Emerald Izuakor

Emerald Izuakor joined the Global Food Research program for the inaugural 2022 FERN summer fellowship between her first and second years at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. While here, Emerald conducted a literature review exploring the effects of elevated atmospheric CO₂ on the nutrient density of food.

She has been passionate about food and nutrition from an early age and is interested in the intersectionality of food, culture, nutrition, and medicine. Some of Emerald’s previous experiences include writing a research paper for the World Food Prize that explored the environmental plight of the people of the Niger Delta due to unregulated oil extraction. She also went on to complete the Borlaug Ruan Internship in conjunction with Universidad EARTH in Costa Rica, focusing on tropical regenerative agriculture. These programs furthered her interest in understanding the interdisciplinary nature of international food systems. 

My family’s holiday favorites are … Nigerian Meat Pies and Goat Meat Pepper Soup.

My favorite combination of food and drink is … Tacos and Piña Jarritos.

My favorite foods for summer are… Muscadine grapes, rosewater lemonade, and watermelon.

Favorite quote related to food: “’Go on, have a pasty,’ said Harry, who had never had anything to share before or, indeed, anyone to share it with. It was a nice feeling, sitting there with Ron, eating their way through all Harry’s pasties, cakes, and candies (the sandwiches lay forgotten).” — Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.