Consolidating Patchwork Approaches to Food Insecurity
Flint, Michigan faces food insecurity and malnutrition crises due to the city’s multi-decade economic downturn. The current food system in Flint is a patchwork of local, state, federal and philanthropic programs all attempting to address the needs of residents from multiple angles. While this approach can be resourcefulness and resilient, little is known about how these many food programs can be brought together to vastly improve outcomes for programs and residents.
The Community Foundation of Greater Flint (CFGF) is collaborating with Michigan State University (MSU) and Flint Fresh to develop a community-based research project that seeks to model food systems in the Flint metro area to reduce inefficiencies and support collective action that results in healthy and affordable food access for all.
These partners are engaging in a series of workshops to better understand how the Flint food system currently functions, major barriers for change and how the food system can be improved for the future. This will allow the researchers to integrate qualitative data on resilience, governance structures and household food security with quantitative data on food system functioning, price and access to develop interactive models that provide a more holistic understanding of the Flint food system.
Why this research is important
Interventions in Flint’s food system have focused on emergency food, but there has been little attention given to improving the underlying structure and function of the food system, particularly for poor and low-income households. This research is developing the knowledge to empower Flint communities and local government.
Communities
Empowerment to provide input on community needs and how food system interventions have succeeded or failed in the past
Stable food system and effective food and nutrition programs that use resources more efficiently
Focused and coordinated interventions that improve access to affordable and nutritious food and promote healthy eating habits
Policymakers
System-level analytics of the current Flint food system and research reports that identify clear leverage points for change