New website connects university efforts in urban food systems

Wednesday, April 13, 2022 | Written by Greg Tammen

 

OLATHE — Kansas State University is launching an online portal that showcases its far-reaching efforts in urban food systems.

The Urban Food Systems Initiative portal connects and highlights all of the university's research, academic programs, people and resources affiliated with urban food systems and the Urban Food Systems Initiative, or UFSI.

The UFSI is a universitywide, cross-disciplinary collaboration by faculty, students, extension professionals, communities and businesses focused on developing sustainable urban food systems that are inclusive, resilient, safe and diverse.

Currently, 31 faculty from 15 departments and multiple graduate students are part of the initiative.

"The urban food systems work at K-State exists across several colleges and many departments," said Candice Shoemaker, professor of urban food systems and horticultural therapy. "The UFSI was launched a few years ago to recognize and build on this work. The online portal will help us advance this initiative both internally and externally."

The portal’s content is designed with dual purpose use in mind. For example, someone outside of the university could see a highlighted feature about a student project as grounds for a potential partnership or collaboration.A prospective student, though, could see that project as a point of interest and look into the available urban food systems academic programs, which are listed on the portal, Shoemaker said.

Visit the Urban Food Systems Initiative at olathe.k-state.edu/ufsi.