Join USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) for its new virtual Nutrition Security Webinar Series. The series will feature speakers across a range of backgrounds and disciplines as they lead discussions about nutrition security during and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic.
NIFA’s Nutrition Security Related Activities
NIFA supports nutrition security, defined as having consistent access, availability, and affordability of foods and beverages that promote well-being and prevent (and if needed, treat) disease, particularly among our nation’s historically underserved communities. Promoting nutrition security is a critical ingredient to containing the COVID-19 pandemic, ensuring racial justice and equity, rebuilding the rural economy, addressing the impacts of climate change, providing open markets and fair trade, and reinvigorating a competitive workforce. NIFA has used a variety of formats such as NIFA Listens, Calls to Conversation Meeting Series, and Project CAFÉ (Collaboratively Achieving Functional Excellence) to share agency overviews and gather external insights on a range of topics, including food insecurity. Launched in June 2021, NIFA launched its Nutrition Security Webinar Series to shine light on our integrated approach through research, extension and education to promote and elevate nutrition security. We are also using this series to learn from external stakeholders’ work in this area and hear from our webinar attendees how we can further our efforts to tackle food and nutrition insecurity. We invite anyone interested in learning more about NIFA’s efforts in nutrition security to register for upcoming webinars, or view past recordings.
- Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP)
- Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program (GusNIP)
- Community Food Projects (CFP)
- Food and Agriculture Service Learning Program (FASLP)
- Agricultural and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) competitive grants program A1344 Diet, Nutrition and the Prevention of Chronic Diseases.
NIFA also supports 17 additional programs that help promote nutrition security:
- 4-H Youth Development Program
- 1890 Land-Grant Institution Programs
- Enhancing Agricultural Opportunities for Military Veterans (AgVets)
- Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP)
- Children, Youth and Families at Risk (CYFAR) Program
- CYFAR 4-H Military Partnership Professional Development & Technical Assistance (CMPC-PDTA)
- Federally-Recognized Tribes Extension Program (FRTEP)
- National Center for Home Food Preservation
- Hispanic-Serving Institutions Education Grants Program (HSI)
- Master Gardener Program, as well as Master Health and Master Food Preserver Programs
- New Technologies for Ag Extension (NTAE)
- Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative (OREI)
- Regional Rural Development Centers (RRDC)
- Rural Health & Safety Education (RHSE) Program
- Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program
- Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) Program
- Economics, Markets, and Trade.
A key ingredient to our nutrition security activities is developing and leveraging a diverse, interdisciplinary workforce through our support of AAAS Science and Technology Policy Fellowships, Internship Program, USDA 1890 National Scholars Program, USDA NIFA Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Education and Workforce Program, USDA NIFA Higher Education Multicultural Scholars Program (MSP), among others.
NIFA’s External Engagement Efforts
NIFA has used a variety of formats such as NIFA Listens, Calls to Conversation Meeting Series, and Project CAFÉ (Collaboratively Achieving Functional Excellence) to share agency overviews and gather external insights on a range of topics, including food insecurity.
Webinars
NIFA launched the series with a June 24th, 2021 webinar featuring an introduction from former NIFA Director Dr. Carrie Castille. Panelists from the NIFA Nutrition Security Team shared an overview of the agency’s current and future contributions to help accelerate prioritizing nutrition security both during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. A live Q&A discussion featured questions from an audience of over 200 attendees.
More details will be announced on future NIFA Nutrition Security webinars. We invite anyone interested in learning more about NIFA’s efforts in nutrition security to register for upcoming webinars, or view past recordings:
NIFA Food and Nutrition Security Webinar: An Overview of NIFA’s Food Loss and Waste Relevant Funding Opportunities
Date & Time: Tuesday, June 13, 2023 at 1:00 to 2:30 pm ET
Moderators:
- Suzanne Stluka, PhD, NIFA Deputy Director, Institute of Food Safety and Nutrition
- Rebekah Hanson, MS, NIFA Program Specialist, Division Agricultural Systems, Institute Food Production and Sustainability
- Taylor Reed, MS, NIFA Program Specialist, Division of Plant Systems Protection, Institute of Food Production and Sustainability
Panelists:
- Jean Buzby, PhD, USDA Food Loss and Waste Liaison
- Vicki Finkenstadt, PhD, NIFA National Program Leader, Division of Bioenergy, Institute of Bioenergy, Climate and Environment
- Charlotte Tuttle, PhD, NIFA National Program Leader, Division of Agricultural Systems, Institute of Food Production and Sustainability
- Lydia Kaume, PhD, RDN, NIFA National Program Leader, Division of Nutrition, Institute of Food Safety and Nutrition
- Helen Chipman, PhD, RDN NIFA National Program Leader, Division of Nutrition, Institute of Food Safety and Nutrition
- Ashley Mueller, PhD, National Program Leader, Division of Consumer and Family Services, Institute of Youth, Family and Community
Details:
Relevant Resources
IBCE Programs
- A1531 Biorefining and Bioengineering (joint with IFPS) within AFRI
IFPS Programs
- A1641 Economics, Markets and Trade within AFRI
- A1642 Social Implications of Emerging Technologies within AFRI
IFSN Programs
- Food and Agriculture Service-Learning Program (FASLP) National Institute of Food and Agriculture
- Community Food Projects Competitive Grants Program | National Institute of Food and Agriculture (usda.gov)
IYFC Programs
- 1890 Institution Teaching, Research and Extension Capacity Building Grants (CBG) Program | National Institute of Food and Agriculture (usda.gov)
- Alaska Native-Serving and Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions (ANNH) Competitive Education Grants
- Resident Instruction Grants for Institutions of Higher Education in Insular Areas (RIIA) programs
- Tribal Extension Grant Program | National Institute of Food and Agriculture (usda.gov)
- Federally-Recognized Tribes Extension Program | National Institute of Food and Agriculture (usda.gov)
National 4-H Conference Nutrition Security Roundtable Team Youth Perspectives on Tackling Food and Nutrition Insecurity
Date & Time: August 23rd 2022 at 5:00 PM to 6PM ET
Panelists:
- Kate McHale, N4HC College Liaison, New York (Moderator)
- Abby Frizzell, Arkansas
- Madeline Hall, Connecticut
- Krysten Hood, Florida
- Mindy Moradi, Oregon
- Sara Newsome, Ohio
- Logan Pickhinke, Iowa
- Carrington Robertson, Alabama
- Claire Turpel, Massachusetts
- Anita Van, Minnesota
Additional National 4H Conference Nutrition Security Team Members
- Tamiyah Davis, Missouri
- Leah Szczepanski, Georgia
- Allyson Aves, Illinois
- Kacie Clark, Arkansas
NIFA 4-H and Youth Development Staff
- Shannon Horrillo, PhD, Division Director for Youth and 4-H
- Jeff Sallee, PhD, Acting Division Director of Family and Consumer Services
- Annie Ceccarini, National Program Leader in the Division of Youth and 4-H
- Maurice Smith, Jr, PhD, National Program Leader in the Division of Community and Education
- Bonita Williams, PhD, National Program Leader in the Division of Youth and 4-H
- Christopher Petty, MS, Program Specialist in the Division of Youth, and 4-H
- Keesha Corbin, MPH, Program Specialist in the Division of Youth, and 4-H
- Andrea Wikiera, Program Specialist in the Division of Youth and 4-H
Details
EFNEP: A Model of Cooperation and Collaboration, Resulting in Improved Nutritional Health and Wellbeing of Families with Limited Financial Resources
Date & Time: July 18th 2022 2:00 PM to 3:30 PM ET
Panelists
- Dr. Helen Chipman, NIFA National Program Leader for Food and Nutrition Education, Institute of Food Safety and Nutrition, Division of Nutrition
- Dr. Carinthia Cherry, NIFA National EFNEP Coordinator, Institute of Food Safety and Nutrition, Division of Nutrition
- Ms. Shewana McSwain, MS, EFNEP Nutrition Outreach Coordinator, North Carolina A&T University
- Ms. Catalina Aragón, MS, Public Health Nutrition Specialist, Washington State University
Details
NIFA Nutrition Security Webinar Series - An App And A Carrot: An Overview Of The Evolution And Impacts Of VeggieBook
Date & Time: June 7th, 2022 at 3:30 pm to 5:00 pm ET
Panelists
- Dr. Susan Evans, Research Scientist, University of Southern California
- Dr. Peter Clarke, Professor Emeritus of Communication, University of Southern California
Details
Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program: Overview, Impacts & Opportunities
Date: April 26, 2022
Speakers: Mallory Koenings, Amy Yaroch, Holly A. Parker, Hilary Seligman, & Carmen Byker Shanks
Breakout Room Facilitators: Adrienne Udarbe & Ian Finch
Internships: Perspectives from NIFA Nutrition Security Team Members
Date: March 29, 2022
Speakers: Ryan Kornegay, Giselle Caceres; Prali Chitnis; Jodi Williams; “Steve” Shoushan Zeng
Honoring and Celebrating Black History Month: The Role of Registered Dietitian Nutritionists and Other Allied Health Professionals
Date: February 23, 2022
Speakers: Lydia Kaume, Sara Bleich, Elizabeth Campbell, Lyndi Buckingham-Schutt, Judith Camele Anglin, Angie Tagtow, Alison Brown, Deirdra Chester, Cheryl Jackson-Lewis
Prioritizing Nutrition Security: Cooperative Extension's National Framework for Health Equity and Well-Being
Date: January 25, 2022
Speakers: Suzanne Stluka, Dawn Burton, Mike Gutter, Latoya O’Neal, Roger Rennekamp, and Erin Yelland
Strengthening Intersections between Climate Change, Food Systems, and Nutrition Security: NIFA's Aims & Activities
Date: October 20, 2021
Speakers: Keesha Corbin (moderator), Robert Godfrey, Kevin Kephart, Emma Moran, Amy Ganguli, Lydia Kaume, and Megan O’Rourke.
Prioritizing Nutrition Security: Emerging Approaches in Research and Practice
Date: September 27, 2021
Panelists:
- Sheila Fleischhacker, PhD, JD, RDN, NIFA National Science Liaison - Nutrition and Food Safety and NIFA Nutrition Security Team Lead
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Dariush Mozaffarian, MD, DrPH, Dean, Friedman School of Nutrition Science & Policy, Tufts University
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Emily Engelhard, MA, Managing Director of Thought Leadership in Research, Feeding America
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Los Angeles County Public Health Nutrition & Physical Activity Program Team
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Julia Caldwell, PhD, MPH, Chief Research Analyst
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Dipa Shah-Patel, MPH, RD, Director
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Kelly Warner, MPH, RD, Program Manager
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Angela Odoms-Young, PhD, Associate Professor, Cornell University
Webinar Materials:
- Watch recorded video on YouTube
- Download Presentation Slides
- See event details
- Promotional flyer
- Speaker bios
Prioritizing Nutrition Security: NIFA Elevates Youth and Families
Date: August 31, 2021
Panelists:
- Cassandra Huey, PhD, Program Specialist in the Division of Community and Education and NIFA Nutrition Security Team Executive Coordinator
- Brent Elrod, MS, Acting Director of the Division of Family and Consumer Sciences (at the time of the presentation)
- Keith Harris, PhD, National Program Leader in the Division of Family and Consumer Sciences
- Keesha Corbin, MPH, Program Specialist in the Division of Youth and 4-H
- Crystal Kyle, PhD, Biological Science Specialist in the Division of Family and Consumer Sciences
- Christopher Petty, MS, Program Specialist in the Division of Youth and 4-H
- Jeff Sallee, PhD, National Program Leader in the Division of Youth and 4-H
- Jessica Turner, PhD, Biological Science Specialist in the Institute of Youth, Families and Community
- Sydney Turner, BA, Program Specialist in the Division of Family and Consumer Sciences
- Bonita Williams, PhD, National Program Leader in the Division of Youth and 4-H
Webinar Materials:
Prioritizing Nutrition Security: NIFA’s Role in Cultivating Future Farmers and Ranchers
Date: July 28, 2021
Panelists:
- Cassandra Huey, PhD, Program Specialist in the Division of Community and Education and Executive Coordinator NIFA Nutrition Security Team
- Desiree Rucker, Program Specialist in the Division of Agricultural Systems
- Sara Cross, Mudbone Grown, LLC
Webinar Materials:
NIFA Nutrition Security: An Overview of Current Activities & Aims
Date: June 24, 2021
Panelists:
- Sheila Fleischhacker, PhD, JD, RDN, National Science Liaison – Nutrition and Food Safety and NIFA Nutrition Security Team Co-Lead
- Carrie Castille, PhD, Director
- Helen Chipman, PhD, RDN, National Program Leader in the Division of Nutrition
- Mallory Koenings, PhD, RDN, National Program Leader in the Division of Nutrition
- Lydia Kaume, PhD, RDN, National Program Leader in the Division of Nutrition
- Lisa Jahns, PhD, RDN, National Program Leader in the Division of Nutrition
- Giselle Caceres, MPH Candidate, NIFA Intern
Webinar Materials:
