As part of New York Climate Week 2026, CookUnity is bringing together leaders from across the food ecosystem to explore how businesses, nonprofits, chefs, and technology partners can work together to reduce food surplus, combat food insecurity, and build more resilient communities. The event will also celebrate two important milestones made possible by our chefs, teams, and partners: 1.4 M+ lbs of food donated 5 M+ insulated bags reused Through conversations with industry leaders and partners, we'll share practical examples of how better operations, technology, collaboration, and innovation can prevent food waste and transform surplus into meaningful community impact. PANEL 1 - FROM PREVENTION TO RECOVERY "Designing Food Systems That Prevent Food Waste and Nourish Communities” How can we design food systems that prevent waste before it happens—and ensure that unavoidable surplus reaches people rather than landfills? Through CookUnity's demand-driven, chef-powered model, the conversation will explore the role of procurement, forecasting, food safety, technology & AI, operational excellence, and chefs in creating a more efficient and responsible food system. PANEL 2 - SCALING IMPACT THROUGH PARTNERSHIP “Building the Network Behind Every Donated Meal” No organization can solve food insecurity alone. CookUnity's nonprofit community and innovation partners will share how collaboration transforms surplus into community impact—and what it takes to build a food recovery network that can scale while remaining locally relevant. We'll explore scalable nonprofit partnerships, community-led recovery, innovative recovery pathways, and emergency response during climate-related crises, highlighting how different types of surplus can be matched with the right solution to maximize impact. CELEBRATION - IMPACT MADE TOGETHER We'll close the event by recognizing the chefs, nonprofit organizations, community partners, and teams behind two milestones: More than 1 million lbs of food donated + more than 5 million bags reused. Followed by a cocktail reception and networking with speakers, partners, chefs, and leaders from across the food ecosystem.