Event description

The Midwest Climate Summit is a three-day gathering of climate leaders, researchers, and professionals focused on expanding knowledge, accelerating climate action, and catalyzing new partnerships for an equitable Midwestern response to the climate crisis. With exciting options to join in person and virtually, this is a summit you won’t want to miss!

GFI will be leading an in-person workshop, “Diversifying protein production in the Midwest: Mapping how the Midwest U.S. can sustainably feed more people and usher in the next chapter of food and agriculture.” Via a participatory Midwest mapping exercise, this workshop will focus on the people and places throughout America’s Heartland that can help lead and benefit from alternative protein innovation and opportunities. What does workshop success look like? Greater understanding of and enthusiasm for protein produced in ways that slash food/ag emissions, enable healthier lands and waters, and create thriving regional bioeconomies.

Moderated by GFI’s Sheila Voss, the conversation will bring together stakeholders from across the food system:

  • Sheila Voss, Senior Vice President, Communications, The Good Food Institute
  • Ryan Blum, Founder, Alt Protein Project at University of Wisconsin–Madison
  • Dr. Victor Ujor, Assistant Professor, Department of Food Science, University of Wisconsin–Madison
  • Nicole Atchison, CEO, PURIS Holdings

Together, we’ll ask: What does it look like for the Midwest to lead in sustainable protein production? How can communities across the region benefit from these shifts? What systems, policies, and partnerships are needed to catalyze lasting change?

Event location

800 Langdon St
Madison, Wisconsin 53706 United States
+ Google Map

Meet the speaker

Sheila voss

Sheila Voss

SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, COMMUNICATIONS, GFI

Sheila Voss is the senior vice president of communications at The Good Food Institute, where she leads GFI’s global brand and engagement strategy. With more than two decades of leadership in mission-driven communication, Sheila helps connect the dots between alternative protein innovation and its benefits for climate, health, food security, and the economy. Prior to GFI, she held senior communications roles at the American Lung Association, World Wildlife Fund, and the American Heart Association. At the intersection of science, storytelling, and systems change, Sheila brings deep expertise in movement-building and strategic advocacy to drive meaningful food system transformation.

Upcoming events

View all events
An illustration of the globe with two hands reaching towards one another.  third party event featured image.
NC State University

Alternative Protein Symposium: Bridging Science and Society

Join Bruce Friedrich and our Alt Protein Project leaders from NC State, Duke University, and Virginia Tech at the Alternative Protein Symposium: Bridging Science and Society.

A family grocery shopping
Virtual Event

The Business of Alt Protein: Messaging to drive consumer adoption of plant-based foods

Join CEO of People for Better Food, Emilie Fitch, and GFI’s Associate Director of Market Insights, Jody Kirchner, to explore new research on the messaging strategies that effectively resonate with…

A group of students sitting together working on laptops
Virtual Event

Academic Research Challenge information session

Join an information session to learn more about the challenge topics and application requirements!

Https://gfi. Org/wp content/uploads/2026/03/sci26008 byapc april webinar graphics header featured
Virtual Event

Building Your Alt Protein Career: Gastronomic science

Join us to learn how gastronomic science can be translated into high-impact food solutions.

A group of students sitting together working on laptops
Virtual Event

Academic Research Challenge information session

Join an information session to learn more about the challenge topics and application requirements!

Dairy-free yogurt with berries and granola
Virtual Event

The Business of Alt Protein: Consumer taste preferences in dairy-free products

Join GFI for our next Business of Alt Protein webinar as we unveil insights from NECTAR’s new Taste of the Industry 2026 report which benchmarks consumer taste preferences across the full dairy-free…

An illustration of the globe with two hands reaching towards one another.  third party event featured image.
Virtual Event

Animal-Free Meat: The Next Agricultural Revolution

Come learn how science, policy, and industry can work together to satisfy the world’s soaring demand for meat, no animals required.

An illustration of the globe with two hands reaching towards one another.  third party event featured image.
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

The Climate Challenge & Protein Diversification for the Global South

Food systems sit at the center of the climate challenge. This DC Climate Week session brings together development finance leaders, researchers, and industry experts to explore how diversified protein production…