Schedule - Friday
April 17
Breakfast
8 AM - Oak Lounge
Blue Foods: Solutions to Harmful Seafood Production
April 17 | 9:45 AM | Oak Lounge
Learn about environmental and social harm within the traditional seafood industry and how seafood alternatives can help reshape the market!
Brandon Chen
CEO of Finless Foods
Laura Lee Cascada
Founder of Aqua Culture
Accountability Project
The Claremont Colleges’
Plant-Based Mission Club
Changing What’s on the Plate – and the Policy Agenda
April 17 | 9:30 | 320-109, Braun Geology Corner
This practical and interactive session will share cases and tools for sustaining plant-forward food system transitions. It will contextualize protein diversification in the Global South and explore why global food policy agendas overlook this region, guiding participants in addressing specific local, national, or global problem statements.
Vivek Venkatram
MPA Fellow,
Columbia University
Matt Tom
Co-founder,
Global Forum for Plant-Based
and Alternative Proteins
Calla Doh
Research Assistant,
Tailored Food
Luke Rossi
Undergraduate Student,
Brown University
Research Showcase
April 17 | 11 AM | Clubhouse Ballroom
Come view posters at the Food 4 Thought Research Showcase, featuring student and researcher work on food systems, microbiome, and sustainability. Discover new ideas and connect with people shaping the future of food.
Jessica Hope
Research Scientist, Humane and
Sustainable Food Lab
Mathilde Thoulouze
Stanford GSB MBA
Candidate
Dr. Jason Arora
Aspen Health Fellow
Gina Hervey
Sustainable and Humane
Food Systems Legal Fellow, Stanford
Human and Planetary Health
April 17 | 11 AM | Sustainability Accelerator
Chat with experts on the role of food in human and planetary health. Learn about plant-based food as a solution to inflammation, immunity, and chronic disease as well as the potential of filamentous fungi to transform waste into
nutritious, flavorful foods.
Alessandra Massa
Postdoctoral Scholar,
Hill-Maini Lab
Tamiko Katsumoto,
Clinical Associate Professor,
Stanford Medicine – Immunology
& Rheumatology
Mariko Hashimoto
Student
Stanford University
Dr. Rao Keynote
April 17 | 12:30 PM | Oak Lounge
Kick off the festival with a powerful opening keynote from Dr. Sailesh Rao, Founder and Executive Director of Climate Healers, a non-profit dedicated to healing the Earth’s life-support systems. He is an environmentalist by occupation and a systems engineer by profession. In 2023, the Guardian Newspaper cited him as a "Climate Hero" and a "foremost voice on green transition and the true scale of societal change needed to save the planet." Dr. Rao will challenge us to rethink our role within interconnected global systems and inspire bold action toward a just and sustainable future.
Dr. Sailesh Rao
Executive Director,
Climate Healers
Lunch and Tech Networking
12:30 - Oak Lounge
ML/AI applications for Food Systems
April 17 | 1:45 PM | Oak Lounge
Learn about the applications of machine learning for sustainable food systems. Our panelists bring a wide range of expertise, from formulation and texturization to behavioral change towards plant-based food choices.
Karim Pichara
CTO
NotCo
Anna Thomas
PhD candidate
Stanford
Ellen Kuhl
Professor, Stanford School of Engineering
Director, BioX
Alessa Carbo
Student
Johns Hopkins University
Behavioral Interventions for Systems Change
April 17 | 1:45 PM | Sustainability Accelerator
Learn how to implement institutional and systemic change through behavioral science nudges and defaults. Hear about research happening at Stanford on effective advocacy. Put these concepts to practice through a menu redesign activity.
Jessica Hope
Research Scientist, Humane and Sustainable Food Lab
Kenzie Bushman
Education Manager,
Better Food Foundation
Jessica Cohen
Program Coordinator,
Better Food Foundation
Sheila Kelly and Petra Napier Students,
California Polytechnic State University, SLO
Resource and Career Fair
April 17 | 3 PM | Clubhouse Ballroom
Learn about mission-aligned career paths, organizations, and opportunities. Chat with the following organizations:
Kelp Blue | Good Food World Foundation | Sustainable Solutions Consulting
Climate Healers Org. | Food 4 Thought Inc. | Amy`s | AMF | Balanced
Plant Powered School Meals Coalition | New Roots Institute | Finless Food
Jiviniti | Global Forum for Plant-Based and Alternative Proteins | Better Food Foundation
Stanford Bio-X | Tailored Food | Reducetarian Foundation | Farmland
Agile For Animals | Hack the Fork | The Insect Institute | Mercy for Animal
Triatomic | Berkeley Organization for Animal Advocacy
Tech Solutions Workshop
April 17 | 3 PM | Oak Lounge
Same day innovation workshop on accelerating the shift towards plant-forward food. Experience building a tech idea with real-world relevance, get feedback from experts in the field, and make new connections with like-minded individuals.
Tuane Quintella
OPS manager,
Intrinsic
Matt Tom
President,
MTCC LLC
Aadit Patel
Co-Founder, Metabologic AI
& Ex-SVP of AI, NotCo
Chad Brouze
Campaign Director
Food 4 Thought Innovations
Networking and Samples
April 17 | 5 PM | Sustainability Accelerator
Take a break to connect with fellow attendees over light refreshments. This is a great opportunity to meet new people, continue conversations from earlier sessions, and build relationships across the food systems space.
Enjoy delicious samples from OoMee, featuring refreshing drinks made from sustainably harvested seaweed—packed with minerals and designed to reimagine how we source nutrition from the ocean. You’ll also get to try Beleaf jerky, a savory, protein-rich snack made entirely from plants that delivers the texture and flavor of traditional jerky without the environmental footprint.
Schedule - Saturday
April 18
Breakfast
8 AM - Oak Lounge
Morning Meditation
April 18 | 9 AM | Oak Lounge
Start your day with a simple, guided grounding meditation led by Venerable Xianshu. This session is designed to help you arrive fully, settle your mind, and set a clear intention for the day ahead. Open to all experience levels, this is a quiet space to pause, breathe, and begin the day with presence and clarit
Venerable Master Xianshu
Art of Mindfulness Foundation
Campus Dining Advocacy
April 18 | 10 AM | 320-109, Braun Geology Corner
Learn how to drive plant-based and sustainable food change at your school. We'll explore compelling arguments for plant-based transitions, map out the key decision-makers on your campus, and craft an actionable campaign plan to make it happen.
Ania Ting
University Manager
Upgrade Dining
Isa Cossio
University Manager
Upgrade Dining
Aisha Shafik
San José State University RFC Organizing Fellow
Emi Brennan
University of California San Diego RFC Organizing Fellow
David Blecherman
University of California
Davis RFC Organizing Fellow
Rethinking Finance for Food Systems
April 18 | 10 AM | Oak Lounge
Hear from financial experts on what it takes to build financially sustainable ventures and impact vehicles, bring more funding into Next Gen Food Systems, and address the current gaps and opportunities in the financial landscape.
Heather Courtney
Founding General Partner,
Alwyn Capital
Yaqi Grover
Founder,
Agile for Animals
Ankit Anand
Founding Partner,
Riceberg Ventures
Navin Durbhakula
CEO,
Food 4 Thought Innovations
Consulting Case Challenge
April 18 | 11:30 AM | 320-109, Braun Geology Corner
Alt. proteins could reshape how we eat, but are not mainstream yet. In this challenge, teams tackle key business questions: What’s holding the industry back? Which segments can scale? And what strategies will drive real adoption?
Harish Vemuri
Associate Partner,
Bain & Co
Ashley Njoroge
Founder & CEO,
Silicon Xchange
Jessica Huang
Consultant,
World Bank
Eitan Darwish
Engagement Manager
prev. McKinsey & Co
Plant-Forward School Food Policy
April 18 | 11:30 AM | Oak Lounge
Through a panel discussion with plant forward food policy experts, as well as an interactive workshop simulation,participants will engage with the main stakeholders, legislative tools, advocacy mechanisms, and policy avenues through which we can expand access to plant based meal options in educational institutions.
Colette Fox
Public Food Lead,
ProVeg International
Chloe Waterman,
Sr Program Manager,
FOE and PPSMC
Alexa Norstad
Executive Director, Center for Ecoliteracy
Harvard Undergraduate Plant-Based
Meditative Eating & Lunch
April 18 | 1 PM | Oak Lounge
Join Venerable Xian Shu for a guided meditative eating experience rooted in Buddhist practice. This 30-minute session invites you to slow down, bring awareness to your senses, and reflect on your relationship with food.
Through mindful eating, we’ll explore gratitude, intention, and the interconnected systems behind what we consume. This is a gentle, grounding space open to all—no prior meditation experience needed.
Venerable Master Xianshu
Art of Mindfulness Foundation
Lunch and Finance Networking
12:45 PM - Oak Lounge
Finance Solutions Workshop
April 18 | 2:30 PM | Oak Lounge
Discuss challenges keeping capital from flowing into sustainable food solutions at scale, ideate financial solutions with real-world relevance, get feedback from experts in the field, and make new connections with like-minded individuals.
Erin Culley
President
Culley Carlson Foundation
Heather Courtney
Founding General Partner
Alwyn Capital
Viral Food Change: How to Influence Behavior at Scale
April 18 | 2:30 PM | 320-109, Braun Geology Corner
Discover how to build a social media platform that drives meaningful impact. Explore creative strategies for storytelling, audience growth, and digital engagement to inspire a shift toward less animal consumption and amplify ideas that spark cultural and behavioral change.
Kris Spiros
Founder,
From Fauna
Art of Mindfulness Foundation
Networking Hour
April 18 | 4:30 PM | Oak Lounge
Join us for an interactive networking session designed to spark meaningful conversations while reflecting on topics discussed in the conference. You’ll have the opportunity to join small-group discussions based on topics you care about and meet others working toward similar goals.
Discussion areas will include:
Policy and Advocacy | Local Foods & Campus Dining Movement Building: Communication & Career Pathways | The Science: R&D & Innovation | Commercialization: Scaling & Financing
Third Degree Burnout - A Survivor’s Guide
April 18 | 4:30 PM | Thornton 110
Walk down the Red Carpet and take pictures before enjoying the Stanford Premiere of the documentary, Third Degree Burnout - A Survivor’s Guide. This film will challenge how we think about burnout, climate crisis, and the systems fueling both. Engage in a Q&A with the Director and founder of the Virsa Foundation, Nivi Jaswal-Wirtjes.
Nivi Jaswal-Wirtjes,
Founder, Virsa Foundation
Director, Third Degree Burnout
Dinner
6:45 PM - Oak Lounge
What to Expect
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$5,000
$10,000+
5
in prizes and continued support through our finance, tech, consulting and research challenges
globally-inspired plant-based meals included
in student travel scholarships awarded
20+
Organizations in our resource and career fair
250+ attendees including students, industry experts, faculty, non-profit and public sector figures, and investors and founders
20+
Expert speakers and workshop leaders
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Please click the link above to review the Attendee Logistics for the conference. It includes everything you need to know—from how to get there and key venue locations, to accessibility, dresscode, and WiFi details.
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For any additional questions, our FAQ covers ticketing, general event details, and more. If you still need help, feel free to reach us at our email - we’ll be actively monitoring it day-of to assist!
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Be sure to check out our IG for real-time updates during the event. It’s also a great way to get a feel for who we are—featuring our speakers, panels, and plenty of of moments leading up to and throughout the festival days.
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About half of registrants haven’t completed this step yet. A ticket is required for entry, but don't worry if you haven’t gotten one yet—you can also purchase it in person when you arrive!
10+ Researchers Presenting!
Present original work to a diverse, interdisciplinary community committed to giving helpful feedback and connection. with experts across disciplines.
Compete for up to $3,000 in Awards!
The fun doesn't stop at the conference. Join both:
Tech Challenge – Register Your Interest Here
We invite participants to join a 1-hour networking session during lunch to form teams, followed by a 2-hour workshop block of lightning pitches to experts. Students will compete during the summer for cash prizes!
Finance Challenge – Register Your Interest Here!
Interested in investment, venture capital or philanthropic strategy? We invite participants to join a 1-hour networking session during lunch to optionally form teams, followed by a 1.5-hour workshop block in the afternoon where teams work closely with experts and mentors to develop and refine an idea that supports Next Gen food systems. Students will compete during the summer for cash prizes!