New York University has launched the Food Impact Program, a multidisciplinary research and engagement initiative designed to examine the growing pressures on global food systems, from climate change and public health risks to animal welfare and environmental sustainability. The program will serve as a platform for integrated research, policy engagement, and public dialogue, positioning food systems as a central economic and social issue with global implications.
Housed within NYU’s Center for Environmental and Animal Protection (CEAP), the initiative brings together scholars from environmental studies, public health, animal studies, law, medicine, and the social sciences. Jeff Sebo, co-founder of the Food Impact Program and director of CEAP, said addressing food insecurity requires collaboration across traditional academic boundaries. “Meeting the world’s food needs requires not only expertise from across fields, but also collaboration,” Sebo said. “This initiative will connect scholars from the humanities, social sciences and natural sciences to address not only food security concerns, but also the interconnected issues of animal welfare, public health and the environment.”
A hub for research and policy
The program aims to function as an international reference center for research and policy on food systems, providing resources accessible to policymakers, researchers and the broader public. Sonali McDermid, co-founder of the initiative and chair of NYU’s Department of Environmental Studies, said the program is designed to bridge academic research and real-world decision-making. “It will serve as an international hub and reference center for research and policy on food systems,” she said, adding that it will also help train the next generation of researchers through multidisciplinary education.
The Food Impact Program has secured $3.75 million in philanthropic funding to support its first five years of operation. CEAP will lead the initiative in collaboration with Matthew Hayek, an associate professor of environmental studies, who will serve as its inaugural coordinator.
Addressing systemic risks
Global food systems face mounting risks. Estimates suggest that feeding the world’s population by 2050 will require food production to increase by roughly 70 percent, even as climate volatility, pandemics, supply-chain disruptions, and shifting consumer behavior strain existing systems. While research on these challenges is extensive, it is often fragmented across disciplines, limiting the development of comprehensive solutions.
The Food Impact Program seeks to overcome these silos by advancing a transdisciplinary field that integrates food security, sustainability, public health, and animal welfare. Its activities will include supporting research on sustainable and humane food production, convening conferences, and policy-focused events, engaging directly with governments and businesses, and providing resources and networking opportunities for early-career researchers.
Expanding NYU’s research ecosystem
The program’s launch reflects NYU’s broader investment in environmental and policy-oriented research. In recent years, the Department of Environmental Studies has established several initiatives, including CEAP, the Urban Systems Lab, and the Wildlife Inclusive Local Development Lab, underscoring the university’s growing role in addressing global sustainability challenges.
NYU will mark the launch of the Food Impact Program with a public event in early February, featuring a panel discussion and reception, highlighting its commitment to public engagement and policy relevance in one of the world’s most pressing economic and social domains.
