Sustainable Food Systems Initiative

Summary

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.

Situation

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. We do this by fostering a transformative approach to food systems that brings together multiple disciplines to address key aspects of sustainability. Faculty members currently draw from the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Family and Consumer Science, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Environment and Design, the School of Public Health, Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, The School of Veterinary Medicine, and the College of Engineering. The research and instructional efforts of the Initiative are enhanced by the capacity of Cooperative Extension as well as Public Service and Outreach in providing technical support for sustainability efforts across the state with sound, science-based information and increasing faculty involvement in these issues. SFSI provides an opportunity to create an expanded network of scientists and practitioners from numerous Universities, Federal Agencies, Non-Governmental Organizations and Private Sector partners.

Response

UGA's Sustainable Food Systems Initiative (SFSI) has developed an interdisciplinary learning community of fellows in the area of integrative biosciences for sustainable food and agricultural systems. This program (with NNF funding and additional college support) is currently supporting two cohorts of masters-level students (eight total) conducting interdisciplinary research projects focused on sustainability in food systems; each fellow is mentored by an interdisciplinary faculty team. To support students in their interdisciplinary training, we initiated a monthly Sustainable Foods Speaker Series that brings together students and faculty from across campus, and a core course in Sustainable Food Systems, which has attracted students from Food Science, Anthropology, Psychology, Landscape Architecture, Environmental Planning, and Ecology in addition to the NNF Fellows. We are currently running a second core course as part of the NNF program, a writing-intensive service-learning practicum in which students critically examine sustainability in food systems through direct engagement with local food issues.

Impact

This year 4 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.

State Issue

Agricultural Profitability and Sustainability

Details

• Year: 2015
• Geographic Scope: University
• County: Clarke
• Unit, Department, or Group: Office of the Associate Dean for Academic and Faculty Affairs
• Program Areas:
  • Agriculture & Natural Resources