Why does organic food cost more? How will the food system look after the apocalypse? What will it take to end hunger in the United States? How important are women farmers? And how can hip-hop be used to teach children about holistic health?

These are just a few of the many diverse questions that will be addressed at TEDxManhattan “Changing the Way We Eat”, being held on Saturday, March 7, 2015. TEDxManhattan is a popular and influential event that leverages the well-known TED conference style to engage a wider audience by highlighting bold and innovative sustainable food and farming initiatives from around the country and, increasingly, the world. It is being held at The TimesCenter in New York City, from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET.  TEDxManhattan Adventures, activities around New York City related to sustainable food and farming, will be held mainly on Sunday, March 8, 2015.

Bringing together thought leaders from the food moment since 2011, TEDxManhattan sparks discussion and spreads ideas for improving the food system. All TEDxManhattan talks are made available as individual videos on YouTube, and these videos have been viewed more than six million times. In the words of Ken Cook, founder and president of the Environmental Working Group, “This institution, TEDxManhattan, has changed the food movement.”

The 2015 event brings together more than 15 dynamic speakers and performers from across the food system – from farming to economic development to the arts. Specific presentation topics can be found on the TEDxManhattan website. This year’s lineup includes:

• Joel Berg – New York City Coalition Against Hunger

• Dana Cowin – Food & Wine

• Alkemia  Earth – DJ and plant-based nutritionist (performer)

• Robert Graham, MD – Lenox Hill Hospital

• Henry Hargreaves – Photographer and food artist

• Kendra Kimbirauskas – Friends of Family Farmers, SRAP

• Nikiko Masumoto – Masumoto Family Farm

• Michele Merkel – Food & Water Watch

• Danny Meyer – Union Square Hospitality Group

• Danielle Nierenberg – Food Tank

• Ali Partovi – Angel investor

• Stephen Reily - Seed Capital Kentucky

• Stefanie Sacks, MS, CNS, CDN – Culinary nutritionist, author

• Anim Steel – Real Food Challenge

• Shen Tong – FOOD-X

• Marcel Van Ooyen - GrowNYC

• Ietef “DJ Cavem” Vita – Eco-HipHop artist

• TEDxManhattan Award winner Stephen Ritz and the Green Bronx Machine

TEDxManhattan is licensed by TED and organized by Diane Hatz, founder and executive director of Change Food. “It is such a privilege to bring together this inspiring group of luminaries who are working tirelessly to improve the global food system,” stated Hatz. “While TEDxManhattan happens on a single day, the event energizes people who care about food to take action year-round.”

TEDxManhattan is sold out for in-person attendance, but the event is being live-streamed to ensure people across the globe can participate through viewing parties. In 2014, 150 viewing parties joined 13,000 computers to watch the broadcast. This year, TEDxManhattan again welcomes people and groups to register to host their own events as well as join the conversation on Twitter by following @TEDxManhattan and using the hashtag #TEDxMan. As of the end of January, over 70 viewing parties had signed up for the 2015 event with many more registering each day.

Please visit www.tedxmanhattan.org to learn more.

About TEDx, x = independently organized event
In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TED Talks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized. (Subject to certain rules and regulations.)

About TED
TED is a nonprofit organization devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading. Started as a four-day conference in California 30 years ago, TED has grown to support its mission with multiple initiatives. The two annual TED Conferences invite the world's leading thinkers and doers to speak for 18 minutes or less. Many of these talks are then made available, free, at TED.com. TED speakers have included Bill Gates, Jane Goodall, Elizabeth Gilbert, Sir Richard Branson, Nandan Nilekani, Philippe Starck, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Salman Khan and Daniel Kahneman.

The annual TED Conference takes place each spring in Vancouver, British Columbia, along with the TEDActive simulcast event in nearby Whistler. The annual TEDGlobal conference was held this past October in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. TED's media initiatives include TED.com, where new TED Talks are posted daily; the Open Translation Project, which provides subtitles and interactive transcripts as well as translations from volunteers worldwide; and the educational initiative TED-Ed. TED has established the annual TED Prize, where exceptional individuals with a wish to change the world get help translating their wishes into action; TEDx, which supports individuals or groups in hosting local, self- organized TED-style events around the world, and the TED Fellows program, helping world-changing innovators from around the globe to amplify the impact of their remarkable projects and activities.

Follow TED on Twitter at http://twitter.com/TEDTalks, or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/TED.

TEDxManhattan

TEDxManhattan

TEDxManhattan “Changing the Way We Eat” is licensed by TEDx and organized by Diane Hatz, founder and executive director of Change Food.

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