Food Security and Arizona State University Initiatives

In the Phoenix, AZ, USA area, the biggest challenges to food security are urban development and drought. Food security crises could certainly be foreseeable in Phoenix's future. Fortunately, many citizens are already practicing general sustainable living and making sure to support local food providers. These actions, along with large-scale urban planning, are helping to reduce the risk of future food insecurity in Phoenix.

There are several excellent food security initiatives at Arizona State University (ASU). The Global Institute of Sustainability (GIS) at ASU is home to numerous sustainability projects, some of which directly address food security. For example, the Campus Harvest project involves growing food on ASU's urban campuses, especially oranges, that are later donated to internal and external recipients. Another interesting project is the ASU Grow community garden, which leases on-campus garden plots to community members in return for four monthly hours of volunteer work in beautifying the campus. Further, ASU holds a monthly farmers market on campus, where community members can sell their produce alongside sustainable farmers and food producers from the local area.

Additional information on GIS sustainability projects and how community members can get involved can be found on the GIS website.