The Future of Food

In Wicked Problems, Wolfpack Solutions: The Future of Food, students heard NC State scholars tell the story of the past and future of food, with a focus on the food of North Carolina. How will we produce enough food to feed our growing human population in ways that are just and sustainable, while also being attuned to the importance of pleasure? How will we produce food in the future? What kind of food will we eat, and who will decide?

In this series we dive into some topics related to the Future of Food:

Graphic shows cartoon hamburger made from alternative protein sources

Meat 2.0

Eating protein doesn't have to mean eating meat. Alternative proteins can be made from plants, fungi, or even protein grown in labs from animal cells. Are there health and ecological benefits to eating alternative proteins? For those who crave the taste and texture of traditional meat foods, how can these alternative proteins be made to reproduce those sensations?

Event: This in-person event took place in the Hill Library Fishbowl Forum on September 6, 2022 from 4:30pm to 5:30pm

giant cricket looming over city landscape

Edible Insects (Nothing to be afraid of!)

Insects are an important (and delicious!) part of many food cultures. Join Keith Harris (Associate Professor in Food, Bioprocessing, & Nutrition Sciences) and Emilize Momplaisir (Chef and Master's student, Food, Bioprocessing, & Nutrition Sciences) in a conversation about insects as a sustainable and high-quality source of protein, including the farms, food products, and future opportunities in this growing area.

Event: This in-person event took place in the Hill Library Fishbowl Forum on September 15, 2022 from 4:30pm to 5:30pm

cartoon of person contemplating genetically engineered fruit

Near-Future Genetically Engineered Foods: Prospects and Controversies

What are genetically engineered (GE) foods? Where can you find them in your local supermarket? What problems do they address, and what social and environmental challenges do they face?

Event: This in-person event took place in the Hill Library Fishbowl Forum on March 2, 2023 from 4:30pm to 5:30pm

Cartoon of skateboarding Tomato

Extreme Possibilities of Genetic Engineering

What if there were no barriers to the use of genetic engineering for food production? Could we employ microbes to turn waste streams into food, or produce transgenic headless chickens? If so, would we eat them? What impossible-seeming things are underway already? What might be possible in the future, and what *should* we do? What dangers would arise, if any? Join a group of writers and scientists for a discussion of futuristic foods.

Event: This in-person event took place in the Hill Library Fishbowl Forum on October 4, 2022 from 4:30pm to 5:30pm