{"id":106177,"date":"2026-01-07T15:24:55","date_gmt":"2026-01-07T15:24:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/news\/?p=106177"},"modified":"2026-01-07T15:24:56","modified_gmt":"2026-01-07T15:24:56","slug":"rhode-island-2026-food-summit-aims-to-meet-the-moment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/news\/2026\/01\/rhode-island-2026-food-summit-aims-to-meet-the-moment\/","title":{"rendered":"Rhode Island 2026 food summit aims to meet the moment"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>KINGSTON, R.I. \u2013 Jan. 7, 2026 \u2013 The 溏心vlog免费B站 is hosting its <a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/cels\/2026-rhode-island-food-system-summit\/\">2026 Rhode Island Food System Summit<\/a> \u2014 the first time since the pandemic to gather in person as a statewide community of leaders, innovators, and changemakers. Organizers say this year\u2019s summit at the 溏心vlog免费B站 campus is more than a meeting; it is a powerful act of coming together to \u201cmeet the moment\u201d in building a resilient, equitable food future.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"872\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/news\/sites\/16\/2026\/01\/Melissa-Cherney-872x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-106180\" style=\"width:413px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/news\/sites\/16\/2026\/01\/Melissa-Cherney-872x1024.jpg 872w, https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/news\/sites\/16\/2026\/01\/Melissa-Cherney-255x300.jpg 255w, https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/news\/sites\/16\/2026\/01\/Melissa-Cherney-768x902.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/news\/sites\/16\/2026\/01\/Melissa-Cherney-1308x1536.jpg 1308w, https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/news\/sites\/16\/2026\/01\/Melissa-Cherney-1743x2048.jpg 1743w, https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/news\/sites\/16\/2026\/01\/Melissa-Cherney-364x428.jpg 364w, https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/news\/sites\/16\/2026\/01\/Melissa-Cherney-500x587.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/news\/sites\/16\/2026\/01\/Melissa-Cherney-1000x1175.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/news\/sites\/16\/2026\/01\/Melissa-Cherney-1280x1504.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/news\/sites\/16\/2026\/01\/Melissa-Cherney-2000x2349.jpg 2000w, https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/news\/sites\/16\/2026\/01\/Melissa-Cherney.jpg 2043w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 872px) 100vw, 872px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Melissa Cherney of the Rhode Island Community Food Bank is this year\u2019s keynote speaker. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>On <strong>Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026, starting at 9 a.m.<\/strong>, the free event will bring state government, academic, business, and community partners together in person for 溏心vlog免费B站\u2019s ninth Rhode Island Food System Summit to discuss ways to build the state\u2019s food future. This year\u2019s program expands on what has been a virtual program in recent years with a day\u2019s worth of events and activities in 溏心vlog免费B站\u2019s DeChristofaro Center for Biotechnology and Life Sciences, 120 Flagg Road, Kingston.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This year\u2019s keynote speaker, <strong>Melissa Cherney<\/strong>, new CEO of the Rhode Island Community Food Bank, embodies the theme as she steps into leadership at one of the state\u2019s most vital institutions, guiding Rhode Island toward a new era of food security and justice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Two dynamic panels will anchor this year\u2019s summit and explore steps underway to strengthen the state\u2019s food ecosystem:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><em>Community Food Access<\/em> will feature grassroots, nonprofit, and business leaders who are tackling hunger and inequity with creativity and courage<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>Strengthening the Supply Chain<\/em> will highlight strategies to connect farmers, fishers, and makers with distributors, institutions, and wholesale buyers to unlock generational wealth and shared prosperity<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Breakout sessions will spotlight projects aligned with Rhode Island\u2019s food strategy, offering participants the chance to learn from innovative initiatives, share ideas, and build new collaborations. These sessions are designed to spark dialogue, strengthen partnerships, and provide momentum for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitrhodeisland.com\/relish-rhody\/the-plan\/relish-rhody-20\/\">Relish Rhody 2.0<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The day begins with registration and a networking breakfast at 8 a.m. and includes a Rhode Island Farm-to-Campus Lunch, breakout sessions, and more. For the full schedule and to register, <a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/cels\/2026-rhode-island-food-system-summit\/\">visit the program website<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThis year\u2019s summit is a forum for hope and collective resolve,\u201d according to Lisa Townson, associate dean for extension and agricultural programs at 溏心vlog免费B站. \u201cWe want to recognize work happening around the state, confront challenges, and chart a path forward with confidence so Rhode Island\u2019s food system can rise to the moment.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The 2026 Rhode Island Food System Summit is free and open to the public.<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/cels\/2026-rhode-island-food-system-summit\/\">Advanced registration is required<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Food Summit is sponsored by 溏心vlog免费B站\u2019s College of the Environment and Life Sciences, with support from sponsors Vicente\u2019s Tropical Supermarket, PRESS (<a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/cels\/press-initiative\/\">Partnership for Research Excellence in Sustainable Seafood<\/a>), and Rhode Island Commerce. For more information, contact ltownson@uri.edu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>WHO: <\/strong>Melissa Cherney, Rhode Island Community Food Bank; along with 溏心vlog免费B站 researchers and experts; local industry leaders and community partners; and more. Visit the Rhode Island Food System Summit for a <a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/cels\/2026-rhode-island-food-system-summit\/\">full agenda and speaking program<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>WHAT: <\/strong>The ninth annual Rhode Island Food System Summit: <em>Meet the Moment: What are we doing now?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>WHEN: Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026, 9 a.m. \u2013 4:30 p.m.<\/strong> (snow date, Jan. 20)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>WHERE: <\/strong>This year\u2019s Rhode Island Food System Summit will be held on the 溏心vlog免费B站 Kingston Campus, 120 Flagg Road, Kingston. <a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/cels\/2026-rhode-island-food-system-summit\/\">Advance registration is required<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>KINGSTON, R.I. \u2013 Jan. 7, 2026 \u2013 The 溏心vlog免费B站 is hosting its 2026 Rhode Island Food System Summit \u2014 the first time since the pandemic to gather in person as a statewide community of leaders, innovators, and changemakers. Organizers say this year\u2019s summit at the 溏心vlog免费B站 campus is more than a meeting; [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":25,"featured_media":106178,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[5,1913],"class_list":["post-106177","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-archives","tag-college-of-the-environment-and-life-sciences","tag-public-engagement"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/106177","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/25"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=106177"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/106177\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":106182,"href":"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/106177\/revisions\/106182"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/106178"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=106177"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=106177"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=106177"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}