BANNOCKBURN, ILL. — Ellen Gustafson, a former spokesperson for the U.N. World Food Program, has joined the global advisory board of the Barilla Center for Food and Nutrition. Ms. Gustafson is the founder and executive director of the 30 Project, an organization connecting global hunger and obesity and crowd-sourcing long-term food system change, as well as the co-founder and a board member of FEED Projects and the FEED Foundation, a company and non-profit that creates products that have helped provide more than 65 million school meals to children globally.

“We are honored to welcome such an inspiring and accomplished individual to our global advisory board,” said Guido Barilla, president of the B.C.F.N. and chairman of the Barilla Group. “Ellen’s significant commitment to addressing global hunger and obesity will allow her to contribute an invaluable perspective as we continue to advance our goals at the B.C.F.N.”

Established in 2009, the B.C.F.N. is a think tank dedicated to exploring global issues related to food and nutrition from a multi-disciplinary perspective. In its first three years, the B.C.F.N. has investigated a broad range of topics through published articles, indices and white papers, educational webinars, and public forums, including its annual International Forum of Food and Nutrition that will be held on November 28-29, 2012 in Milan, Italy. Most recently, the B.C.F.N. published a new book with the Worldwatch Institute called “Eating Planet 2012,” to which Ms. Gustafson contributed a written interview about improving access to nutritious foods around the world.

“I am thrilled to be working with the Barilla Center for Food and Nutrition on our joint objective of improving the nutrition of the world,” Ms. Gustafson said, “B.C.F.N.’s multi-disciplinary approach and commitment to real, open and honest dialogue about the pressing global food issues we face will help put forth strong science and smart recommendations for improving the world’s food systems.”