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WEBINARS & EVENTS

Presentation: “From Evidence to Adoption: Helping Institutions Say Yes to Plant-Forward Food Practices” Howard Nye & Maddie Youngman

This expert overview asks how animal advocates can help institutions adopt plant-forward food changes when leaders fear backlash from students, staff, customers, or community members. Research already shows that defaults, menu design, and choice architecture can shift food choices. The harder strategic question is how to make institutions comfortable piloting and sustaining these changes, especially where meat is culturally or politically salient. We synthesize research on plant-forward nudges, food choice behavior, nudge acceptance, and institutional dining, using our Alberta university survey and focus group study as a case example of adoption challenges in a less receptive environment.

Presentation: “Becoming Part of the Family: Greenwashing, Animal Agriculture, and the Strategic Capture of Climate Research” Vasile Stănescu

This talk examines how the animal agriculture industry strategically captures academic research to reshape public understanding of its climate impacts. It focuses on two case studies. The findings carry urgent implications for animals, research independence, and environmental governance throughout Canada.

Food as an Agent of Change: Planetary Health Food Movement” Maddie Youngman, PhD student at the University of Alberta, FIN/FwB Researcher

This presentation builds upon the Food Impact Network [FIN] and proven theories and practices for transforming food systems to be more equitable and sustainable; we illuminate and critique initiatives that improve institutional food systems across sectors. We illuminate strategies that engage all sectors and catalyze shifts within institutional food culture and environments to accelerate the planetary health food movement.

Presentation: “Nudging and Making Sense: Understanding Communication and Receptiveness” Maddie Youngman, Howard Nye, Karen Levonson, & Jason Hannon

The topics of the talks consist of: Study results on Student Receptiveness to Plant-Forward Dietary Practices in University Dining, Study results on Communicating About the Ethics of Plant-Forward Nudging in Healthcare Settings, and an analysis of Grass-Fed Myths: Theology, Culture, and Regenerative Grazing!

Webinar poster for 'Barriers, Behaviours, and Breakthroughs: What’s Standing in the Way of Sustainable Diets?' featuring three panelists and registration details (March 31, 2026, 2:00–3:30 PM MT).

Webinar: Barriers, Behaviors, and Breakthroughs: What's Standing in the Way of Sustainable Diets?

Sponsored by the Kule Research Terms grant from the Kule Institute for Advanced Study. In this panel, we will rethink how we communicate, teach, and inspire plant-forward dietary change. Together we will explore how food and climate literacy can empower individuals and communities to adopt sustainable diets, support the environment, and improve health outcomes. Learn practical tools to overcome obstacles, influence behaviours, and promote healthy, plant-forward eating for all.

Poster for a webinar titled 'Cultural Foodways in a Plant-Forward Future: Policy, Practice, and Inclusion' with panelists and event details.

Webinar: Cultural Foodways in a Plant-Forward Future: Policy, Practice, and Inclusion

Sponsored by the Kule Research Terms grant from the Kule Institute for Advanced Study. Shifting toward more plant-forward eating is important for human and planetary health. This panel explores practical ways plant-forward policies and practices can be designed to respect cultural foodways, while highlighting the many plant-based ingredients, dishes, and culinary traditions already present across global cuisines. Panelists will discuss how plant-forward strategies can be adapted to support cultural inclusion, flavour, and familiarity.

Poster for a Dalhousie University agriculture lecture with a photo of Dr. Kathleen Kevany; title reads 'The Power of Reorienting to Sustainable Diets to Protect Life-Supporting Systems' (date/time and venue listed).

The Power of Reorienting to Sustainable Diets to Protect Life-Supporting Systems

Humans are facing compounding and interconnected health, environment, and equity crises. The best lever to improve human, animal, and planetary health is sustainable food. Come discuss how shifting food environments opens proven strategies for reducing global warming while enhancing health and well-being.

Cultivating Health (Sustainable Diets Webinar Series)

Human health is deeply connected to food, in obvious and not-so-obvious ways. Learn about research that connects the dots between food, sustainability, and health.

Sustainable diets have the potential to change the world – but how do we make them a reality? Join this webinar to discuss public engagement, education, narrative-shifting, and other strategies to support communities in pursuing healthy and just food.

Harnessing the power of good food for the planet

Our food systems have major impacts on the environment. Luckily, researchers are studying various strategies to minimize – or even reverse – these impacts. Hear from the researchers themselves as they explain how these strategies fit into a larger vision for sustainable diets globally.

With authors from the “Framing and Vision” and “Calls to Action” sections of the Handbook, and editors Kathleen Kevany and Paolo Prosperi, we will dive into foundational questions around sustainable diets: How can they uphold the human right to food? How can they address systemic racism? Where do they fit in global governance? Hear from researchers who study these questions that are key to envisioning sustainable and just food systems.

Delicious Advances in Institutional Plant-forward Menus