The George Washington University (GW) and World Central Kitchen founder José Andrés have announced the launch of an institute to address global food system challenges.

The Global Food Institute will take an interdisciplinary systems approach across the main pillars of policy, innovation, and humanities with a goal to create actionable evidence, ideas, partnerships, and solutions to revolutionize the way we think about food. Engaging experts, industry leaders, policy makers, and passionate individuals across sectors, the institute will also conduct research to create and improve domestic and global food policies, incubate and engineer innovative new technologies, and lead conversations about the impact of food on the human race.

Andrés made a founding gift for the institute, while GW alumnus and board chair emeritus Nelson A. Carbonell, Jr. (’85) and Michele M. Carbonell have given $5 million to endow an executive directorship. The Rockefeller Foundation also has announced additional financial support.

“Our global food system is experiencing a crisis, brought on by systemic inequities, rampant hunger and poverty, the climate crisis, and deteriorating public health and nutrition. But food has the power to solve problems: It can rebuild lives and communities, heal both people and the planet, and create hope for the future, but only if we think bigger,” said Andrés. “The Global Food Institute will reshape how we think about food, break down barriers across industries, politics, and nations, and inspire and empower the next generation to develop systemic solutions that reshape the food system.”

(Photo credit: William Atkins/The George Washington University)