort for their first week of brainstorming. for mindlin, the energy was palpable.

“we’ve already been blown away by the ideas that have come out of these conversations,” mindlin said.

fellows discussed projects that ranged from large-scale research initiatives to creative community partnerships and gw faculty were able to immediately identify ways their expertise and their students’ experiences could support the work.

over the next two years, the partnership will operate as a pilot program. funding has been set aside to bring fellows to the gw campus, embed them in courses, and support joint research that pushes boundaries. students will also have the opportunity to take part in projects through capstone courses, service-learning classes, and even study abroad experiences. one example already in the works is a sustainable supply chain course that may take students to puerto rico, where several fellows are based and working on food access initiatives.

this collaboration aims to be a symbiotic relationship for the fellows, the university, students, and staff. for mindlin, one the most exciting parts is the potential to reshape how universities engage with the world outside their walls.

“this is about breaking down silos between disciplines, between the university and the field, and between ideas and people who might not normally connect,” she said. “that’s where real transformation happens.”

the partnership also reflects a broader shift: food systems change is no longer seen as the work of a single sector, but as a challenge that requires voices from across fields. programs like this bring together creative minds and provide new perspectives that allow these leaders to see outside the box to create tangible solutions.

editor’s note: this series is brought to you by planet forward’s partnership with the global food institute at gw. we thank gfi for their continued collaboration on food, agriculture, and solutions stories.