Food Tank

{{Short description|US non-profit organization}} {{Infobox organization | image = | image_alt =  | caption = | map =  | map_size =  | map_alt = | map2_size = | map2_alt = | predecessor = | merged_into =  | successor = | formation =   | type = NGO | status = 501(c)(3) | purpose = publication, advocacy | professional_title =  | headquarters = Baltimore, Maryland | coordinates =  | services = | language =   | leader_title = President | leader_name = Danielle Nierenberg | leader_title2 = Chairman of the Board | leader_name2 = Bernard Pollack | leader_name3 = Nabeeha Mujeeb Kazi-Hutchins | leader_title3 = Treasurer | leader_title4 = | leader_name4 = | board_of_directors = Regina Anderson, William Burke, Brian Halweil, Julie Kunen, Kerri McClimen, Nabeeha Kazi-Hutchins, Marc Zornes | key_people = | main_organ =   | parent_organization =  | subsidiaries = | affiliations = | budget = | num_volunteers =  | remarks = | former_name =  | footnotes = | name = Food Tank | native_name_lang =  | named_after = | image_size = | map_caption = | map2 =  | map2_caption = | abbreviation = | founder =  | founding_location = | merger =  | region_served =   | num_members =  | num_members_year =  | secretary_general =  | secessions = | budget_year = | num_staff =  | num_staff_year =  | num_volunteers_year =  | website = {{URL|https://foodtank.com}} }}

'''Food Tank: The Think Tank for Food''' is a global non-profit community working towards positive transformation in how food is produced and consumed. Founded in 2013,<ref>{{Cite web |title=How Food Tank's Danielle Nierenberg Wants to Save the World |date=7 May 2013 |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/how-food-danielle-nierenberg_b_3220656}}</ref> it is a research and advocacy organization that educates, advocates, and collaborates with local partners to amplify on-the-ground solutions.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Food Tank 2021-2022 Annual Report |url=https://foodtank.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/New_2021-2022-Annual-Report.pdf}}</ref>

== Food Tank Summits == In 2015, Food Tank launched its first Food Tank Summit in Washington, D.C. Since then, Food Tank has been holding a series of summits in various cities focused on sustainability and equity in food systems.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Activist Danielle Nierenberg wins the Julia Child Award, following in the footsteps of celebrity chefs|language=en-US|newspaper=Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/voraciously/wp/2020/07/14/activist-danielle-nierenberg-wins-the-julia-child-award-following-in-the-footsteps-of-celebrity-chefs/|access-date=2021-09-19|issn=0190-8286}}</ref> Food Tank has hosted summits in Boston,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/lifestyle/food-dining/2017/03/27/think-tank-for-food/opeHsdG0cbHl2oJVH4IgdO/story.html|title=A think tank for food - The Boston Globe|work=BostonGlobe.com|access-date=2018-08-09}}</ref> Chicago,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thedailymeal.com/chicago-we-can-change-food-system-2016-food-tank-summit|title=Chicago, We Can Change the Food System — The 2016 Food Tank Summit!|date=2016-11-09|work=The Daily Meal|access-date=2018-08-09|language=en}}</ref> New York City,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/heres-how-we-can-conserve-nearly-two-billion-tons-of-food-thrown-away-annually/|title=How We Can Conserve Nearly Two Billion Tons of Food Thrown Away Annually|date=2017-10-24|work=Impact|access-date=2018-08-09|language=en-us}}</ref> Sacramento,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/sacramento/news/2016/09/23/sold-out-farm-tank-summit-raises-frank-discussion.html|title=Sold-out Farm Tank Summit raises frank discussion about agriculture, technology |website=bizjournals.com|access-date=2018-08-09}}</ref> San Francisco,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Food For Thought|url=https://www.foodsystemsnetwork.org/index.php/training-calendar/conference/food-for-thought|access-date=2021-09-19|website=NAFSN|language=en-gb}}</ref> Seattle,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thestranger.com/events/25914655/food-tank-summit-growing-food-policy|title=Food Tank Summit: Growing Food Policy|website=The Stranger|language=en|access-date=2018-08-09}}</ref> and Washington, D.C.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-03-21 |title=Food Tank Summit |website=Society of Environmental Journalists |url=https://www.sej.org/calendar/food-tank-summit |access-date=2023-05-30 |language=en}}</ref> The conferences gather experts across all sectors of the food industry including business, government, nonprofit organizations, farmers, unions, and chefs.

== United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP) Programming == Food Tank has hosted annual programming at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP) since 2021, discussing how food and agriculture offer solutions to the climate crisis. At COP26 in Glasgow, Scotland, Food Tank partnered with [https://aleph-farms.com/ Aleph Farms] and [https://www.nourishscotland.org/partnership-puts-food-on-the-menu-at-cop26/ Nourish Scotland] for a discussion around "A New Approach to Meat".<ref>{{Cite web |title=A New Approach to Meat (COP26 Nourish Scotland Pavilion) {{!}} FAIRR |url=https://www.fairr.org/news-events/events/new-approach-meat |access-date=2025-06-25 |website=www.fairr.org |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Hickling |first=Caroline |date=2021-11-02 |title=Partnership puts food on the menu at COP26 |url=https://www.nourishscotland.org/partnership-puts-food-on-the-menu-at-cop26/ |access-date=2025-06-25 |website=Nourish Scotland |language=en-GB}}</ref> Food Tank also partnered with organizations like [https://www.ciwf.com/ Compassion in World Farming],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Food system transformation showcased at COP27 |url=https://www.ciwf.org/media-news/latest-news/food-system-transformation-showcased-at-cop27/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250516113329/https://www.ciwf.org/media-news/latest-news/food-system-transformation-showcased-at-cop27/ |archive-date=2025-05-16 |access-date=2025-06-25 |website=www.ciwf.org |language=en-GB |url-status=live }}</ref> [https://proveg.org/ ProVeg International],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Food4Climate Pavilion |url=https://food4climatepavilion.com/ |access-date=2025-06-25 |website=Food4Climate Pavilion |language=en-US}}</ref> [https://www.cgiar.org/ CGIAR],<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oj8wLqyP58c |title=Fireside Chat – Ways the private sector can transform food systems |date=2023-12-10 |last=CGIAR |access-date=2025-06-26 |via=YouTube}}</ref> and the [https://iica.int/en/ Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture] (IICA)<ref>{{Cite web |title=COP29- Events at the IICA Pavilion: Home of Sustainable Agriculture of the Americas |url=http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL19sswPA5fldPc_SRjCysdqtvRBnwIuKC |access-date=2025-06-26 |website=YouTube |language=en}}</ref> at COP27 in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, COP28 in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, and COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan. Topics range from sustainable meat<ref>{{Cite web |title=Reflections on COP28 – Protein Pact |url=https://theproteinpact.org/reflections-on-cop28/ |access-date=2025-06-26 |language=en-US}}</ref> to the role of finance in transforming the food system.<ref>{{Cite web |title=COP28: The role of finance in transforming food systems |url=https://climateshotinvestor.org/ |access-date=2025-06-26 |website=CLIC |language=en}}</ref> The events have included a journalists' lunch<ref>{{Cite web |title=Highlights: COP28 |url=https://events.futureeconomy.forum/cop28/highlights-cop28 |access-date=2025-06-26 |website=events.futureeconomy.forum |language=en-AG}}</ref> with the [https://futureeconomy.forum/ Future Economy Forum].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Future Economy Forum: Scaling a New Economic Mainstream |url=https://futureeconomy.forum/ |access-date=2025-06-26 |website=Future Economy Forum |language=en-US}}</ref>

Food Tank President Danielle Nierenberg has also joined discussions at various Pavilions within the COP Blue Zone, including the panels on food security at the [https://www.youtube.com/@FoodSystemsPavilion28 Food Systems Pavilion]<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zr4ql7Kr778&list=PLtBw6iCkpME6UmOrZGXOJ-uh9QxdDC5E9&index=4 |title=Cultivating Change for a Food Secure World (in partnership with Food Tank) |date=2023-12-09 |last=FoodSystemsPavilion28 |access-date=2025-06-26 |via=YouTube}}</ref> and the intersection of food waste and climate change at the [https://kleinmanenergy.upenn.edu/penn-at-cop29/ Penn Pavilion] and [https://www.norden.org/en/nordic-co-operation-cop29 Nordic Pavilion].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Penn Pavilion Events: COP28 |url=https://kleinmanenergy.upenn.edu/events/penn-pavilion-events-cop28/ |access-date=2025-06-26 |website=Kleinman Center for Energy Policy |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=COP28 programme - Welcome to the Nordic Pavilion |url=https://pub.norden.org/cop28/-december-10-food-systemstakeover.html |access-date=2025-06-26 |website=pub.norden.org |language=en}}</ref>

== Climate Week NYC Programming == Food Tank hosts and participates in annual programming at Climate Week NYC. The events explore food and agriculture as key solutions to the climate crisis, hosted with organizations like [https://wholechain.com/ Wholechain], WWF, NYU Steinhardt, the UN Global Compact Ocean Accelerator Network, [https://envisible.co/ Envisible LLC], the UN Environment Programme, and [https://refed.org/ ReFED].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sandell-Gándara |first=Claudia |date=2023-09-13 |title=Wholechain Hosts Traceable Supply Chain Events at Climate Week, UNGA 77 and UNGA 78 with Food Tank… |url=https://blog.wholechain.com/wholechain-hosts-traceable-supply-chain-events-at-climate-week-unga-77-and-unga-78-with-food-tank-2980908d9532 |access-date=2025-06-26 |website=Medium |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Climate Action: A Food Waste Breakthrough |url=https://www.unep.org/events/unep-event/climate-action-food-waste-breakthrough |access-date=2025-06-26 |website=www.unep.org |language=en}}</ref> Events have included a discussion around the film "Food Inc 2" with Marion Nestle, Michael Pollan, and Eric Schlosser,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Marion |date=2023-09-02 |title=New York City: Food Tank's Climate Week meeting-plus film, Food Inc 2 |url=https://www.foodpolitics.com/2023/09/new-york-city-food-tanks-climate-week-meeting-plus-film-food-inc-2/ |access-date=2025-06-26 |website=Food Politics by Marion Nestle |language=en-US}}</ref> and a summit around climate resilience through agriculture with the American Farmland Trust.<ref>{{Cite web |title=American Farmland Trust and Food Tank Present "Climate Resilience through Agriculture" at Climate Week NYC |url=http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6kH004Kij1K3txwftzFuYLNtTwKsqQGQ |access-date=2025-06-26 |website=YouTube |language=en}}</ref> In 2025, Food Tank will host a performance of "Little Peasants," an immersive play about a union-organizing effort at a coffeehouse.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-09-23 |title=Climate Week NYC: Little Peasants. A New Play By Food Tank. |url=https://www.climateweeknyc.org/events/climate-week-nyc-little-peasants-new-play-food-tank |access-date=2025-06-26 |website=Climate Week |language=en}}</ref>

== London Climate Action Week Programming == Food Tank hosts annual programming at [https://www.londonclimateactionweek.org/ London Climate Action Week] with partners like the UN Environment Programme, Unilever, and Google Cloud.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=FAIRR at London Climate Action Week 2025 {{!}} FAIRR |url=https://www.fairr.org/news-events/events/fairr-at-london-climate-action-week-2025 |access-date=2025-07-18 |website=www.fairr.org |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-06-04 |title=Risilience at London Climate Action Week - Risilience |url=https://risilience.com/resources/events/risilience-at-london-climate-action-week/ |access-date=2025-07-18 |website=risilience.com |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Chief Sustainability Officers Summit: Building the Future of the Food System |url=https://www.unep.org/events/summit/chief-sustainability-officers-summit-building-future-food-system |access-date=2025-07-18 |website=www.unep.org |language=en}}</ref> In June 2024, Food Tank, Google Cloud, and Nomad Foods hosted “The Intersection of Food, Technology, Investment, and the Climate Crisis" with panelists from the [https://sustainablefoodtrust.org/ Sustainable Food Trust], Google, the University of Nottingham, the Climate Policy Initiative, and Oatly.<ref>{{Cite web |title=CPI at London Climate Action Week 2024 |url=https://www.climatepolicyinitiative.org/event/cpi-at-london-climate-action-week-2024/ |access-date=2025-07-18 |website=CPI |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Talking at London Climate Action Week |url=https://www.redwoodsfarm.co.uk/blog/post/22219/talking-at-london-climate-action-week/ |access-date=2025-07-18 |website=Redwoods Farm {{!}} Talking at London Climate Action Week}}</ref> In June 2025, Food Tank hosted a Chief Sustainability Officers Summit, "Building the Future of the Food System"<ref>{{Cite web |title=Events |url=https://www.londonclimateactionweek.org/event/chief-sustainability-officers-summit-building-the-future-of-the-food-system/ |access-date=2025-07-18 |website=London Climate Action Week |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":1" /> with speakers representing [https://www.ted.com/speakers/pat_mitchell TEDWomen]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Instagram |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/DK714VYtwaw/ |access-date=2025-07-18 |website=www.instagram.com}}</ref> and FAIRR.<ref name=":0" />

== SXSW Programming == In 2026, Food Tank hosted its 7th Annual “All Things Food” Official SXSW Summit, a day of immersive programming at the Barr Mansion in East Austin featuring the debut of Food Tank’s Short Film Festival, live music, workshops, and “Voices of Female Farmers: A Love Story,” an evening of live storytelling and reception celebrating women shaping the future of farming and food culture.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Forbes |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/claudiaalarcon/2026/03/05/7th-annual-all-things-food-summit-returns-to-austin-for-sxsw-2026/) (CITE: https://farmland.org/event/7th-annual-all-things-food-food-tank-summit-at-sxsw-2026}}</ref>

The free event drew approximately 2,500 rotating attendees throughout the day and covered topics like urban food policy, climate-resilient agriculture, culture, media, and community storytelling. It was held in partnership with Huston-Tillotson University, SXSW, the City of Austin, and Organic Valley. More than 50 speakers and participants included Chef Adrian Lipscomb, executive director of the Muloma Heritage Center; Jason Buechel and Cathy Strange of Whole Foods Market; filmmaker and farmer John Chester of FarmLore Films; Michelle Hughes, executive director of the National Young Farmers Coalition; Elle Gadient, farmer advocate and communications manager for Niman Ranch; Karen Bassarab of the Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future; Hayley and Stephanie Painter, the co-founders of Painterland Sisters Yogurt; Paul Greive, farmer and founder of Pasturebird, and more.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Forbes |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/claudiaalarcon/2026/03/05/7th-annual-all-things-food-summit-returns-to-austin-for-sxsw-2026/}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Fox News |url=https://www.fox7austin.com/video/fmc-0g6xj7rr6xwehkcq}}</ref>

== Advocacy == Food Tank convened an official listening session in the lead-up to the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition and Health in 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The U.S. diet is deadly. Here are 7 ideas to get Americans eating healthier |website=NPR |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2022/08/31/1120004717/the-u-s-diet-is-deadly-here-are-7-ideas-to-get-americans-eating-healthier |access-date=January 26, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Ending Hunger and Reducing Diet-Related Diseases and Disparities |url=https://health.gov/our-work/nutrition-physical-activity/white-house-conference-hunger-nutrition-and-health |access-date=2023-05-30 |website=Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion}}</ref> The session explored the theme "Dismantling Silos to Strengthen Nutrition and Food Security Research" and key takeaways were compiled into a formal report for the White House's consideration as they develop a strategy to end hunger, increase healthy eating and physical activity, and eliminate disparities.

Food Tank joined a coalition of non-governmental organizations and institutions including the Harvard Law School Food Law and Policy Clinic, WeightWatchers International Inc., Grubhub and the Natural Resources Defense Council<ref>{{Cite news |author=Amanda Little |date=January 6, 2023 |title=America's Food Waste Problem Is a Hunger Solution in Disguise |language=en-US |newspaper=Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/americas-food-waste-problem-is-a-hunger-solution-in-disguise/2023/01/06/a6f5ba22-8dbe-11ed-b86a-2e3a77336b8e_story.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230201210822/https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/americas-food-waste-problem-is-a-hunger-solution-in-disguise/2023/01/06/a6f5ba22-8dbe-11ed-b86a-2e3a77336b8e_story.html |archive-date=2023-02-01 |access-date=2023-01-27 |issn=0190-8286}}</ref> to help build bipartisan support for the Food Donation Improvement Act, which was signed into law in January 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Khan |first=Aiza |date=2023-01-06 |title=Food Donation Improvement Act Signed Into Law |url=https://chlpi.org/news-and-events/news-and-commentary/food-law-and-policy/food-donation-improvement-act-signed-into-law/ |access-date=2023-01-27 |website=Center For Health Law and Policy Innovation |language=en-US}}</ref> Food Tank's efforts included convening an event on Capitol Hill in partnership with WW, Bread for the World, the Harvard Law School Food Law and Policy Clinic (FLPC), and The Healthy Living Coalition where lawmakers, policy experts, and advocates fighting food waste called on Congress to pass the legislation.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Held |first=Lisa |date=2022-07-13 |title=The Field Report: In DC, Lawmakers Push 'Common Sense' Food Waste Solution |url=https://civileats.com/2022/07/13/the-field-report-in-dc-lawmakers-push-common-sense-food-waste-solution/ |access-date=2023-01-27 |website=Civil Eats |language=en}}</ref>

In 2025, Food Tank convened a Capitol Hill luncheon titled “Eating Ourselves Sick? Ultraprocessed Foods and US Health Policy” to discuss bipartisan consensus on removing ultra-processed foods from the U.S. food supply.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Report |first=By Jerry Hagstrom, The Hagstrom |date=2025-12-11 |title=Food Tank, Tufts hold ultra-processed foods event on Capitol Hill |url=https://www.thefencepost.com/news/food-tank-tufts-hold-ultra-processed-foods-event-on-capitol-hill/ |access-date=2025-12-14 |language=en-US}}</ref> Speakers included Dariush Mozaffarian, the director of the Food is Medicine Institute; Kyle Diamantas''',''' the deputy commissioner for human foods at the Food and Drug Administration; Jay Bhattacharya, director of the National Institutes of Health; Robert Paarlberg, an adjunct professor of public policy at the Harvard Kennedy School and emeritus professor of political science at Wellesley College; Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kan.; and Rep. Shri Thanedar, D-Mich.

At the event, cosponsored by the Tufts University Food is Medicine Institute and Food Tank, Rep. Shri Thandehar, D-Mich., [https://www.thefencepost.com/news/food-tank-tufts-hold-ultra-processed-foods-event-on-capitol-hill/ said], “Congress needs to act on ultra-processed foods in a bipartisan way.”

== Publications == The organization's website is a publishing platform for news about the food industry and system, and it also provides research and analysis with the goal of building a science-based foundation for changing the food system.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Carman|first=Tim|date=2013-01-08|title=New sites want you to better understand your food|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/all-we-can-eat/post/new-sites-want-you-to-better-understand-your-food/2013/01/07/1bfa7a56-58ff-11e2-88d0-c4cf65c3ad15_blog.html|access-date=2021-09-19|newspaper=Washington Post|language=en-US}}</ref> Topics covered include sustainable agriculture, climate change, food waste, urban agriculture, and policy and organizing.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2017-04-04|title=Q&A: Food Tank's Danielle Nierenberg on The Right Food Technologies and Bringing All Stakeholders Together|url=https://agfundernews.com/qa-food-tanks-danielle-nierenberg-on.html|access-date=2021-09-19|website=AFN|language=en-US}}</ref>

In 2014, Food Tank partnered with the James Beard Foundation to publish an annual "Good Food Org Guide," a comprehensive directory of nonprofit organizations that are working toward a better food system.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.jamesbeard.org/education/introducing-good-food-org-guide|title=James Beard Foundation|website=James Beard Foundation|language=en|access-date=2017-02-25}}</ref>

== Podcast == In 2018, Food Tank launched an original podcast, ''Food Talk with Dani Nierenberg'', on which Nierenberg invites chefs, experts, and activists to outline their ideal food system and how their projects are making a better food system more attainable.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-03-27|title=Slow Food Recommends: Ideas for Your Slow Weekend|url=https://www.slowfood.com/slow-food-recommends-ideas-for-your-slow-weekend/|access-date=2022-01-27|website=Slow Food International|language=en-US}}</ref>

== Sundance Film Festival == Food Tank hosts annual programming at the Sundance Film Festival. In January 2023, Food Tank collaborated with The Lodge at Blue Sky Auberge Resort and Fed by Blue to host a three-day event of screenings, tastings, talks, and live music. The event included a screening of and discussion about "Hope in the Water," a docuseries produced by celebrity chef Andrew Zimmern, Brian Peter Falk, and David E. Kelly about the foods that come from the Earth's bodies of water, including wetlands, streams, and lakes.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cook |first=Aimee L. |date=2023-01-24 |title="Hope in the Water" sheds light on protecting blue food |url=https://townlift.com/2023/01/hope-in-the-water-sheds-light-on-protecting-blue-food/ |access-date=2024-02-15 |website=TownLift, Park City News |language=en-US}}</ref>

On January 20, 2024, Food Tank hosted a day of discussions during the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, around the relationship between climate change and the food system.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Food Tank Summit Returns to Park City during Sundance 2024 |url=https://www.kpcw.org/show/this-green-earth/2024-01-16/food-tank-summit-returns-to-park-city-during-sundance-2024 |access-date=2024-02-15 |work=KPCW |language=en}}</ref> Topics included Indigenous foods, food as medicine, the intersections of food and technology, the potential of restaurants in community revitalization, with celebrity speakers including Kimbal Musk and Chef Susan Feniger.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=Pulp Lab |date=2024-01-21 |title=Sundance 2024: Nourishing the Planet, One Bite at a Time @FoodTank |url=https://pulplab.com/sundance-2024-nourishing-the-planet-one-bite-at-a-time-foodtank/ |access-date=2024-02-15 |website=Pulp Lab |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Arts == ''WeCameToDance'' is Food Tank's interactive original musical about the climate crisis. It was developed by Creative Producer Bernard Pollack<ref name="edinburghfestival.list.co.uk">{{Cite web|date=2021-08-09|title=Danielle Nierenberg: 'We're trying to bring joy to what can be uncomfortable issues'|url=https://edinburghfestival.list.co.uk/article/128675-danielle-nierenberg-were-trying-to-bring-joy-to-what-can-be-uncomfortable-issues/|access-date=2021-09-10|website=Edinburgh Festival|language=en-GB}}</ref> with choreography by House of Jack,<ref name="fdr">{{Cite web|title=Fringe dance review: WeCameToDance, Nicolson Square|url=https://www.scotsman.com/arts-and-culture/edinburgh-festivals/fringe-dance-review-wecametodance-nicolson-square-3341369|access-date=2021-09-10|website=www.scotsman.com|language=en}}</ref> original language by David Peterson of ''Game of Thrones'',<ref>{{Cite web|last=Kennedy|first=John|date=2021-08-14|title=Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2021 – A Call from Occupants of Interplanetary Craft|url=https://theedinburghreporter.co.uk/2021/08/edinburgh-festival-fringe-2021-a-call-from-occupants-of-interplanetary-craft/|access-date=2021-09-10|website=The Edinburgh Reporter|language=en-US}}</ref> and original music by Rocky Dawuni.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Edinburgh Fringe live round-up: Burnt Out, WeCameToDance, My Car Plays Tapes and more...|url=https://www.thestage.co.uk/long-reviews/edinburgh-fringe-live-round-up-burnt-out-wecametodance-my-car-plays-tapes-and-more|access-date=2021-09-10|website=The Stage|language=En}}</ref> The show debuted a month-long run at 2021 Edinburgh Fringe Festival<ref>{{Cite web |title=WeCameToDance|url=https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/wecametodance-1|access-date=2021-09-10|website=Edinburgh Festival Fringe|language=en}}</ref> and is commissioned perform at the U.N. Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Radical show aims to create new generation of food activists at COP26|url=https://www.thenational.scot/news/19529486.radical-show-aims-create-new-generation-food-activists-cop26/|access-date=2021-09-10|website=The National|date=22 August 2021 |language=en}}</ref>

During its initial run, ''WeCameToDance'' was featured in the ''New York Times'',<ref>{{Cite news|last=Wolf|first=Matt|date=2021-08-19|title=A Quiet Summer at Edinburgh's Festivals|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/19/theater/edinburgh-festival-fringe.html|access-date=2021-09-10|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> ''The List'',<ref name="edinburghfestival.list.co.uk"/> Scotsman,<ref name="fdr" /> ''The Herald'' (Scotland),<ref>{{Cite web|title=Agenda: Seeing the food system as a solution to the climate crisis|url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/19344494.agenda-seeing-food-system-solution-climate-crisis/|access-date=2021-09-10|website=HeraldScotland|date=4 June 2021 |language=en}}</ref> and ''Edinburgh Reporter''<ref>{{Cite web|last=Kennedy|first=John|date=2021-08-14|title=Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2021 – A Call from Occupants of Interplanetary Craft|url=https://theedinburghreporter.co.uk/2021/08/edinburgh-festival-fringe-2021-a-call-from-occupants-of-interplanetary-craft/|access-date=2021-09-10|website=The Edinburgh Reporter|language=en-US}}</ref> and the cast performed live on ''Good Morning Britain'', Al Jazeera, and the BBC.<ref>{{Cite web|title=BBC Radio Scotland - The Afternoon Show, From the Edinburgh Festivals: Del Amitri, Ambrose Parry, Mara Menzies and We Came To Dance|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000yvdk|access-date=2021-09-10|website=BBC|language=en-GB}}</ref>

In 2024, Food Tank debuted ''Little Peasants,'' an immersive theatrical showcase by playwright Bernard Pollack and director Dori A. Robinson that spotlights how baristas at a fictional chain called Unicorn Coffee come together to unionize.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nguyen |first=Hannah |date=2024-01-31 |title=Performances of 'Little Peasants' at The Burren put a decision to unionize in audience's hands |url=https://www.cambridgeday.com/2024/01/31/performances-of-little-peasants-at-the-burren-puts-a-decision-to-unionize-in-audiences-hands/ |access-date=2024-02-15 |website=Cambridge Day |language=en-US}}</ref> The audience gains firsthand experience with employer and employee struggles during a unionizing campaign by participating in a meeting with the baristas during the show. At the end, the audience decides if Unicorn Coffee unionizes and the workers and managers must abide by their decision.<ref>{{Cite news |author=Terry Byrne |date=January 25, 2024 |title=At Central Square, a play that explores a tricky father-son-robot relationship |newspaper=The Boston Globe |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2024/01/25/arts/machine-learning-ai-teatro-chelsea-central-square-theater/ |access-date=2024-02-15 |language=en-US}}</ref>

A one-act iteration of ''Little Peasants'' was previously featured at SXSW in March 2023, where it received critical acclaim and multiple standing ovations.<ref>{{Cite web |title='Little Peasants' workshop performances at The Burren |url=https://www.thesomervilletimes.com/archives/129847 |access-date=2024-02-15 |website=The Somerville Times |language=en-US}}</ref>

In 2025, Food Tank launched a farmer storytelling event series at Climate Week NYC.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Food Tank: The Big Tent Which Changes the Story |url=https://foodplanetprize.org/initiatives/food-tank-the-big-tent-which-changes-the-story/ |access-date=2025-12-14 |website=Food Planet Prize |language=en-US}}</ref> The events invite farmers such as Sea Matias, regenerative farmer at Serra Vida Farm in New York,<ref>{{Cite web |title=About Us |url=https://www.serravidafarm.com/our-story |access-date=2025-12-14 |website=Serravidafarm |language=en}}</ref> to tell their stories on stage. Through theatre productions and multimedia projects highlighting farmer stories and indigenous growers and producers, voices often marginalized in mainstream dialogues can provoke new lines of thinking among an audience with the potential to really affect change. The Curt Bergfors [https://foodplanetprize.org/initiatives/food-tank-the-big-tent-which-changes-the-story/ Food Planet Prize writes], "Through theatre productions and multimedia projects highlighting farmer stories and indigenous growers and producers, voices often marginalized in mainstream dialogues can provoke new lines of thinking among an audience with the potential to really affect change."

The concept has expanded internationally: As part of the 2026 Scene And Heard festival in Dublin, Ireland,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Scene + Heard The Festival of New Work {{!}} Festival |url=https://www.sceneandheard.ie/ |access-date=2026-02-16 |website=SCENE + HEARD |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-02-14 |title=CountryWide Saturday 14 February 2026 |url=https://www.rte.ie/radio/radio1/countrywide/2026/0214/1558481-countrywide-saturday-14-february-2026// |access-date=2026-02-16 |website=RTE Radio |language=en}}</ref> Food Tank premiered Voices of Irish Farmers: A Love Story. Adapted and facilitated by Lucy Holmes, an Irish actor and writer, the event brought "farming, the storytelling tradition and our food sources to the fore through the stories of three women who work in the farming industry."<ref>{{Cite web |title=PressReader.com - Digital Newspaper & Magazine Subscriptions |url=https://www.pressreader.com/article/281925959465160 |access-date=2026-02-16 |website=www.pressreader.com}}</ref> The series is also produced as a documentary, Voices of Irish Farmers,<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNkVL2ohmnE |title=Voices of Irish Farmers, Women Leading the Way in Agriculture |date=2026-02-10 |last=Ireland AM |access-date=2026-02-16 |via=YouTube}}</ref> featuring Irish Farmers Sophie Bell, Carina Roseingrave, and Ailbhe Gerrard.

In February 2026, Voice of Australian Farmers: A Love Story premiered opening night of the Adelaide Fringe Show with regenerative farmers from across Australia, including opera singer Hannah Greenshields.<ref>{{Cite web |last=McClaren |first=Brought to you byABC ADELAIDEPresented byRory |date=2026-02-18 |title=Opera singer-turned-regen farmer stars in Fringe show where you listen & taste |url=https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/adelaide-mornings/regen-fringe-show/106364572 |access-date=2026-02-24 |website=ABC listen |language=en-AU}}</ref>

== References == {{Reflist}}

Category:Non-profit organizations based in Louisiana