News J-WAFS launches video series for World Food Day 2021 

In honor of World Food Day, J-WAFS released a series of short videos highlighting the important work of community members helping to fight food insecurity. 

Carolyn Blais, J-WAFS October 14, 2021

World Food Day 2021 Graphic with J-WAFS logo and watermark of a farm with agricultural fields in background

Saturday, October 16th, marks World Food Day — an annual, international celebration to commemorate the founding of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in 1945. World Food Day seeks to promote awareness of worldwide hunger and spur action plans that ensure healthy diets for all.

According to the FAO, the world needs sustainable food systems to nourish a growing population of 10 billion people by 2050. But climate change, food waste, and the COVID-19 pandemic are all exacting a heavy toll on food supply currently.  In addition, rising poverty is making it difficult for much of the world to afford healthy foods, leading to higher rates of malnutrition and hunger.

J-WAFS strives to combat food insecurity through important research into food systems. Innovations at MIT, funded by J-WAFS, are helping to ensure the resilience of the world’s food and agricultural systems.

In anticipation of World Food Day, J-WAFS reached out to our community members who are helping to secure food systems globally. Several MIT researchers, students, alumni, and staff graciously gave their time to submit videos highlighting the important ways they help J-WAFS carry out its mission to solve challenges specifically in the food sector. From this footage, we have put together three short videos that showcase these true #FoodHeroes. 

The first video features five J-WAFS funded researchers who are working on food and agricultural issues (in order of appearance):

  • Afreen Siddiqi, Research Scientist, MIT’s Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics
  • Eric Verploegen, Research Engineer, MIT D-Lab
  • Dan Frey, Professor, MIT’s Department of Mechanical Engineering, and Faculty Director for Research, MIT D-Lab
  • Leon Glicksman, Professor of Building Technology and Mechanical Engineering, MIT’s Department of Architecture
  • Mary Gehring, Associate Professor, MIT’s Department of Biology, Whitehead Institute

The second video features three MIT students and alumni who are studying or working in food-related areas (in order of appearance):

  • Sarah Nolet, '16, Co-founder of AgThentic
  • Alex Borschow, '06 & '14, Managing Partner, Semillero Partners
  • Jess Pedersen, '22, MBA Candidate, MIT Sloan School of Management

The third video features three MIT staff members who work with J-WAFS to facilitate important projects in the food sector (in order of appearance):

  • J.J. Laukaitis, Program Director, MIT’s Office of Corporate Relations, Industrial Liaison Program
  • Tuli Banerjee, Executive Director, MIT’s Philanthropic Partnerships
  • Claire Walsh, Associate Director of Policy, J-PAL Global at MIT

Please join us in recognizing all who are making positive impacts in the world by driving change in food systems.

J-WAFS 2021 World Food Day Videos

This video features J-WAFS researchers who are working on food systems. 

This video features MIT students and alums who study and work in food-related fields.

This video features MIT staff members who assist J-WAFS in securing food systems research.