By: Alison Rutka and Liz Do
27 Jan, 2026
CIFAR selects 7 visionary teams to explore Future of Food research
January 27, 2026
Esteemed Global Advisory Council will guide the development of CIFAR food programs
The CIFAR Arrell Future of Food Initiative is taking a crucial step forward, announcing the selection of 7 interdisciplinary research teams to participate in its inaugural Discovery Workshops. This selection marks a pivotal move in the initiative’s multi-year effort to address the mounting pressures on the global food system, which is currently characterized by rising food insecurity, declining biodiversity and amplified climate shocks.
The initiative acknowledges that the production, transportation and processing of food account for the greatest environmental impact humans have on the planet. Consequently, the 7 teams were chosen for their bold and integrated approaches to reimagine how we grow, share and sustain food in a rapidly changing world.
“The sheer complexity of the global food crisis demands collaboration across traditional boundaries. The 7 teams selected for these Discovery Workshops exemplify the bold, interdisciplinary thinking that CIFAR champions,” said Stephen J. Toope, CIFAR President and CEO. “I congratulate these exceptional researchers on reaching this critical milestone. Their innovative ideas, ranging from programmable plants to child-first policy frameworks, promise to unlock new pathways to knowledge that will shape a healthier, more equitable future for all.”
The successful teams, which will continue to grow, were chosen from a competitive international application pool, reflecting both global reach and intellectual diversity. Their institutional affiliations span 13 countries and counting, including Denmark, Malaysia, Scotland, South Africa, the United States of America and Zimbabwe.
Furthermore, their expertise covers 21 distinct disciplines, ranging from anthropology and gender studies to biomedical sciences and engineering.
The research scope is vast, moving beyond conventional boundaries to tackle the four broad themes identified by the initiative’s Discovery Panel Report: Governance, Food and Culture, Ecology & Biodiversity, and Consumer Patterns and Education.
The teams include:
Child-First Food Systems Digital Twin: Optimizing Policy Bundles for Equitable Diets and Health
- Mahsa Jessri, University of British Columbia
- Mary L’Abbe, University of Toronto
- Douglas Manuel, University of Ottawa
- Martha White, University of Alberta | Learning in Machines & Brains Fellow and Canada CIFAR AI Chair
- Paul Gustafson, University of British Columbia
Synthetic Biology and Programmable Plant Systems: A Transdisciplinary Approach for Sustainable Agriculture
- Margaret Frank, Cornell University
- Arjun Khakhar, Colorado State University
- Robert Smith, University of Edinburgh
The Urban Future of Food
- Kate Brown, MIT | Humans & the Microbiome Program Advisor
- Mikkel Thelle, National Museum of Denmark
- Anne Braedder, Roskilde University
- Joshua Arnold, University of Massachusetts Amherst
- Nathan McClintock, Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS)
Envisioning a New, Inclusive Food Economy That Rebalances Power in Food Systems
- Tafadzwanashe Mabhaudhi, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
- Festo Massawe, University of Nottingham, Malaysia
- Ee Von Goh, World Vegetable Center
- Wendy Geza, University of KwaZulu-Natal
- Suwilanji Sinyangwe, Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources Policy Action Network
Capital Markets and the Future of Food
- Phoebe Stephens, Dalhousie University
- Truzaar Dordi, University of York
- Alain Naef, ESSEC Business School
- Sarah Sippel, University of Münster
- Arianna Muirow, ReLeverage Consulting
Legume Futures: Reimagining Food, Climate and Culture Through Morama and Bambara
- Jose Jackson Malete, Michigan State University
- Linley Chiwona-Karltun, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
- Percy Chimwamurombe, Namibia University of Science & Technology
- Eugénie Kayitesi University of Pretoria
- Prince Marowa, University of Zimbabwe
Digital Livestock Intelligence: AI‑Driven Digital Twins for Planetary Food Security and Animal Consciousness
- Suresh Raja Neethirajan, Dalhousie University
- Hervé Panetto, Université de Lorraine
- Tamami Nakano, Osaka University
Global Advisory Council announced to guide development
The work of these teams will be directed and evaluated by a newly formed Global Advisory Council, who will comprise a group of esteemed advisors with deep expertise in food systems transformation.
Among the members are:
- Laura Arrell, Managing Director, The Arrell Family Foundation, Canada
- Hugo Campos, Deputy Director General for Science & Innovation at the International Potato Center, Peru
- Cary Fowler, President, Food Security Leadership Council, United States of America
“Our role is to ensure these interdisciplinary teams maintain the highest standards of intellectual ambition while rigorously testing their capacity for transformative impact,” Hugo Campos, Member of the Future of Food Global Advisory Council. We will assess these workshops to identify and advance the research with the greatest potential and impact on quality of life to the Discovery Programs stage.”
These Discovery Workshops are a critical moment of idea generation, setting the stage for the next phases of the initiative. Upon review, 3 to 5 of the most promising teams will advance to Discovery Programs, operating as small-scale CIFAR research programs in the coming years. These programs will benefit from 2 years of funding, strategic support and access to CIFAR’s Catalyst Fund, designed to support early-stage, high-risk and collaborative research. The ultimate goal is for the most robust ideas, demonstrating significant potential for transformative knowledge and societal impact, to evolve into full-scale CIFAR programs in the future.
The CIFAR Arrell Future of Food Initiative is made possible through the generous support of the Arrell Family Foundation.
Related Articles
-
Feeding Humanity: Insights from the Future of Food Report
August 13, 2025
-
CIFAR launches new exploration on “The Future of Food”
July 15, 2025