UN Division for Sustainable Development

Case Study Detail Record

Organization type:	Major Groups

Submitting organization:	World Hunger Year

Affiliation:	- Non-governmental organization

Name of Focal Point:	Food Security

Initiative Title:	Food Security Learning Center

Internet links:	http://www.whyhunger.org/fslc/default.asp

Scope:	National: - United States of America

Status:	Ongoing

Timeframe:	Start: 2002 End:

Lead Institution:	World Hunger Year (WHY)

Stakeholders/Partners:	Stakeholders/Partners: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Community Food Security Coalition

Relevent issues:	- Food security and sustainable agriculture - Community-based and indigenous approaches to food production - Diversifying agricultural production systems - Agrarian reform - Capacity building - Empowerment of local rural communities

Objectives/Challenges:

The Food Security Learning Center (FSLC) was created in 2002 to serve as an online hub of information exchange for the U.S.-based food security movement, and increasingly, for international partners. To this end, the FSLC provides information on a variety of topics related to food system change, ranging from nutrition programs, to urban planning, to farm-to-cafeteria initiatives. Along with in-depth background information, the FSLC provides policy initiatives, profiles of innovative model food security programs, articles, links, and tools for action. While the FSLC serves a wide range of audiences, it is primarily geared toward NGO staff, students, educators, and community-based practitioners working on food system change.

Critical to the success of the FSLC are accessibility and usability by diverse audiences and the ability to continually provide the most current and relevant information and resources available in the areas of food security and food system change. It is also critical that the FSLC reach beyond its online audience by engaging a wide range of participants in workshops, events and projects.

Lessons Learned:

The FSLC highlights lessons learned in the U.S. food security movement though model program profiles for 13 different topics, as well as a searchable database of U.S. Department of Agriculture Community Food Project (CFP) grantees. This database, consisting of over 130 profiles of exemplary food security initiatives, enables grassroots organizations considering community food projects to learn what has worked in the past in order to plan future initiatives. Recurring themes in terms of lessons learned include the importance of community organizing, building diverse partnerships, and addressing issues of race and class in the food system.

Policy Options:

Each of the 13 main topics of the FSLC has a “Policy and Advocacy” section providing policy initiatives for ensuring access to healthy food for all people through just and sustainable local and regional food systems. These include initiatives for policy reform at the local, state, and federal levels. Each topic also includes "International Links" so visitors can find key global networks shaping policy on agriculture and rural development. Additionally, particular FSLC topics such as Land Use Planning, Community Food Assessments, and Food Policy Councils provide effective tools for communities to be informed about policy work and to develop advocacy skills.

Summary:

The Food Security Learning Center, available at www.whyhunger.org/fslc, is an online hub of information exchange for the food security movement, with detailed information on the following topics:
• Community Supported Agriculture
• Community Gardens
• Farmers' Markets
• Local & Regional Food Systems
• Farm to Cafeteria Initiatives
• Community Food Assessments
• Food Policy Councils
• Land Use Planning
• Nutrition
• Domestic Hunger & Federal Food Programs
• Rural Poverty
• Family Farms
• Migrant & Seasonal Farmworkers

The FSLC also includes a searchable database of exemplary community food projects, proving blueprints for effective community-based initiatives for food system change.

This project is supported by the Community Food Projects Competitive Grants Program of the Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.