On behalf of UNI’s Center for Energy & Environmental Education (CEEE) and the Iowa Food System Coalition, we are thrilled to bring together leaders for the second annual Healing from the Ground Up: Iowa Summit.  

Healing from the Ground Up brings together leaders across agriculture, the food system, healthcare and public health to bridge the gaps between sustainable farming practices, clinical practice and community nutrition. At this year’s summit, we'll move from WHY food systems matter for health to HOW we can work together to drive tangible change in the state.

Last year's inaugural gathering established a shared understanding of the critical - but often overlooked - links between soil health, nutrition and human wellness. This year, we are moving from understanding to action. Attendees will engage with leading researchers and regional practitioners presenting the latest science and real-world case studies. The day-long program is explicitly designed to translate science into tangible outcomes- equipping attendees with implementable solutions they can deploy from their own distinct positions in Iowa's food and health landscape.

Tentative Agenda

8AM Breakfast/Check-in 

8:30AM Keynote 

9:30AM Panel: Iowa and Food is Medicine and Food is Health  

10:30-11AM Break/Snack

11AM Enhancing Nutrient Density in Food: Soil Health Connection 

12PM Lunch/Networking 

1PM Panel: Iowans Doing the Work 

2PM Harvesting Local Connections 

3PM Iowa Food System Coalition: Moving the Work Forward/Snack 

3:45PM Wrap-up 

Registration

Registration will be available in October! Stay tuned for speaker and panel announcements! 

Sponsorships

If you or your organization would be interested in sponsorship opportunities, please reach out to jodie.huegerich@uni.edu. Sponsorship deadline Thursday, October 15, 2026. The first fifteen sponsors will receive one, six foot table to display information about their organization.