But today, with long-term economic uncertainty due to the pandemic, rising inflation, the war in Ukraine, and climate change, the global food system may be nearing a breaking point. The common theme that linked the three panels was the critical importance of building trust with and among all stakeholders β whether it be the farmers that grow crops, the financial institutions that serve the farmers, or those who distribute the products to the market.
Panelists also discussed the vital role of health care providers who develop bonds with communities and patients, especially in underserved areas.
Participating in the first panel were Clara Ford, a Hunt Institute Fellow who is working on a community-driven, climate-smart rural development model; Miguel J. Sri Lanka, like all emerging countries, is primarily agricultural. Clara Ford, the founder of Kijiji Innovative Solutions in Tanzania, teaches local farmers how to grow more crops to sell, and thus sustain themselves and provide a better quality of life.
To address the issue, Ford created a local center for the village to bring people together, to invest in locals first, and to allow them to start the conversation as peers and stakeholders. She hopes her idea β a center to gather, learn, and take action β can be scaled to other villages as a community development approach. For the latest news on the Hunt Institute, follow our social media accounts on LinkedIn.
If you are considering engaging with the Institute, you can donate , or sign-up for our newsletter by emailing huntinstitute smu. Led by Dr. Eva Csaky, Executive Director of Hunt Institute, and Corrie Harris, Assistant Director at Hunt Institute, the event celebrated the impact of women in all areas of society through academic achievement, philanthropic contributions, environmental work, community outreach efforts, and more.
