The 2025 contraction of foreign aid – marked by the dismantling of USAID and a broader donor pullback – set off two urgent debates. One is about the human costs of the cuts themselves, and the other is about how assistance should be structured going forward. GFI and GW researchers set out to inform the second, documenting what was happening to the underlying architecture of the system even as the immediate crisis dominated attention.   

Our latest research brief, featured in the Devex Newswire, discusses what has changed beneath the surface. Trust, coordination structures, local networks, and access to expertise have been damaged in ways that are important to capture. And these changes are not being experienced uniformly: where you sit in the system, whether local or international, senior leadership or operational staff, shapes what you’re seeing and what you’re losing. A conversation that flattens these distinctions risks missing what actually needs to be rebuilt moving forward.

This work is ongoing. We are currently conducting a second global survey, and we want to hear from people working in the humanitarian and development sectors, particularly those delivering aid overseas. The more voices we hear, the more clearly, we can see what is being rebuilt, what remains at risk, and what the sector will need going forward. I hope you'll share the survey widely.

Stacy Dean
Carbonell Family Executive Director
Global Food Institute

This week, GFI is part of two timely webinars on food policy and justice – and there's still time to register for both.

On May 27 at 1pm ET, GFI and the Aspen Institute's Food & Society Program will host the second installment of our Conversations on Food Justice series: How SNAP Restrictions Play Out in Stores and Communities. While our first session examined the policy debate and the evidence, this conversation shifts from policy to practice – exploring how these restrictions are landing for retailers, food businesses, and the communities the program serves.

On May 28 at 3pm ET, CSPI will host a webinar featuring GFI Executive Director Stacy Dean alongside leading voices in anti-hunger advocacy, public health, and food policy. Inspired by a forthcoming editorial in the American Journal of Public Health, the conversation will explore where common ground exists and how collective action can protect food assistance, improve nutrition, and advance a more just food system.

GFI is part of a community-academic partnership working to understand how food access shapes health and well-being in Washington, D.C.'s Wards 7 and 8. At the center of that work is a Community Advisory Board made up of residents and public servant leaders who bring lived experience and deep community knowledge to every step of the project. Through a new spotlight series, we're sharing their stories and highlighting the ways they're working to build a fairer, healthier food system for their neighbors.

Grocery Retail for All Summit. On June 18 in Chicago, the Food Systems for the Future Institute, alongside GFI and partners, will convene leaders to spotlight proven models that expand access to affordable, nutritious, and culturally relevant food. Registration closes Monday, June 1.

Women Farmers, Food Systems, and the Future of Global Development. From June 4-5, the Association for International Agriculture and Rural Development’s Annual Conference in Arlington, Virginia will delve into the vital role women farmers play in driving progress across market systems, climate resilience, nutrition, livelihoods, and community stability. 

Sustainable Food and Agriculture Funders Forum. From June 22-25, join funders, investors, and practitioners in Savannah, Georgia, to collaborate on strategies that advance equitable and sustainable food and agriculture systems. Nonprofit movement leaders and food system partners will bring on-the-ground wisdom and solutions. Register by June 8. 

New Geopolitics of Food. A recent report argues global food systems are entering a new geopolitical era where conflict, trade tensions, and climate shocks are destabilizing food supply – and countries must respond by building resilient self-reliance. IPES-Food

Ending Food Waste in a Generation. Community grants are available to develop local programs and empower US households to develop specific habits and behaviors to prevent wasted food and subsequently save money. Apply by September 1st. World Wildlife Fund

Reading Between the Labels. "Natural," "free range," "multigrain" — not all grocery labels mean what you might think. GFI's Priya Fielding-Singh explains what's actually behind the most common claims on food packaging. Food & Wine

An Invisible Force. Rising carbon dioxide levels are making staple crops less nutritious, with wheat, rice, beans, and other plants now containing fewer essential vitamins and minerals than a generation ago. The Washington Post

Rising Food Prices. Since the start of the war in Iran, there has been a continued upward trend of rising food prices for the third consecutive month, particularly for vegetable oil, rice, and cereal. Oil prices, the increase of biofuel demand, and concerns of lower production, particularly in Southeast Asia, are helping drive this trend. FAO Food Price Index

Mentor Future Food Leaders. Food Policy Pathways is seeking mentors to equip emerging food policy leaders with the skills and networks to drive change for a healthier, more resilient food system. If you currently or have previously worked in local, state or federal government, consider applying to mentor the next generation. Food Policy Pathways

Can a hummus company change how Americans think about what they eat? 

A recent GW Planet Forward story spotlights Nic Bash, an Aspen Food Leaders Fellow and Foodservice Director at Little Sesame, who is bringing organic and regenerative ingredients from small farms to corporate cafeterias and university campuses nationwide. It's a window into what it takes to move consumers and the food system toward more sustainable choices, one chickpea at a time.

We want to lift up your work and share information about events, opportunities to collaborate or whatever you think is important to share. Email us at globalfoodinstitute@gwu.edu. 

Do you know someone who would be interested in this newsletter? Forward to a friend!