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NIFA’s Nutrition Security Webinar Series

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 ListensCalls 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.

NIFA also supports 17 additional programs that help promote nutrition security:

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:

Event 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

IYFC Programs


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

Event 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

Event 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 ChitnisJodi 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 KaumeSara 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 StlukaDawn BurtonMike GutterLatoya O’NealRoger 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 GodfreyKevin KephartEmma MoranAmy GanguliLydia Kaume, and Megan O’Rourke.


Prioritizing Nutrition Security: Emerging Approaches in Research and Practice

Date: September 27, 2021

Panelists:

Webinar Materials:


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:

 

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