From Plate to Planet: New Summit Redefines Food, Health & Future

SAN DIEGO, CA – April 22, 2026 – A groundbreaking global conference is set to convene in San Diego this May, aiming to reframe the conversation around food by connecting what is on our plates to the health of both people and the planet. The Plantrician Project, a nonprofit known for its decade of work in clinical nutrition education, has announced its inaugural Power Of The Plate Conference, taking place from May 14-17, 2026, at the Loews Coronado Bay Resort. The event signals a major strategic expansion, moving beyond the clinic to unite a diverse array of global leaders—from scientists and clinicians to farmers, policymakers, and innovators—to forge a new path for food, health, and sustainability.

For more than a decade, the organization's International Plant-Based Nutrition Healthcare Conference (PBNHC) stood as a premier medical education event, equipping healthcare professionals with the science of using nutrition to prevent and reverse chronic disease. The Power Of The Plate Conference builds on this respected legacy, widening its lens from individual patient care to what organizers call a "whole-system transformation."

A Strategic Evolution Beyond Clinical Walls

The shift from a clinical-centric model to a holistic systems approach reflects a growing global understanding that human health is inextricably linked to the environment and the complex web of food production. The new conference is designed to break down the silos that have long separated medicine, agriculture, environmental policy, and public health.

"The plate is not only where nourishment begins—it is where systems converge," said Scott Stoll, MD, FABFM, co-founder and Chief Medical Officer of The Plantrician Project. "What we eat influences chronic disease, environmental outcomes, and the resilience of our communities." This perspective is the driving force behind the expanded mission, which seeks to empower a broad coalition of changemakers with evidence-based knowledge.

The event's agenda moves beyond prescribing diets to examining the entire food journey—from soil to consumption. It will explore how the methods used to grow, produce, and distribute food shape individual health outcomes, ecological stability, local economies, and community well-being. By maintaining its commitment to providing Continuing Medical Education (CME) and Continuing Education (CE) credits, the conference ensures it remains a vital resource for clinicians while simultaneously opening its doors to a wider audience crucial for systemic change.

The Science of Soil and Health

Central to the conference's expanded vision is a foundational collaboration with the Rodale Institute, a pioneer in the regenerative organic agriculture movement. This partnership is built upon the insights of their joint white paper, The Power of the Plate: The Case for Regenerative Organic Agriculture in Improving Human Health. The paper argues that the modern industrial food system has contributed to both environmental degradation and a surge in lifestyle-related diseases.

The research highlights a critical disconnect: while chronic diseases like diabetes and heart disease have risen, the nutrient density of many crops has declined. The paper posits that a solution lies in a "regenerative health" model that integrates regenerative organic agriculture with a whole-foods, plant-based diet. The core principle is simple yet profound: healthy soil leads to healthy food, which in turn leads to healthy people and a healthier planet.

Regenerative agriculture focuses on farming and grazing practices that rebuild soil organic matter and restore degraded soil biodiversity. This approach contrasts sharply with industrial methods that can deplete soil and require heavy chemical inputs. By bridging the gap between clinical nutrition and agricultural science, The Power Of The Plate Conference aims to make the health of the soil a central concern for healthcare professionals, and the health of patients a key consideration for food producers.

A Global Movement with California Roots

The choice of San Diego as the host city is no coincidence. California is increasingly recognized as a hub for innovation in lifestyle medicine, sustainable food systems, and preventive health. The conference will spotlight this regional influence by featuring a strong cohort of California-based experts.

Speakers include Sharon Palmer, a registered dietitian known for her ability to translate complex nutrition science into practical, sustainable guidance. Also featured are Drs. Dean and Ayesha Sherzai, renowned neurologists and co-directors of the Alzheimer's Prevention Program, who have advanced the use of lifestyle strategies for promoting brain health. They are joined by Dr. Sean Hashmi, a leading voice in lifestyle medicine with expertise in cardiometabolic and kidney health. Their collective work underscores the region's deep well of knowledge in using food as medicine.

Beyond the speakers, San Diego itself is a living laboratory for the conference's themes. The region is home to a growing number of regenerative farms and urban agriculture initiatives. Programs like the California Department of Food and Agriculture's Healthy Soils Program are providing financial incentives to local farmers for implementing practices such as cover cropping and no-till farming. Meanwhile, institutions like San Diego City College are training a new generation of organic practitioners through its Sustainable Urban Agriculture program, directly contributing to improved community health and food access. These local efforts provide a tangible backdrop for the global conversations set to take place.

Redefining the Future of Food Systems

The Power Of The Plate Conference enters a global arena where the call for food system transformation is growing louder. Major international bodies, including the United Nations and the World Economic Forum, have hosted summits aimed at building healthier, more equitable, and sustainable food systems. These initiatives have brought stakeholders together to generate commitments for achieving global development goals.

What distinguishes The Plantrician Project's approach is its unique evolutionary path—growing directly out of a decade of rigorous medical education. This foundation provides a powerful and credible bridge between the healthcare community and the broader fields of agriculture, policy, and economics. The conference is not merely about discussing food systems in the abstract; it is about equipping doctors, nurses, and dietitians with the knowledge to advocate for agricultural and policy changes that will directly benefit their patients' health.

By bringing together a diverse group of experts under one roof, the event aims to foster unprecedented collaboration. The goal is to create a unified voice and a clear, science-backed roadmap for a future where food is a source of regeneration for both human and planetary health. As leaders from disparate fields gather in San Diego, the inaugural Power Of The Plate Conference represents a pivotal moment—a deliberate and strategic effort to harness the power of food to heal on a systemic scale.