Sustainable Food Systems Initiative

One of the grand challenges facing humanity over the next 50 years is increasing the security and resiliency of food systems for a growing world population without depleting natural resources or degrading the ecosystems on which long-term sustainability depends. Building sustainable food production, processing and distribution systems will require integrating a wide range of environmental, economic, and social issues. This approach requires a mechanism and structure to develop partnerships and collaboration for research, teaching and outreach. UGA's Sustainable Food System Initiative (SFSI) creates a physical and intellectual space for using a systems approach in 1) conducting interdisciplinary data-driven research that addresses interactions at multiple scales between food systems, the environment, and human health; 2) engaging students in interdisciplinary, experiential education; and 3) providing life-long educational opportunities to consumers and the people that support the food system. SFSI has developed an interdisciplinary learning community of fellows in the area of integrative biosciences for sustainable food and agricultural systems. It is currently supporting two cohorts of masters-level students (eight total) conducting interdisciplinary research projects focused on sustainability in food systems. This year four National Needs Fellows will be graduating with degrees in Crop and Soil Science, Housing Economics, Geography and Environmental Planning, with training in food systems studies and interdisciplinary research.