STORY BY KAREN BOSSICK
PHOTO BY THIA KONIG
Learn how to transform the food system to heal humans and the planet.
And learn about the importance of supporting indigenous cultures for
the future of the planet and its peoples when the Sun Valley Forum
offers two free virtual presentations this coming week.
- Dr. Mark Hyman will keynote the July 28 event with an
interactive lecture on transforming the food system at 11:15 a.m.
Tuesday, July 28.
“Food isn’t like medicine. It is medicine, and it’s our No. 1
tool for creating the vibrant health we deserve,” said Hyman, founder
and director of The UltraWellness Center and head of Strategy and
Innovation at the Cleveland Clinic Center for Functional Medicine.
A 13-time New York Times best-selling author, Hyman has devoted
his life to addressing the root causes of chronic disease through the
power of Functional Medicine. His latest book, “Food Fix!” maps out a
new food system that can improve public health, have a positive economic
impact and address climate change.
His presentation will be followed by a presentation by filmmaker
Louis Psihoyos, who was a resounding hit at the 2019 Sun Valley Forum
sharing stories drawn from his films “The Game Changers,” “Racing
Extinction” and “The Cove.” His talk will run from noon to 12:30 p.m.
At 2:30 p.m. on that day Sun Valley Institute’s Amy Mattias and
CEO of AppHarvest Jonathan Webb will discuss innovation and inclusion in
agriculture. And Ron Finley, the “Gansta Gardener,” the Rockefeller
Foundation and investor Lila Preston will discuss the “Future of Food”
at 3:15 p.m.
Two chefs will talk about using food to transform communities at 2 and 4:15 p.m.
A centerpiece of the July 28 event is the first ever Sun Valley
Spark Project—shovel-ready projects with the potential to scale up and
deliver global impact for resilience. Spark Project convener American
Farmland Trust, along with replant Capital and Sun Valley Institute will
shape a Regenerative Agriculture Fund for Idaho That will be reviewed
at 12:30 p.m.
- On Thursday, July 30 from 12:15 to 1 p.m. Peter Seligmann will
discuss how indigenous cultures hold deep knowledge of vital natural
systems acquired through profound relationships with the environment.
Seligmann is the CEO of Nia Tero, which helps indigenous peoples
secure their rights, cultures and well-being through agreements that
secure the vitality of their oceans and lands. He began his career in
1976 with the Nature Conservancy as its western region land steward and
went on to co-found the global nonprofit Conservation International.
Mitch Anderson and Nemontes Nenquimo of Amazon Frontlines will follow
up Seligmann’s talk at 1 p.m. on July 30 with their approach to
defending indigenous land, lives and culture in the Amazon rainforests.
The programs are part of the Forum’s Resilience Now Summer Series,
which was created after the pandemic forced the Forum to go virtual. Programs will be recorded and made available on the Sun Valley Institute's website afterwards.
“The Forum is known for catalyzing new partnerships and accelerating
impact, and this year we are honored to do so once again, albeit from
our virtual platform rather than enjoying being together in our
beautiful home,” said Host Partner and Forum Curator Aimee Christensen
of Christensen Global Strategies.
To learn how you can take part, go to https://www.sunvalleyinstitute.org. Or, go to https://sunvalleyforum.com/about-svi-forum-2020/