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There is a lack of models and tools that are representative of the complexity that comes with exploring solutions to hunger related challenges and all the systems interconnected with it. We need tools and models that acknowledge these interconnections, and that are able to holistically quantify the impact of adopting different policies. There are trade offs found in prioritizing health vs equity; group members suggest incentivizing healthy choices rather than restricting SNAP users. Group members supported the idea of food sovereignty and food justice, due to evidence that suggests that when p... Read moreeople have a choice they often feel more free to make healthy choices. Elevating efforts to advance equity can positively impact the other pillars. There are trade-offs between short-term versus long-term solutions for reaching zero hunger. Representing short-term solutions, focusing on increasing the eligibility and benefits of the SNAP program (in the context of the U.S.), as well as maintaining low food prices nationwide is presented as a viable solution for immediately addressing American food insecurity. Representing long-term solutions, focusing on changing the economic policies and systems of the United States so that wealth inequalities decrease overtime is presented as a viable long term solution for addressing American food insecurity. While it could be useful to do both simultaneously, some solutions are at odds. For example: immediate solutions, like availability of cheap food, often times that is more highly processed and lower in nutrients, cause ‘low diversity’ on plates (not enough variety of healthy and available foods) which leads to ruptures in long term sustainability (ex: soil health, water cleanliness) as well as a health cost. Having a long term view allows us to understand the real cost of cheap food on health/nutrition, resilience, sustainability, and equity, making systems level solutions worth the investment over time. TLDR: opposing viewpoints on whether solutions which focus on supplementary nutrition assistance programs as a solution to hunger, or solutions which focus on the root causes of hunger as it links to equity, health, systemic racism, etc., are more valuable. Some group members view innovative solutions including urban agriculture and food banks to decrease food waste, and/or increase food availability as good priorities, while others criticize these as not on a large enough scale to solve the problem. However, localized and diversified systems are much more effective for alleviating food insecurity. Identified a need for more research on the trade-offs of different models of agriculture. Read less

Science-policy communication: This session focused on the relationship between systems-thinking and storytelling. It is difficult to capture a complex system in a narrative, but it is doable. It is important to have a “story bank” of useful narratives to pull from. Additionally, it is important to select good storytellers. The best storytellers are not the academics and experts of the field, but the people who live within and experience the systems. Stories must encompass the whole system--many stories try to break up the system and describe only fragments of it, leading to inaccurate stor... Read moreies (e.g. farmers are the key to fixing hunger). It may be simpler to show a fragment- who is hungry-, but needs to go beyond and shift to why they are hungry. There needs to be an increased focus on discovering why hunger persists and what the systemic issues are. Story-telling hunger provides an opportunity to explain a complex system that isn’t always included in the narrative- the SDGs. Story suggestion: there are statistics about minority farmers in the U.S. and systeming challenges against them, but no one is telling this as a story. (Black farmers were also mentioned in topic 3). Read less

Stakeholder engagement & trade-offs: In this session, participants examined the definition of ‘Stakeholder’ within the context of food insecurity systems. In tackling issues of food insecurity, it is vital for individuals to recognize their multifaceted role as consumers, stakeholders, and agents of change in their communities. The most effective ways to bring about transformative stakeholder change within American food systems is to start organizing at the grassroots level, as well as to utilize the value of pathos and storytelling to engage people in supporting the fight for zero hun... Read moreger. As organizing can be difficult due to varying levels of access within communities, the group discussed existing barriers people may have for engaging stakeholders, and expressed the need to acknowledge power imbalances which prevent active change from occuring in the United States. The discussion ended with brainstorming specific policies to enact communal change, such as the USDA partnering with and supporting Black farmers to alleviate food insecurity in the country’s largest food deserts (which are primarily composed of American BIPOC communities). Read less

Evaluation metrics: It is necessary to approach hunger while also acknowledging the other connected issues that Americans are facing. We cannot fix food insecurity without fixing parallel issues that are tightly interconnected with hunger. Additionally, data is inconsequential if we are unable to facilitate change on complex, interconnected issues. Some discussion members argued that a greater focus on research and information gathering distracts from acting on hunger based on what we already know to be the root causes and solutions. The evaluation and metrics side of hunger can correspond to ... Read morethe four values in order to broaden the way in which we view hunger in the US. Hunger can be examined at the individual, household, local, and national level. Do they differ? Is it worth it to examine hunger on different levels if the end goal remains the same? Is current national data the best measure of hunger? Is examining heterogeneities or homogeneities more effective for systemically implementing food security? Participants also suggested the examination of rural vs. urban perspectives. Read less

Tools and models: Tools and models can be useful in supporting evidence-based decision making related to addressing hunger-related challenges. They can aid in the evaluation of different policy interventions. However, these tools do not necessarily offer a holistic assessment of the impact that might be expected by adopting different scenarios. For example, impact on GDP is not does not cover the complete impact of a scenario, unless paired with other development indexes (ex: Human Development Index) and social-economic metrics which can better assist researchers in creating more effective pro... Read moregrams. Read less

Hunger must be recognized as an equity issue and in order to do so, researchers must get to the root causes of food insecurity. These issues include poverty, systemic racism, income levels, gender disparities, age gaps, and many other societal factors. By addressing these and increasing access to resources, through a holistic and multidimensional approach to equity that takes into consideration people and their vulnerabilities, food insecurity is likely to decline. Increasing multidimensional efforts at the community level will ensure that local buy-in is supported. Community efforts can inclu... Read morede grassroots advocacy, community gardens, local health centers and locations where people are able to safely gather and learn about food systems. In order to promote resilience, our response to COVID-19 requires a systems thinking approach concerning the investment in sustainable communities in the United States. Efforts need to be taken to ensure we don’t just recover to pre-pandemic levels of food security, but rather are able to create systems that are sustainable and resilient long term and can anticipate shocks like COVID-19, extreme drought or natural disasters from climate change, etc. There is room to improve health education by highlighting food as medicine and teaching about the health effects of food insecurity. Identify who the “story tellers” are to create effective science policy communication. The best storytellers are not the academics and experts of the field, but the people who live within and experience the systems. Ensure that stories encompass the whole system, and answers the question of why this problem persists. In addition to identifying storytellers, interdisciplinary researchers also play a role, in close coordination with cross-sectoral stakeholders, in developing evidence to support informed decision making by policy makers. Read less

The Zero Hunger Pathways Project (ZHPP) is a collaboration that applies a systems approach to end hunger in the United States. The collaborative aims to chart equitable, resilient, and sustainable pathways to profoundly improve availability, accessibility, utilization and stability of healthy food for all. Dialogue 3: Trade-Offs Evaluation and Science-Policy Communication focused on identifying: 1) tools and models to evaluate pathways for improving food and nutrition security in the US; 2) multi-faceted evaluation metrics that reflect food systems sustainability, equitability, resilience, and... Read more health outcomes; 3) mechanisms and barriers for proper stakeholder engagement and trade-off dialogue; 4) mechanisms and barriers for science-policy communication. This event brought together cross-disciplinary scientists and expert groups as well as cross-sectoral stakeholders and policy makers. Read less

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Much of the discussion focused on Track 1 and 4. Our event included a panel discussion and breakout rooms. All attendees actively participated in the conversation with other leading experts in the areas of food security, environmental sustainability, hunger and other facets of the food systems. Panelists include: Dr. Yanna Liang Professor and Chair, UAlbany Department of Environmental and Sustainable Engineering Kate Shearer Director, Corporate Responsibility Solution Design, Sodexo North America Dr. James Malatras '99, '00, '08 Chancellor, SUNY Dr. Marion Terenzio President, SUNY Cobleskill B... Read morereakout Room topics included food waste, food access, food quality, food utilization and food transportation. Our focus was how to make the food system in higher education function equitably, practically and sustainably. Read less