Health-Agriculture Nexus

Why Are We Tackling Health-Agriculture Nexus Challenges?

While the US food system is highly productive, certain aspects of our food system can endanger health. One in eight Americans face food insecurity, meaning these individuals are unable to consistently attain affordable, nutritious food. Food insecurity is also closely linked to obesity, which affects more than 40 percent of the US population and leaves these individuals vulnerable to many diet-related diseases. Simultaneously, huge quantities of nutritious food is wasted regularly, and our food system is laden with processes that creating unique environmental and health challenge.

Many initiatives seek to address these challenges independently. The Health‐Agriculture Nexus Challenge Area takes systems-level approaches to address food system inefficiencies, reduce food and nutrition insecurity and improve human health.

Our Health-Agriculture Nexus research evaluates food system interactions to identify actionable solutions. The results increase access to nutritious foods, reduce food loss and waste, advance plant and animal production systems for better nutrition and affordability and address diet-related health concerns. We look to discover pioneering approaches for transitioning existing plant and animal systems, focusing on sustainably increasing capability for producing affordable nutritious food for all.

Ultimately, our research addresses food system inefficiencies and promotes production practices that improve food and nutrition security while reducing food loss and waste.