December 8, 2015
Abstract Deadline Extended to December 18 for Urban Food Systems Symposium (June 22-25, 2016)
The Urban Foods Systems Symposium will be held at the K-State Olathe campus June 22-25, 2016, as part of the K-State Global Food Systems Initiative. With Kansas State already a global leader among research universities addressing the global food security challenge, the symposium has already attracted an international audience. We encourage KSRE agents and specialists to showcase urban food systems-related projects that have been successfully established or implemented in your counties or districts through a poster or oral presentation. The abstracts can address research, education, and extension and/or community development programs. Even in smaller urban communities like many of the towns across Kansas, local people are playing a larger role in the food system.
The theme for the symposium is Changing the way we think about global food security. Urban food systems include a broad array of topics related to urban agriculture and the interaction of people and the food system.
Specific examples of topic areas include:
- Community Gardens
- Community and economic development
- Connecting consumers with agriculture
- Nutrition and human health of urban communities
- Urban food production systems
- Challenges of growing in urban areas
- Training for urban farmers
- Urban food distribution systems
- Urban planning and development
- Food security in cities
- Food system policy and advocacy
One of the goals of this conference is to showcase all of the excellent work going on across the K-State family. If you have participated in, or know of a program in your local county or region that speaks to the topics listed above, please consider submitting an abstract for a poster or oral presentation. Scholarships of up to $500 are available through KS-SARE for KSRE personnel to attend the conference. Contact Kerri Ebert, kebert@ksu.edu, for more information on these scholarships. The abstract submission deadline is Midnight, December 18, 2015. This is a great way to share your projects and ideas with a national and international audience and find out what else is going on across the country in food systems.
About the Symposium
The symposium brings together researchers, not-for-profit administrators, community organizers, extension professionals, students, and others, to share and gain knowledge on urban food systems and agriculture and their role in global food security. The focus is on food production and distribution in cities; urban planning and development; nutrition and human health; food policy and education; and community and economic development.
More information about the 2016 Urban Food Systems Symposium, including how to submit abstracts, is available at www.ufss2016.org, or by emailing info@ufss2016.org.