February 2003
Links among food, agriculture, health targeted in grants
SAREP grants support projects that link consumers with growers, including farmers market studies. (photo by Gail Feenstra)
DAVIS -- Linking farm-fresh food, consumers and communities is the focus of new sustainable food systems grants offered by the UC Davis-based statewide Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program (SAREP).
"The national focus on children's obesity and 'fast food' eating has underscored the need to connect agriculture and public health," said Gail Feenstra, SAREP food systems analyst. "That's why we want to help researchers look at the links among farmers, food and health, at the consolidation in the food system, and at the quality of life in California's communities."
SAREP will also fund projects that focus on social and economic analyses of food systems and policies, Feenstra said. "We want to know which ones help agriculture and communities stay economically viable and sustainable," she said.
Feenstra noted that as California continues its rapid urbanization, fewer and fewer people are connected to agriculture or understand its significance. For that reason, SAREP grants will be targeted at direct or regional marketing and distribution systems such as projects that encourage healthy eating and improve student nutrition through farmers market salad bars and school gardens.
"We have seen that farm-to-school salad bars provide young people with a locally grown nutritious diet," she said. "At the same time, getting fresh produce into the schools or other public or private institutions like hospitals or restaurants also benefits small- and medium-sized farms."
Feenstra said eco-labeling or "place-based" labeling projects for farmers and others connected to the food system would be appropriate for grants, as would projects that educate consumers about their role in sustainable food systems, or that link low-income residents with local agriculture.
Social and economic analyses projects would include those that evaluate local food systems and the effectiveness of regional marketing projects, or analyze the role of globalization on California's food system, Feenstra said.
Total funding will be approximately $80,000, with typical awards of $10,000 to $20,000. Proposals are due May 1, 2003 with grant awards allocated in July. The Request for Proposals (RFP) is posted on SAREP's Web site, www.sarep.ucdavis.edu. The site also describes projects and events funded in previous funding cycles. For more information, contact Feenstra at (530) 752-8408 or gwfeenstra@ucdavis.edu; or Bev Ransom, grants manager at (530) 754-8546 or baransom@ucdavis.edu.
Media Contacts:
Lyra Halprin, (530) 752-8664, lhalprin@ucdavis.edu
