October 2000
Food security symposium brings UC, community experts to the table
Food security will bring UC experts to the table for a two-day symposium at UC Berkeley that will showcase some of the innovative ways local groups are addressing hunger in their communities, while linking them with experts working to increase food security.
The Community Food Security Symposium begins at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, October 10, at UC Berkeley’s Clark Kerr Conference Center. Speakers from UC Cooperative Extension, the university’s outreach arm; federal, state and local agencies; and a variety of social welfare and food policy organizations will discuss farm-to-school programs linking small farmers with school lunch programs; community gardening projects serving families and young people; farmers markets and food stamp programs; and the political context of hunger in low-income communities.
"Achieving food security—adequate, nutritious and locally available food—in California’s communities will require partnerships among nutritionists, agricultural economists, farmers, community health advocates, state agency officials and consumers" says Gail Feenstra, food systems analyst with the UC Davis-based statewide Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program (SAREP), a conference cosponsor. "This symposium will bring these groups to the table and may lead to new collaborations." Particular attention will be paid, she says, to strategies for reducing food insecurity that also benefit farmers with small and medium-sized operations. "UC can help consumers understand the benefits of nutritious, locally produced food, which in turn helps create markets for small farmers," she says.
The program includes opening remarks from Lucia Kaiser, co-chair of the Food Security Workgroup in the UC Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources, and W. R. "Reg" Gomes, UC vice president--agriculture and natural resources.
Also speaking October 10 are:
- Jan Poppendieck, Hunter College (New York City) and author of Sweet Charity, on the underlying causes of hunger and political and policy contexts;
- James Wyle, Food Research and Action Center (Washington, D.C.), on food policy and funding to promote food security;
- Kathy Lawrence, Just Food (New York City), on community response to improving food security; and
- Lucrecia Farfan-Ramirez, UC Cooperative Extension director (Alameda County), and Estella West, UC Cooperative Extension family and consumer advisor (Santa Clara County), on sharing partnership strategies.
In small discussion groups, researchers and advisors with SAREP and Cooperative Extension will join forces with representatives from Santa Clara Social Services, Contra Costa Department of Public Health, Greenbelt Alliance and other agencies to explore farmer-to-consumer direct marketing in low-income communities; sustainable urban agriculture; the role of education in achieving food security; school gardens; and innovations in food assistance programs.
The program also includes a food security tour from 8 a.m. to noon on Wednesday, October 11, with visits to the SHARE Northern California Warehouse, Garden Patch-Berkeley Youth Alternative and Berkeley Bowl Grocery. Tour participants will learn about the links between food security and cooperative food buying, community mobilization, community gardens and revitalization of abandoned supermarkets.
The symposium registration fee is $50; continuing education units are available. Cosponsors include SAREP, the Food Security Workgroup, Food Stamp Nutrition Education Program and USDA. To register contact Estella West (408) 299-2635, ext. 1007, eawest@ucdavis.edu.
Media Contacts:
Lyra Halprin, (530) 752-8664, lhalprin@ucdavis.edu
