Tipping Points

The Tipping Points Program explores the complexities of local food systems. Grantees collaborate with community organizations in five US cities to model aspects of regional food systems to reduce food insecurity, improve health and enhance economic outcomes.
The Tipping Points Program explores the complexities of local food systems. Grantees collaborate with community organizations in five US cities to model aspects of regional food systems to reduce food insecurity, improve health and enhance economic outcomes.

Program Contact

Dr. John Reich
jreich@foundationfar.org

Development Contact

development@foundationfar.org

This program is no longer accepting applications

Tipping Points Researchers

Alexandra Van Den Berg

Sustainable Food Center

Evaluating Food Access Strategies in Austin to Improve Healthy Food Consumption and Food Security

In Austin, Texas, the city health department funded Fresh for Less farm stands, mobile markets and healthy corner stores to increase access to affordable, healthy foods. We provided a $996,560 grant to Sustainable Food Center and Fresh for Less to study fruit and vegetable purchasing and consumption, food security and obesity. The research team also examines how long it takes for the community to adopt a new intervention.

Dr. Beth Feingold

University at Albany

Environmental and Nutritional Benefits of Food Recovery and Redistribution: A Pilot Assessment in New York’s Capital Region

City-level food recovery programs are vast networks of overlapping delivery and incentive systems that, when inefficient, fail to get fresh nutritious foods to underserved people. With a $433,152 FFAR grant, Dr. Feingold and her University at Albany team evaluate the components of fresh produce recovery and redistribution in Albany, New York. This research is also identifying local inefficiencies, opportunities for growth and system resilience through dynamic modeling.

Dr. Darcy Freedman

Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine

Modeling the Future of Food in Your Neighborhood

Many cities have initiatives to combat nutrition inequality. However, these programs are often separate and distinct even in the same city. With a FFAR grant of $936,418, Dr. Friedman and Case Western Reserve University researchers are developing decision-making tools to maximize the equitable impact of food systems efforts in Cleveland, Ohio. The team is exploring the interdependent relationships of existing initiatives within the food system.

Dr. Steven Gray

Michigan State University

Identifying Leverage Points for Transformation in Urban Food Systems

Due to Flint, Michigan’s economic decline, aid from all levels of government and various organizations poured in to decrease rates of food insecurity and malnutrition. Dr. Gray, Dr. Laura Schmitt-Olabisi and other Michigan State University researchers received a $1 million FFAR grant to determine how interventions from government and external organizations can use resources more efficiently to promote healthy and affordable food access in Flint.

Dr. Becca Jablonski

Colorado State University

Integrating Community and Modeling Efforts to Evaluate Impacts and Tradeoffs of Food System Interventions

Cities across the country are increasingly promoting food policies to support vibrant, healthy communities. However, little research examines how these policies also support the entire region. Dr. Jablonski and Colorado State University researchers received a $1 million FFAR grant to study how the proposed goals of the Denver Food Vision impact urban food security and health, as well as regional environmental, economic and farm viability outcomes.

Tipping Points Awarded Grants

Researchers Investigate the Promise of Food Procurement

Year Awarded  2023

FFAR award amount   $954,556

Total award amount   $2,023,732

Location   Fort Collins, CO

Program   Tipping Points

Matching Funders   Colorado State University, Cornell University, Glynwood Center for Regional Food and Farming, NY Farm Viability Institute and The Rockefeller Foundation

Grantee Institution   Colorado State University

FFAR Grant Advances Equitable Food Access

Year Awarded  2022

FFAR award amount   $1,000,000

Total award amount   $2,086,928

Location   Cleveland, OH

Matching Funders   Modeling the Future of Food in Your Neighborhood Study Partners

Finding the Proper Levers: Identifying Leverage Points for Tranformation in Urban Food Systems Through Participatory Modeling

Year Awarded  2020

FFAR award amount   $99,230

Total award amount   $99,230

Location   Flint, MI

Program   Tipping Points

The Latest

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Supporting low-income families during the pandemic: Can emergency feeding programs effectively provide food security during school closures?

Erin Love, Dr. Becca Jablonski, Marion Kalb

News

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Researchers Investigate the Promise of Food Procurement

FFAR Grant Advances Equitable Food Access

FFAR-Funded Study Promotes Food Security During Pandemic

FFAR Funds Emergency Research to Address Coronavirus

FFAR Awards $4.4 Million to Research Teams Working to Transform Food Systems in Colorado, Michigan, New York, Ohio and Texas to Deliver Better Health, Economic Opportunities for Urban Communities

Breakthroughs

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Emergency Food Provision for Children & Families During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Breakthrough for Integrating Community and Modeling Efforts to Evaluate Impacts and Tradeoffs of Food System Interventions

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