Danielle Nierenberg
Nierenberg is one of NYU Steinhardt’s 2022 Scholars in Residence, a program that welcomes distinguished academics, artists, advocates, and other thought leaders to our community to share their expertise.
Danielle Nierenberg is an expert on sustainable agriculture and food issues and co-founder of Food Tank, a nonprofit focused on advancing environmentally, socially, and economically sustainable ways of alleviating hunger, obesity, and poverty.
“I’m very lucky in that I have what I’ve considered my dream job since I was a writer for my high school newspaper,” says Nierenberg, who has traveled to more than 70 countries across the world for on-the-ground research on global agriculture and interventions to address hunger and poverty. “I get to see the world and talk to interesting people who are doing brilliant things to support safer, healthier nourishment for all.”
Food Tank produces several news articles daily on topics such as climate change, food waste, and policymaking, aiming to tell hopeful, positive stories. They also host a podcast, convene annual summits, and offer regular events – including a 50-state food tour and a musical about sustainable agriculture called WeCameToDance.
“We aim to be a platform for folks who are connecting how we eat with the health of the planet,” says Nierenberg. “By doing this, we can foster awareness in more people and help to create transformation in this world.”
At Steinhardt, Nierenberg and her fellow 2021-2022 Dean's Scholars in Residence conduct master classes, workshops, and participate in public events each semester. Nierenberg sees plenty of opportunity for collaboration with her colleagues, such as combining the arts with how society talks about foods and developing more creative community care about the role of food in overall health.
“I’m excited to be connected to such a prestigious academic institution,” says Nierenberg, who first collaborated with Steinhardt in 2019 on a speaker series that discussed critical food systems issues like hunger, poverty, and nutrition. “I love the vibe of NYU – the creativity and openness give students the ability to come in with opinions, hear other voices, and change their minds if they want to.”