The Centre for Food Policy is holding a public seminar on creating a US food system based on “food with values” rather than "cheap food.”
The speaker is Andy Fisher, leading US expert on community food security and author of Big Hunger: The Unholy Alliance between Corporate America and Anti-Hunger Groups.
The US federal government spends roughly $85 billion on 15 nutrition programs annually - on school meals, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and others. Just the SNAP program alone makes up roughly 10% of the amount that Americans spend on groceries. These programs are integrally linked through the work of government, food industry, and anti–hunger groups in what Andy Fisher terms the “hunger industrial complex.”
The “front end’ of these programs is working well, helping recipients to become more food secure. The “back end” of these programs however remains tied to big food processors and retailers. Is there an alternative? Could these nutrition programs support a more sustainable and regionalized food economy? Could they be linked to agriculture programs to create a more holistic framework for a food system based on “food with values,” rather than "cheap food.”
Timed to coincide with his new book, Big Hunger, Andy Fisher's talk will discuss the politics of this hunger industrial complex, and provide three examples of programs that seek to modify federal nutrition programs to promote a more integrated vision of food sovereignty, health, and sustainability. Questions and discussion will then be opened to the audience.
The event is on Thursday 16 November at 5.30pm at AG21 College Building, City, University of London.
The seminar is free to attend, tickets are allocated on a first come first served basis so register here to secure your space.
Published Tuesday 24 October 2017
Sustain: Sustain The alliance for better food and farming advocates food and agriculture policies and practices that enhance the health and welfare of people and animals, improve the working and living environment, enrich society and culture and promote equity.
