Abstract

Our project aims to increase awareness of food insecurity on campus and to coordinate efforts to address the issue. To begin this process, we will design a comprehensive website to provide up-to-date information on various food-related resources available on campus. The easy to navigate website will clearly and concisely provide information for students, faculty, and staff – and help foster connections between members of the OSU community who share food cultures and food interests. In the long run, we hope to gain institutional and financial support to develop multi-disciplinary campus programs and initiatives focused on food studies, food justice, and sustainability. 

Next steps for AY 2023-2024

• Plan and launch website that includes:
  • Comprehensive, easy-to-access guide to food security resources:
    • On-campus
    • In Stillwater
    • From the government
  • Guides for OSU faculty and staff to identify and address food insecurity 
    among students
  • OSU sustainability resources
  • Information about preparing affordable, sustainable meals
  • Definitions of key terms, including: food security, food cultures, food sovereignty, food justice, sustainability, and degrowth
  • A community forum that allows OSU community members to connect based on shared culinary interests and /or dietary needs
• Apply for funding to grow food-related initiatives
• Offer food history course in Spring 2024 that will include content on food cultures, 
  food sovereignty, and food justice and allow students to grow and produce their 
  own food
• Work with the university to overhaul leftover food policy after HB1542 goes into 
  effect on November 1, 2023

Anticipated Deliverables

5-Year Goals:

Building on existing programs -- and in collaboration with partners on and off campus --we hope to:

• Conduct extensive needs assessment to figure out how to better address food security and food sovereignty issues on campus
• Expand the Pete's Pantry network, and ensure that it offers a variety of fresh produce, as well as culturally appropriate food
• Establish a community dinner program that is attentive to food justice and sustainability
• Grow existing campus sustainability efforts to reduce food waste
  • Build a frozen meals program that packages unserved dining hall food into free, frozen meals
  • Expand composting efforts
• Found an OSU chapter of Plant Futures -- a network of undergraduate students at campuses across America who are interested in working in sustainable food jobs after college
• Develop interdisciplinary, community-engaged food studies courses within humanities departments on campus
• Grow campus community garden network

10-Year Goals:

We plan to continue growing a vibrant community of OSU students, staff, and faculty who are dedicated to food justice and sustainability. In the longer term, we hope to:

• Fund a teaching kitchen with classes that are open to all students, free of charge
• Establish a zero food waste program and goal date for a zero food waste campus
• Create a trans-disciplinary Food Studies Center and certificate program