On January 31, a landmark event will bring together federal leadership, industry innovators, community champions, and members of Congress. Their goal? To discuss the advancement and support of Food is Medicine initiatives across the country. This summit, organized by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), will be live-streamed, allowing the public to gain insight into the future of healthcare and nutrition.
A New Era of Health and Nutrition
The first Food is Medicine Summit signifies an important shift in the healthcare industry, recognizing the crucial role of food in maintaining health and preventing disease. The event aims to convene policymakers, advocates, researchers, and stakeholders to discuss the importance of viewing food as medicine. In addition, a panel discussion will explore the role of cross-sector partnership in expanding access to food as medicine resources and interventions.
Powerful Partnerships
One of the key developments leading up to the summit is the strategic partnership between the HHS and The Rockefeller Foundation. The Foundation has been instrumental in driving the Food is Medicine movement, committing over $100 million to its programs, including funding for the American Heart Association. This partnership marks the Foundation’s second collaboration with the U.S. government to expand domestic Food is Medicine programs, showing a shared commitment to improving public health outcomes and equity.
Investing in the Future of Food is Medicine
The Rockefeller Foundation has announced an additional $80 million investment over the next five years, bringing their total commitment to over $100 million since 2019. This funding aims to improve health outcomes in the U.S., where diet-related diseases are major contributors to death, disability, and escalating healthcare costs. The Foundation’s plan includes support for research on health and economic outcomes of Food is Medicine programs, collaboration with the American Heart Association’s Health Care by Food initiative, and investments in public, private, and non-profit organizations to enhance Food is Medicine programs.
Public-Private Partnerships to Scale Food as Medicine
Another significant step in the Food is Medicine movement is the new public-private partnership between Instacart and the HHS. The partnership aims to support and scale food as medicine interventions, including increasing access to nutritious food, offering tools to support health and wellbeing, and advancing understanding of food as medicine intervention techniques and impacts. Part of this initiative includes the development of new technology and infrastructure to power food as medicine programs, including produce prescription initiatives and other nutrition interventions.
Integration of Food is Medicine into Education
The summit will also feature a discussion on integrating food as medicine into education, featuring panelist Stephen Devries, MD, the Executive Director of the Gaples Institute. This session will offer insights into how the HHS and its partners are working to support the advancement of Food is Medicine in education and training programs.
As we move into a new era of healthcare, where prevention is as important as treatment, the Food is Medicine Summit marks a significant step forward. It promises to be an event that brings together leaders from various sectors, all united by the shared goal of improving health outcomes through the power of nutrition.