Document Type
Article
Abstract
Nearly two out of every five households in Rhode Island experience difficulties accessing adequate and nutritious food, falling into the category of food insecure. While it is not the responsibility of a sole organization to reverse this complex systemic issue, collaborative efforts are a step toward combating food insecurity and systems resilience through improving food literacy. When accomplished within a community, adequate food literacy can combat food insecurity. To the same effect, food insecurity may cause a lack of food literacy.
To hone in on the relationship of food literacy as it relates to food insecurity and food systems resilience, an action research study was conducted within Rhode Island. Throughout the state, food security was at its lowest in 2000, with 2.9 percent of the population being very low food secure and 6.2 percent having low food security. By 2023 rates increased with 4.3 percent being very low, and decreased to 5.4 percent being low food security. While food security issues exist, food assistance within governmental bodies, local food banks, food hubs, and specialized resources are mandatory. This action research study dives into the implementation of a collaborative food hub model outlining a pilot action plan in the state of Rhode Island to address gaps in local food access and food literacy. This research examines the social, financial, and educational benefits of university collaborative partnerships and the potential impact made on food literacy. Through research on barriers to food access, food literacy, and food systems resilience in Rhode Island, ten themes were discovered which relate to one another for the system’s success and failure. The barriers that impacted the organizations surveyed the most in this study were: cost of food, lack of educational knowledge, and consistent access to affordable food. These stem from a lack of constant, reliable funding from government and state programs, minimal farmland, staffing shortages, and the rising cost of living. The most sought after educational resources for a university collaborative organization according to the survey were culturally relevant nutrition education and financial literacy courses. Creating a university collaborative food hub pilot for universities to partner with local food organizations and promote food literacy can make a state-wide impact, and lead as an example through action for the rest of the nation.
Repository Citation
Furtado, Jocelyn, "How can university-community partnerships strengthen food literacy to improve food access and food system resilience in Rhode Island?" (2025). Student Publications. 9.
https://scholarsarchive.jwu.edu/studentpub_cfit/9
