Friedman Seminar Series

This Friedman Seminar features Daniel Maxwell, professor, Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, and acting director, Feinstein International Center, presenting “The 2011 Famine in Somalia: Beyond a Food Security Crisis." Abstract This presentation will be based on Professor Maxwell’s retrospective research on the 2011 famine in South Central Somalia, that resulted in the recent book, Famine in Somalia: Competing Imperatives, Collective Failures (Oxford University Press, 2016). The presentation will trace the causes and consequences of the food security, malnutrition and mortality crisis, but then address the complicating factors that made this such a deadly crisis. Some 258,000 people lost their lives in the famine, and hundreds of thousands more were displaced or had their livelihoods severely disrupted. These complications include the history and political economy of three-plus decades of continuous humanitarian assistance in Southern Somalia, the rule of Al Shabaab and the war between Al Shabaab and the fledgling Somali Transitional Federal Government, its Africa Union partners, and expeditionary forces from Kenya and Ethiopia, donor counter terrorism policies that put a significant constraint on external humanitarian assistance, the engagement of non-western humanitarian actors, the role of the diaspora and urban-based lineage and kin groups in responding to the crisis, and the way in which internal social dynamics shaped both the crisis itself and brutal abuses that people faced when displaced. Bio Daniel Maxwell is a Professor and the Acting Director of the Feinstein International Center at Tufts’ Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy. He leads the research program on food security and livelihoods in complex emergencies. He served as the Chair of the Department of Food and Nutrition Policy at the Friedman School from 2008 to 2011. Through his research, Dan works with governments, agencies, and affected communities to build the evidence base for improved humanitarian and resilience programming and policy. He recently published Famine in Somalia: Competing Imperatives, Collective Failures (Oxford University Press, 2016) with Nisar Majid. He is the co-author, with Chris Barrett of Cornell University, of Food Aid After Fifty Years: Recasting Its Role (Routledge, 2005), and co-author with Peter Walker, of Shaping the Humanitarian World (Routledge, 2009). Prior to academia, Dan spent twenty years in leadership positions with international NGOs and research institutes. He was Deputy Regional Director for CARE International in Eastern and Central Africa, Rockefeller Post-Doctoral Fellow the International Food Policy Research Institute, and worked for Mennonite Central Committee for ten years in Tanzania and Uganda. He holds a B.Sc. from Wilmington College, a Master’s degree from Cornell, and a Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin. About the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy: The Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University is the only independent school of nutrition in the United States. The school's eight degree programs – which focus on questions relating to nutrition and chronic diseases, molecular nutrition, agriculture and sustainability, food security, humanitarian assistance, public health nutrition, and food policy and economics – are renowned for the application of scientific research to national and international policy.

This Friedman Seminar features Jeffrey Zurofsky, Founder & CEO, No Small Plans, LLC, Co-founder and former President & CEO, ’wichcraft, Riverpark, Riverpark Farm, presenting “Food technology, industrialization and commercialization- Can we bring back the humanity of eating?” Bio: Most recently, Jeffrey can be found writing about his experiences on his blog, jeffreyzurofsky.com, creating the nourishment program for Summit Series, and as co-host on Bravo’s new restaurant competition show “Best New Restaurant”. Jeffrey advises over 10 companies in his quest to help entrepreneurs build their dreams into realities. Jeffrey was also a key advisor and contributor to Tim Ferriss’ The 4-Hour Chef. In 2003, Jeffrey partnered with chefs Tom Colicchio and Sisha Ortúzar to co-found ’wichcraft as a sandwich shop where the ingredients and cooking techniques are rooted in fine dining but served in a casual and welcoming environment. Since then Jeffrey has all aspects of the business ’wichcraft, spearheading its expansion to fifteen stores including locations in San Francisco and Las Vegas and employing over four-hundred team members. In 2009, the original partnership opened Riverpark, a fine dining restaurant that was recently awarded 2-stars by the New York Times, as well as the innovative Riverpark Farm, New York’s most urban farm, located adjacent to the restaurant.. Prior to the founding of ’wichcraft, Jeffrey worked in some of Manhattan’s most prestigious kitchens including a stage at Lespinasse, Savoy (while enrolled at the French Culinary Institute), Union Square Café, and as opening sous chef at Restaurant AZ. With desire to leave the stove and feed his entrepreneurial passion, Jeffrey took an offer at a tech startup, Bank Pass as Director of Business Development where he developed his interest in business growth. After honing his business acumen, Jeffrey found his way back to his passion at Payard where was Director of Operations and CFO at Francois Payard Patisserie and Bistro. Jeffrey’s passion as an entrepreneur and love for food started at the age of eight, attempting to replicate in his family’s New Jersey kitchen what he saw master chefs create on classic PBS cooking shows. His mother, a small business owner, encouraged his budding interest in everything culinary and Jeffrey put his self-taught skills to work in professional kitchens while studying at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He paid his way through school in the area’s best restaurants, and eventually became sous chef at the Mobil 4-star La Residence. Upon graduation, he moved to New York City and where he has been able to feed his desire to develop new and innovative ideas in a fast paced environment. In addition to Jeffrey’s many job accomplishments, he was recently awarded Outstanding Alumni from The International Culinary Center in 2011. He continues to be committed to numerous civic and philanthropic institutions and has passionately supported entrepreneurial ventures throughout his career. About the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy: The Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University is the only independent school of nutrition in the United States. The school's eight degree programs – which focus on questions relating to nutrition and chronic diseases, molecular nutrition, agriculture and sustainability, food security, humanitarian assistance, public health nutrition, and food policy and economics – are renowned for the application of scientific research to national and international policy.

This Friedman Seminar features Tim Griffin, associate professor, Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, presenting “Genetically-Engineered Crops: Where we have been and where we might be going” Bio Tim Griffin is an Associate Professor at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University. At Friedman, he has directed the interdisciplinary graduate program, Agriculture, Food and the Environment since 2009, and teaches classes on U.S. agriculture, and agricultural science and policy. His current research focuses on regional food system and climate change impacts on agriculture, and he supervises doctoral students conducting research on topics ranging from precision agriculture to food access. Dr. Griffin served on the National Academy of Sciences study committee that published Genetically Engineered Crops: Experiences and Prospects. He also served as an Advisor to the 2015 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee, focusing on Sustainability. Before coming to the Friedman School in 2008, he was Research Agronomist and Lead Scientist with the USDA-Agriculture Research Service in Orono, ME, from 2000 to 2008. From 1992 to 2000, he was the Extension Sustainable Agriculture Specialist at the University of Maine, the first such position in the U.S. Abstract Genetically-engineered crops (“GE crops”) have been used by farmers for just two decades. In the short span since the mid-1990s, GE crops have been rapidly adopted by farmers producing a short list of crops in some countries, and are banned outright in others. There have been myriad claims regarding GE crops, from feeding the world to ecosystem disruption to human health impacts. This stimulated the National Academy of Sciences, in 2014, to undertake a very broad assessment of purported benefits and risks of GE crops that are already being used by farmers around the world. The report from this effort was released in May, 2016, and also assessed potential uses of GE techniques in the future and suggested changes in the regulatory framework for these products. The past and current uses and impacts of GE crops, along with prospects for the future, will all be addressed in this seminar. About the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy: The Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University is the only independent school of nutrition in the United States. The school's eight degree programs – which focus on questions relating to nutrition and chronic diseases, molecular nutrition, agriculture and sustainability, food security, humanitarian assistance, public health nutrition, and food policy and economics – are renowned for the application of scientific research to national and international policy.

This Friedman Seminar features Sean B. Cash, Ph.D, associate professor, Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, presenting “Like a kid in a candy shop: What do we know about how kids spend their own money?” This seminar was originally held on 9/21/2016. Bio: Sean B. Cash is an economist and associate professor at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University with expertise in food labeling, ethical consumption, and consumer behavior. He also is an adjunct professor at the University of Alberta. His research focuses on how food, nutrition, and environmental policies affect both producers and consumers. Ongoing and recent projects in this area include the efficacy of food label and price interventions as public health and environmental tools; how consumers value social aspects of food relative to other attributes; and how point-of-sale messaging impacts consumers’ demand for food. He also conducts research in the areas of environmental regulation and resource conservation. Abstract: What do kids do with their own money? In general there is a lack of research that considers children as independent consumers despite the fact that many children have some amount of purchasing power, much of which is directed towards food purchases. Much of this spent on energy-dense, nutrient-poor (EDNP) foods. This talk focuses on what we have learned about how kids spend their own money, why we should care, and how Tufts researchers have been trying to apply economic, psychological, and nutritional insights to guide children away from EDNP foods and towards more healthful alternatives. About the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy: The Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University is the only independent school of nutrition in the United States. The school's eight degree programs – which focus on questions relating to nutrition and chronic diseases, molecular nutrition, agriculture and sustainability, food security, humanitarian assistance, public health nutrition, and food policy and economics – are renowned for the application of scientific research to national and international policy.

This Friedman Seminar features Sam Myers, Senior Research Scientist at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and an Instructor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, presenting “Planetary health and nutrition: Tracking the human nutritional consequences of accelerating global environmental change.” Bio: Samuel Myers, MD, MPH works at the intersection of human health and global environmental change. He is a Senior Research Scientist at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and an Instructor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. He is also Director of the Planetary Health Alliance. Sam’s current work spans several areas of planetary health including 1) the global nutritional impacts of rising concentrations of CO2 in the atmosphere; 2) the health impacts of land management decisions in SE Asia associated with biomass burning and particulate air pollution; 3) the nutritional impacts of reduced access to wildlife (bushmeat) in the diet in Madagascar; 4) the local (in Madagascar) and global consequences of fisheries decline for human nutrition and health; and 5) the impact of animal pollinator declines on human nutrition at a global scale. As the Director of the Planetary Health Alliance, Sam oversees a multi-institutional effort to support research, education and policy efforts around the world focused on understanding and quantifying the human health impacts of global environmental change and translating that understanding into resource management decisions globally. Dr. Myers serves as a Commissioner on the Lancet-Rockefeller Foundation Commission on Planetary Health and was recently awarded the Prince Albert II of Monaco—Institut Pasteur Award 2015 for research at the interface of global environmental change and human health. Abstract: We find ourselves at an interesting moment in human history when global food demand is rising more steeply than ever before in human history at the same time that many of the fundamental biophysical conditions that underpin global food production (agriculture, animal husbandry, fisheries) are changing much more rapidly than ever before in human history. I will briefly discuss some of the global trends and introduce the concept of Planetary Health. Then I will introduce some of our group’s research into nutritional consequences of some of these trends (rising CO2, pollinator declines, changes in the status of global fisheries, access to bushmeat) and discuss some of the important data gaps to move this field forward. About the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy: The Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University is the only independent school of nutrition in the United States. The school's eight degree programs – which focus on questions relating to nutrition and chronic diseases, molecular nutrition, agriculture and sustainability, food security, humanitarian assistance, public health nutrition, and food policy and economics – are renowned for the application of scientific research to national and international policy.

The 2016 Friedman School Dean’s Medal Ceremony honored Peter R. Dolan, A78, A08P, Chairman, Tufts University Board of Trustees, for his many accomplishments and extraordinary service to Tufts University. The Dean’s Medal is the highest honor awarded by each school at Tufts, reserved for those select individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the university and the greater community. This event was held Wednesday, September 14, 2016. About the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy: The Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University is the only independent school of nutrition in the United States. The school's eight degree programs – which focus on questions relating to nutrition and chronic diseases, molecular nutrition, agriculture and sustainability, food security, humanitarian assistance, public health nutrition, and food policy and economics – are renowned for the application of scientific research to national and international policy.

Abstract: The World Humanitarian Summit (WHS) will be held in Istanbul May 22 – 24, 2016. Hailed as a “once in a generation” opportunity, the WHS must come to grips with the massive challenges facing humanitarian action globally, and chart a new course of action in the face of unprecedented demands on a system that is increasingly outdated, under-funded and overwhelmed by events. At the same time, it has become increasingly clear that there is not a single humanitarian “system,” but actually multiple systems, often operating side by side. Demands from the global south call for a more open and inclusive humanitarian system, with more emphasis on localizing response. Donors call for greater accountability and value for money. Critics call for better learning and use of evidence. And of course, everyone calls for more money and more dependable funding streams. A global consultative process has helped to set the agenda of WHS, but many donors, governments, agencies, and think tanks have also weighed in separately with their own recommendations. The Feinstein International Center of the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy has been jointly leading a study titled “Planning from the Future” which has conducted a thorough review of the burgeoning academic and grey literature on humanitarian action, and case studies in multiple humanitarian emergencies to assess the current challenges and capacities of many different humanitarian actors, in an attempt to background analysis and evidence for many of the questions facing the WHS. Professor Maxwell will briefly address the question of what the WHS is, what’s on the agenda, what’s not, and what is behind some of the recommendations on the table? He will also present the findings of the “Planning from the Future” and the short-term and longer-term recommendations growing out of that study, which go well beyond the agenda of the WHS, and speak to the evidence shaping the agenda and outcomes of the WHS. Finally, he will address the relevance of the WHS to a broader nutrition agenda. Bio: Daniel Maxwell is a Professor of Humanitarian Studies at Tufts University, and research director at the Feinstein International Center at Tufts. He leads the research program in food security and livelihoods in complex emergencies and teaches courses in food security and humanitarian action. Since 2012, he has directed the Masters of Arts in Humanitarian Assistance (MAHA) program. Prior to coming to Tufts, he was the Deputy Regional Director for CARE International in East Africa, and before that worked at the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) and the Land Tenure Center at the University of Wisconsin, and Mennonite Central Committee. His research focuses on famine and food security crises, livelihoods systems under stress, humanitarian policy and the humanitarian landscape, and the measurement of food security. Most of his recent work has been in East Africa and the Greater Horn of Africa. His most recent book, Famine in Somalia: Competing Imperatives, Collectives Failures, co-authored with Nisar Majid, has just been published (Oxford University Press, 2016). He also is the co-author, with Chris Barrett of Cornell University, of Food Aid After Fifty Years: Recasting Its Role (2005), which had far-ranging impacts on food aid practice and policy; and co-author with Peter Walker of , Shaping the Humanitarian World (2009). He holds a Masters Degree from Cornell University and a PhD from the University of Wisconsin.

Abstract: Food waste has generated significant debate among industry stakeholders, policy makers, and consumer groups. Date labels (Best by, Fresh by, Sell by, and Use by) may lead to confusion about food quality and safety among consumers and may prompt waste. With an experimental auction, we test the effect of date labels on premeditated waste. Our results suggest that date labels influence the value of premeditated food waste, or willingness to waste (WTW). Ambiguity avoidance may prompt differential WTW. Despite the limited information provided by date labels, on average, they influence WTW, which may be indicative of future, actualized waste. Bio: Dr. Norbert Wilson is a professor of agricultural economics at Auburn University, AL. He has published in journals such as the American Journal of Agricultural Economics, American Journal of Health Behavior, Food Policy, World Development, inter alia. He worked at the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), where he focused on international food and trade policies. Dr. Wilson just completed a USDA-supported sabbatical leave at Cornell University on behavioral economics in the context of food choice among food pantry clients.

This Friedman Seminar features Karen Jacobsen, presenting a talk titled "Understanding Urban Settings – Developing an Information Toolkit for Humanitarian Agencies through Academic-Practitioner Partnerships." This seminar was originally held on 3/16/2016. ABSTRACT: Humanitarian crises and forced displacement are increasingly played out in urban settings, as evident in the Syrian crisis. The humanitarian response has been slow to adapt to urban settings. New types of programming are being tried out, but humanitarian agencies lack information gathering tools that help them understand the urban context in which they work. A key aspect of the Feinstein Center’s work is to help humanitarian, government and donor organizations understand and respond to new problems. This presentation shows how this process is unfolds, drawing on experience from a current partnership in the Syrian region. The partnership’s goal is to operationalize what is known as an “urban area-based approach” by creating a methodology – a conceptual framework and an information toolkit - for use in urban areas affected by humanitarian crises and displacement. BIO: Karen Jacobsen is Acting Director at the Feinstein International Center where she also leads the Refugees and Forced Migration Program, and Associate Professor of Research at the Fletcher School of Law & Diplomacy, Tufts University. About the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy: The Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University is the only independent school of nutrition in the United States. The school's eight degree programs – which focus on questions relating to nutrition and chronic diseases, molecular nutrition, agriculture and sustainability, food security, humanitarian assistance, public health nutrition, and food policy and economics – are renowned for the application of scientific research to national and international policy.

The campaign centered in the US CDC birth defects branch to spread Folic acid fortification of Flour globally after the experience in the USA to prevent half of the neural tube defect births (spina bifida and Anencephaly) lacks the controls against risks of excessive folic acid exposure built into the US mandate. That campaign tries to suppress the growing evidence that high intakes of synthetic folic acid (not A natural form of the vitamin folate) especially in infants and elderly with low vitamin B 12 status may create risk of adverse effects and cognitive impairment. This dismissal of inconvenient emerging science, even at WHO, is a troubling insight into the dangers of advocacy versus evidence-based policy making. Bio: Doctor Irwin Rosenberg is a Professor of Nutrition and Medicine at Tufts University's USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging (HNRCA) and the Friedman School of Nutritional Science and Policy. He was born and educated through college in Madison, Wisconsin and received his M.D. at Harvard Medical School with sub-specialty training in Internal Medicine Gastroenterology and Nutrition at the Massachusetts General Hospital and the Harvard Thorndike Memorial laboratory and at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). After serving as chair of Gastroenterology and Nutrition at the University of Chicago, Dr. Rosenberg was appointed Director of the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts and dean of the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy. His research interests include the impact of diet and nutrition on aging brain functions with special reference to the vitamins Folic acid and B 12, as well as the regulation of homocysteine metabolism and maintenance of cerebrovascular integrity. Dr. Rosenberg was elected to the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences and served as chair of its Food and Nutrition Board. He is the current editor of the Food and Nutrition Bulletin and former editor of the Nutrition Reviews.

This Friedman Seminar features Nabeeha M. Kazi, President and CEO of Humanitas Global, presenting “Driving Action, Accountability and Impact for a Zero Hunger World.” This seminar was originally held on 3/9/2016. Abstract: Goal #2 of the Sustainable Development Goals has been named the Zero Hunger Goal. Creating a world free from hunger where every man, woman and child is able to enjoy sufficient and nutritious food, is central to this charge. The SDGs are meant to leave no one behind, but we must create deeper and more collaborative efforts with the right communities if we are to achieve this vision. This seminar will highlight global food and nutrition efforts such as the Zero Hunger Challenge, 1,000 Days, Scaling Up Nutrition and country commitments after the Second International Conference on Nutrition (ICN2), and the opportunities ahead of us to make hunger and malnutrition a thing of the past. Bio: Nabeeha M. Kazi is President and CEO of Humanitas Global, an international development agency based in Washington, DC. She also chairs the Community for Zero Hunger, which is a multisectoral global initiative to support the SDGs and the UN Zero Hunger Challenge. She has deep roots in food and nutrition security, agricultural development, and environmental sustainability, and has led high-profile initiatives around the globe. At Humanitas Global, she and her team have collaborated with the world’s leading organizations on a range of health, nutrition and food programs including UN agencies, international NGOs, academic and scientific institutions, corporate foundations, and governments. Prior to Humanitas, Nabeeha worked for the William Jefferson Clinton Foundation developing national HIV/AIDS plans in key Caribbean and African countries, UNICEF the EastWest Institute and the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) in Mexico. Nabeeha also served as Senior Vice President and Partner at global communications firm, Fleishman-Hillard. She is a Phi Beta Kappa undergraduate of Kansas State University, where she majored in journalism and political science. She has dual master’s degrees in public health and international affairs from Columbia University in New York City. She lives in Washington, DC with her husband and two children.

This Friedman Seminar features Dean Spears, presenting a talk titled "Why are children in India so short? What toilets, moms, and families have to do with child nutrition". This seminar was originally held on 3/2/2016. ABSTRACT: Why are children in India so short? This question represents a major puzzle in global nutrition both because average child height is a critical indicator of human development and nutritional outcomes and because children in India, which has been experiencing rapid economic growth, are paradoxically shorter than children in sub-Saharan Africa, who are poorer, on average. This talk will present the puzzle of the “Asian enigma” of child height and will review evidence for two proposed explanations: exceptionally widespread exposure to poor sanitation and open defecation in India, and exceptionally poor maternal nutrition and weight gain in pregnancy. Although nutritional policy in India has often focused on providing subsidized food, these two challenges suggest that promoting the healthier growth of taller Indian children may prove enduringly difficult. BIO: Dean Spears is a development and health economist who studies human capital of children, population issues in social well-being, and decision-making. Dean is a visitor at the Indian Statistical Institute in Delhi, is Executive Director of r.i.c.e., and has a PhD in Economics from Princeton University.

This Friedman Seminar features Francesco Branca, Director of the Department of Nutrition for Health and Development in the World Health Organization, presenting "Nutrition for Sustainable Development." This seminar was held on February 17, 2016. Abstract: On 25 September 2015 the UN General Assembly adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This Agenda is a plan of action for people, planet and prosperity, with 17 Goals and 169 targets. Good nutrition is a core element of the Sustainable Development Goals. The world is affected by multiple forms of malnutrition and their coexistence is the “new normal”. The approval of the 2030 development agenda is calling for a radical new approach to development work, with greater integration across sectors and development domains and with involvement of all countries. Nutrition is no exception and the nutrition agenda for 2030 can be read as “End all forms of malnutrition, address the nutritional needs throughout the lifecourse, give universal access to safe and healthy food sustainably produced and achieve universal coverage of effective nutrition actions”. In efforts to alleviate the massive global burden of suffering and unfulfilled potential resulting from malnutrition in all its forms, countries have made a series of recent commitments to improving nutrition and are discussing to declare a decade of action on nutrition. About the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy: The Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University is the only independent school of nutrition in the United States. The school's eight degree programs – which focus on questions relating to nutrition and chronic diseases, molecular nutrition, agriculture and sustainability, food security, humanitarian assistance, public health nutrition, and food policy and economics – are renowned for the application of scientific research to national and international policy.

This Friedman Seminar features four Boston-area community leaders, telling their stories about how food justice has played a role in their lives and work: "Digging Deep: Creative Expressions on Food Justice." This seminar was held on February 24, 2016. In the words of researcher and storyteller Dr. Brené Brown, "Stories are just data with a soul." Stories are a way to elucidate different points of view, highlight unique perspectives, and provide depth to our understanding of the world. This week the Friedman Justice League brings you four Boston-area community leaders to tell their stories about how food justice has played a role in their lives and work. From the community gardens of Somerville to the farms of Somalian immigrants in Maine; from local school cafeterias to the largest Food Bank in New England, our guests will guide us through the many ways in which communities work to address issues of equity, justice and dignity in the food system. Featured Speakers: Chef Guy Koppe, FPAN 2001: Program Manager, Chefs in Schools at Project Bread Lipashaa Pardhan: Somerville Resident and Graduate of the Groundwork Somerville Green Team Jonathan Tetrault: Senior Manager of Community Initiatives, The Greater Boston Food Bank Nicola Williams: President, The Williams Agency Moderator: Justeen Hyde, PhD: Director of Research and Evaluation, Institute for Community Health Adjunct Instructor, Friedman School of Nutrition Science & Policy This seminar was organized by the students of the Friedman Justice League.

William Masters presents "Got baby food? Understanding the market for packaged complementary foods in developing countries." This seminar was originally held on February 3rd, 2016. About the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy: The Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University is the only independent school of nutrition in the United States. The school's eight degree programs – which focus on questions relating to nutrition and chronic diseases, molecular nutrition, agriculture and sustainability, food security, humanitarian assistance, public health nutrition, and food policy and economics – are renowned for the application of scientific research to national and international policy.

Dariush Mozaffarian and Alice Lichtenstein present "The 2015 Dietary Guidelines for Americans - What Does Everyone Need to Know?" This seminar was originally held on 1/27/16. Abstract: The 2015 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, issued jointly by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, are to (1) follow a healthy eating pattern across the lifespan; (2) focus on variety, nutrient density and amount; (3) limit calories from added sugars and saturated fats and reduce sodium intake; (4) shift to healthier food and beverage choices; and (5) support healthy eating patterns in all venues. Key recommendations include: (a) consume a healthy eating pattern that accounts for all foods and beverages within an appropriate calorie level; (b) a healthy eating pattern includes a variety of vegetables from all of the subgroups, fruits (especially whole fruits), grains (at least half of which are whole grains), fat-free or low-fat dairy (including milk, yogurt, cheese, and/or fortified soy beverages), a variety of protein foods (including seafood, lean meats and poultry, eggs, legumes [beans and peas], and nuts, seeds and soy products), and oils; (c) a healthy eating pattern limits, saturated fats and trans fats, added sugars and sodium; (d) if alcohol is consumed, it should be consumed in moderation and only by adults of legal drinking age; and (e) meet the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans. The 2015 Dietary Guidelines for American report has engendered considerably controversy within the scientific community. Issues underlying some of these controversies will be addressed. About the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy: The Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University is the only independent school of nutrition in the United States. The school's eight degree programs – which focus on questions relating to nutrition and chronic diseases, molecular nutrition, agriculture and sustainability, food security, humanitarian assistance, public health nutrition, and food policy and economics – are renowned for the application of scientific research to national and international policy.

This Friedman Seminar features six of our current postdoctoral scholars, presenting synopses of their varied research projects: Eleanor Shonkoff: "Eating Well Matters @ Restaurants: A messaging campaign to guide healthy choices for children" Kassandra Harding: "Causes and consequences of hidden hunger in South Asia" Laura Pimpin: "Estimating the diet-related burden of disease in maternal and child health" Zach Conrad: "Modeling the effect of population interventions to improve diet and reduce cardiovascular disease in the US" Sarah Amin: "Addressing children’s nutrition and physical activity behaviors through the school environment and policies" Sarah Pedersen: "Cost-Effectiveness of Nutrition-Focused Policies to Improve Maternal and Child Health in South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa" This seminar was held on December 2nd, 2015. About the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy: The Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University is the only independent school of nutrition in the United States. The school's eight degree programs – which focus on questions relating to nutrition and chronic diseases, molecular nutrition, agriculture and sustainability, food security, humanitarian assistance, public health nutrition, and food policy and economics – are renowned for the application of scientific research to national and international policy.

This Friedman Seminar features Dr. Christian Peters, presenting "Potential for increased food self-reliance in the Northeast U.S." This seminar was held on November 18th, 2015. Dr. Christian Peters is an assistant professor at the Friedman School. His research focus is understanding the potential to increase the ecological sustainability of human societies through changes to the food system. Areas of particular interest include local and regional food systems, impact of dietary preferences on land use, production potential of land for food and bio-energy, human carrying capacity, and drivers and implications of land use change. About the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy: The Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University is the only independent school of nutrition in the United States. The school's eight degree programs – which focus on questions relating to nutrition and chronic diseases, molecular nutrition, agriculture and sustainability, food security, humanitarian assistance, public health nutrition, and food policy and economics – are renowned for the application of scientific research to national and international policy.

This Friedman Seminar features Sara C. Folta, PhD, presenting "Preliminary Investigation of Civic Engagement as a Novel Approach to Behavior Change and Body Weight Improvement in African American Females: The Change Club Study." This seminar was held on November 4th, 2015. Sara C. Folta, PhD, is an Assistant Professor at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University. She is an interventionist who conducts research in community settings to improve nutrition and physical activity using approaches from behavioral psychology, communications, and sociology. She currently leads two funded projects to promote cardiovascular health among African American women, one using civic engagement as a novel approach to behavior change and another exploring the historical, cultural, and environmental factors that impact health behaviors. She is also a co-investigator on multiple studies focusing on obesity prevention and nutrition and physical activity promotion in several age groups. She has served as Chair for both the Healthy Aging Division of the Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior and the Aging Special Interest Group of the Society of Behavioral Medicine. Dr. Folta received a B.A. in biology from Middlebury College (Phi Beta Kappa, Highest Honors), an M.S. in cell and molecular biology from the University of Vermont, and a Ph.D. in nutrition from Tufts University About the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy: The Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University is the only independent school of nutrition in the United States. The school's eight degree programs – which focus on questions relating to nutrition and chronic diseases, molecular nutrition, agriculture and sustainability, food security, humanitarian assistance, public health nutrition, and food policy and economics – are renowned for the application of scientific research to national and international policy.

Critiques of the social marketing literature have suggested the place strategy is a key component within the 4Ps of the marketing mix (i.e., product, price, place, and promotion) that simultaneously has been misunderstood and underutilized. Dr. Edgar’s lecture will focus on a recently completed historical study of the last three decades of the peer-reviewed literature to better understand how place has been conceptualized and operationalized. The project included an examination of initiatives from 22 different countries in North America, Asia, Africa, Europe, and Oceania. Although thought leaders within the field have been consistent over the years in how they have defined the place strategy, there is overwhelming evidence that scholars and practitioners alike have included place strategies as part their social marketing campaigns that have been inappropriately defined and have failed to take full advantage of the promise of what rigorous and innovative place strategies can achieve. Dr. Edgar will share his analysis on why conceptualization and operationalization have diverged and consider the implications for clarity within the field of social marketing as a whole. He also will address the implications for the field of nutrition.

This Friedman Seminar features Miriam Nelson, associate dean, Tisch College of Citizenship and Public Service and Friedman School professor, and Tim Griffin, director of Friedman's Agriculture Food and Environment Program, speaking on the topic of dietary guidelines and sustainability. This seminar was held on October 14th, 2015. The 2015 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee report that was submitted last February has received unprecedented public attention. The majority of the attention -- coming from the private sector, politicians, advocates, academics, and the public at large, has been focused on the inclusion of sustainability into the report. Professor Nelson was a member of the 2015 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee and Professor Griffin was a consultant to the committee. Professors Nelson and Griffin will discuss the rationale for including sustainability in the report, as well as the scientific process and report conclusions. About the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy: The Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University is the only independent school of nutrition in the United States. The school's eight degree programs – which focus on questions relating to nutrition and chronic diseases, molecular nutrition, agriculture and sustainability, food security, humanitarian assistance, public health nutrition, and food policy and economics – are renowned for the application of scientific research to national and international policy.

This Friedman Seminar features Ricardo Salvador, PhD, senior scientist and director of the Food and Environment Program at the Union of Concerned Scientists, speaking on the topic of "Science, Politics, and Policy of Agroecology" This seminar was held on April 22nd, 2015. About the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy: The Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University is the only independent school of nutrition in the United States. The school's eight degree programs – which focus on questions relating to nutrition and chronic diseases, molecular nutrition, agriculture and sustainability, food security, humanitarian assistance, public health nutrition, and food policy and economics – are renowned for the application of scientific research to national and international policy.

This Friedman Seminar features Dr. Monika Hartmann speaking on the topic of "Evaluation of the EU School Fruit Scheme in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany." This seminar was held on April 15th, 2015. About the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy: The Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University is the only independent school of nutrition in the United States. The school's eight degree programs – which focus on questions relating to nutrition and chronic diseases, molecular nutrition, agriculture and sustainability, food security, humanitarian assistance, public health nutrition, and food policy and economics – are renowned for the application of scientific research to national and international policy.

This Friedman Seminar features John Pickett, PhD, Professor, Michael Elliott Distinguished Research Fellow and Scientific Leader of Chemical Ecology at Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, speaking on the topic of "Sustainable Intensification of Food Production: A New Agricultural Revolution Using Agroecology and Genetic Modification." This seminar was held on April 8th, 2015. About the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy: The Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University is the only independent school of nutrition in the United States. The school's eight degree programs – which focus on questions relating to nutrition and chronic diseases, molecular nutrition, agriculture and sustainability, food security, humanitarian assistance, public health nutrition, and food policy and economics – are renowned for the application of scientific research to national and international policy.

This Friedman Seminar features Ellen Parker, Executive Director, Project Bread, speaking on the topic of "Project Bread: Our Evolution From Anti-Hunger Charity to Community Food Security Justice." This seminar was held on April 1st, 2015. About the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy: The Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University is the only independent school of nutrition in the United States. The school's eight degree programs – which focus on questions relating to nutrition and chronic diseases, molecular nutrition, agriculture and sustainability, food security, humanitarian assistance, public health nutrition, and food policy and economics – are renowned for the application of scientific research to national and international policy.

This Friedman Seminar features Simin Nikbin Meydani, speaking on the topic of "Nutrition, Inflammation, Immunity, and Healthspan" This seminar was held on March 11th, 2015. About the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy: The Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University is the only independent school of nutrition in the United States. The school's eight degree programs – which focus on questions relating to nutrition and chronic diseases, molecular nutrition, agriculture and sustainability, food security, humanitarian assistance, public health nutrition, and food policy and economics – are renowned for the application of scientific research to national and international policy.

This Friedman Seminar features Sarah Booth, PhD, Associate Director and Senior Scientist, Jean Mayer USDA HNRCA at Tufts University, and Professor of Nutrition, Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy. This seminar was held on February 18th, 2015. About the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy: The Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University is the only independent school of nutrition in the United States. The school's eight degree programs – which focus on questions relating to nutrition and chronic diseases, molecular nutrition, agriculture and sustainability, food security, humanitarian assistance, public health nutrition, and food policy and economics – are renowned for the application of scientific research to national and international policy. Prior to the Dietary Reference Intakes (DRI) process for establishing nutrient requirements, there was a Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for vitamin K. However, recommendations for vitamin K are now provided as an Adequate Intake (AI). Why was the prior RDA scrapped and an AI established? What types of research would be required to establish an RDA for vitamin K? Join Dr. Sarah Booth as she will review vitamin K’s discovery, the questionable science that led to initial definition of dietary requirements, its colorful recent history, and what research is needed for the future to firmly establish an RDA.

This Friedman Seminar features a panel discussion on Food Insecurity in Boston. In tandem with the annual SNAP Challenge, the Friedman Justice League presented this diverse panel of distinguished experts to share their experiences and insights into the fight for food security and equity in Greater Boston. Featuring: Jennifer Obadia, New England Coordinator, Health Care Without Harm's Healthy Food in Health Care Program Cassandria Campbell and Jackson Renshaw, Co-Founders, Fresh Food Generation Maura Ackerman, Project Manager, Chronic Disease Prevention and Control Division, Boston Public Health Commission Catherine D'Amato, President and CEO, Greater Boston Food Bank Moderated by Parke Wilde This seminar was held on March 4th, 2015. About the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy: The Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University is the only independent school of nutrition in the United States. The school's eight degree programs – which focus on questions relating to nutrition and chronic diseases, molecular nutrition, agriculture and sustainability, food security, humanitarian assistance, public health nutrition, and food policy and economics – are renowned for the application of scientific research to national and international policy.

Andy Catley speaks on the topic of "Food Security and Nutrition in the Horn of Africa: Are we Making a Difference?" This seminar was held on February 25th, 2015. About the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy: The Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University is the only independent school of nutrition in the United States. The school's eight degree programs – which focus on questions relating to nutrition and chronic diseases, molecular nutrition, agriculture and sustainability, food security, humanitarian assistance, public health nutrition, and food policy and economics – are renowned for the application of scientific research to national and international policy.

Edward Saltzman speaks on the topic of "Clinical Nutrition for Non-Clinicians: A 2015 Update." This seminar was held on January 21st, 2015. About the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy: The Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University is the only independent school of nutrition in the United States. The school's eight degree programs – which focus on questions relating to nutrition and chronic diseases, molecular nutrition, agriculture and sustainability, food security, humanitarian assistance, public health nutrition, and food policy and economics – are renowned for the application of scientific research to national and international policy.

Elena Naumova speaks on the topic of "What would Michelangelo think about BMI?" This seminar was held on February 4th, 2015. About the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy: The Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University is the only independent school of nutrition in the United States. The school's eight degree programs – which focus on questions relating to nutrition and chronic diseases, molecular nutrition, agriculture and sustainability, food security, humanitarian assistance, public health nutrition, and food policy and economics – are renowned for the application of scientific research to national and international policy.

Anna McAlister, (Michigan State University), speaks about "Children’s Development of Food Preferences: The Role of Marketing Communications." This seminar was held on November 12th, 2014. About the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy: The Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University is the only independent school of nutrition in the United States. The school's eight degree programs – which focus on questions relating to nutrition and chronic diseases, molecular nutrition, agriculture and sustainability, food security, humanitarian assistance, public health nutrition, and food policy and economics – are renowned for the application of scientific research to national and international policy.

Jerold Mande, MPH, Senior Advisor to the Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services, US Department of Agriculture, speaks on the topic of "Diet and health: from nutrient-centered to food-centered policy in the United States." This seminar was held on November 19th, 2014. About the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy: The Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University is the only independent school of nutrition in the United States. The school's eight degree programs – which focus on questions relating to nutrition and chronic diseases, molecular nutrition, agriculture and sustainability, food security, humanitarian assistance, public health nutrition, and food policy and economics – are renowned for the application of scientific research to national and international policy.

Lisa Freeman and Deborah Linder discuss the pet obesity epidemic. This seminar was held on November 5th, 2014. About the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy: The Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University is the only independent school of nutrition in the United States. The school's eight degree programs – which focus on questions relating to nutrition and chronic diseases, molecular nutrition, agriculture and sustainability, food security, humanitarian assistance, public health nutrition, and food policy and economics – are renowned for the application of scientific research to national and international policy.

Dean Spears, (Delhi School of Economics, India), speaks on the topic of "Sanitation and Nutrition in Global Health." About the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy: The Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University is the only independent school of nutrition in the United States. The school's eight degree programs – which focus on questions relating to nutrition and chronic diseases, molecular nutrition, agriculture and sustainability, food security, humanitarian assistance, public health nutrition, and food policy and economics – are renowned for the application of scientific research to national and international policy.

Diane Coffey, (Princeton University), speaks on the topic of intergenerational consequences of maternal malnutrition. This seminar was held on October 22nd, 2014. About the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy: The Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University is the only independent school of nutrition in the United States. The school's eight degree programs – which focus on questions relating to nutrition and chronic diseases, molecular nutrition, agriculture and sustainability, food security, humanitarian assistance, public health nutrition, and food policy and economics – are renowned for the application of scientific research to national and international policy.

Samuel S. Myers, (Harvard School of Public Health), speaks about "Human Nutrition on a Rapidly Changing Planet." This seminar was held on October 8th, 2014. About the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy: The Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University is the only independent school of nutrition in the United States. The school's eight degree programs – which focus on questions relating to nutrition and chronic diseases, molecular nutrition, agriculture and sustainability, food security, humanitarian assistance, public health nutrition, and food policy and economics – are renowned for the application of scientific research to national and international policy.

Tamar Haspel, (Washington Post) In an era where the public participates in journalism -- and traffic matters -- it's very hard for journalists to write about issues in ways that emphasize substance over values, fears, and groupishness. Haspel’s monthly column in the Washington Post, Unearthed, deals with food supply issues; biotech, pesticides, food additives, antibiotics, honeybees, and organics are all on her radar. About the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy: The Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University is the only independent school of nutrition in the United States. The school's eight degree programs – which focus on questions relating to nutrition and chronic diseases, molecular nutrition, agriculture and sustainability, food security, humanitarian assistance, public health nutrition, and food policy and economics – are renowned for the application of scientific research to national and international policy.

Edith Murnane has led the City of Boston’s Office of Food Initiatives since July 2010, chairing Boston’s Food Policy Council and helping launch the US Conference of Mayors’ Food Policy Task Force. She came to the job from a career as a chef, restaurant owner and food policy activist. Over four years she has served two mayors and overseen several high-profile innovations leading to rapid expansion of food trucks and farmers’ markets, urban agriculture and big changes in school food service across the city. In championing these local initiatives she has been actively engaged with policy groups at the state and federal level as well. This seminar took the form of a Q&A conversation led by Prof. Parke Wilde.

Dariush Mozaffarian, M.D., Dr.P.H. and dean, Friedman School of Nutrition Science & Policy speaks about the global priorities and policies needed to improve cardiometabolic health. This seminar was held on September 10th, 2014. About the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy: The Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University is the only independent school of nutrition in the United States. The school's eight degree programs – which focus on questions relating to nutrition and chronic diseases, molecular nutrition, agriculture and sustainability, food security, humanitarian assistance, public health nutrition, and food policy and economics – are renowned for the application of scientific research to national and international policy.

Rebecca Puhl, Deputy Director, Rudd Center for Food Policy & Obesity, Yale University on "Weight Stigma: Implications for Research and Public Health." About the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy: The Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University is the only independent school of nutrition in the United States. The school's eight degree programs – which focus on questions relating to nutrition and chronic diseases, molecular nutrition, agriculture and sustainability, food security, humanitarian assistance, public health nutrition, and food policy and economics – are renowned for the application of scientific research to national and international policy.

Nidhiya Menon, Associate Professor of Economics, Brandeis University, on "Religion, Diet, and Child Health in South Asia." About the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy: The Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University is the only independent school of nutrition in the United States. The school's eight degree programs – which focus on questions relating to nutrition and chronic diseases, molecular nutrition, agriculture and sustainability, food security, humanitarian assistance, public health nutrition, and food policy and economics – are renowned for the application of scientific research to national and international policy.

Chloe Puett, PhD, Research Officer, Action Against Hunger, on "Cost-Effectiveness of Preventing and Treating Child Malnutrition in Developing Countries." About the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy: The Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University is the only independent school of nutrition in the United States. The school's eight degree programs – which focus on questions relating to nutrition and chronic diseases, molecular nutrition, agriculture and sustainability, food security, humanitarian assistance, public health nutrition, and food policy and economics – are renowned for the application of scientific research to national and international policy.

Christina Economos, PhD, Vice Chair and Associate Professor at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University speaks about reversing the trend of childhood obesity. About the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy: The Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University is the only independent school of nutrition in the United States. The school's eight degree programs – which focus on questions relating to nutrition and chronic diseases, molecular nutrition, agriculture and sustainability, food security, humanitarian assistance, public health nutrition, and food policy and economics – are renowned for the application of scientific research to national and international policy.