Partnership will drive next level efforts to reduce hunger, food waste, barriers to food access, and food deserts
NSF Convergence Accelerator Graphic
Image Credit: National Science Foundation
A University of Maryland team has been awarded $750K to address the complex and interconnected challenges of food and nutrition security here in Maryland. The award is part of an $11M investment through the National Science Foundation Convergence Accelerator program which brings together multi-disciplinary teams to seek solutions to national challenges.
Led by Stephanie Lansing, professor in UMD’s College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (AGNR), the MD based team will create the Mid-Atlantic Food Resiliency Network (MFRN) in an effort to reduce hunger, food waste, barriers to food access, and food deserts. This unique convergence model will meld ideas, approaches, and technologies from a wide field of knowledge across the University of Maryland, including agriculture, business, engineering, information studies, and resident life. This network will be strengthened through an external partnership with the Prince George’s County Food Equity Council.
“Through support from the Convergence Accelerator, we aim to take our research around food and nutrition security to the next level,” Lansing said. “We will integrate many different parts and really hone in on the work that is being done across this spectrum at UMD, which we hope will result in a collaborative, convergence model that can make a real difference here in Maryland, with the ability to replicate throughout the Mid-Atlantic.”
