Intersection: Food Deserts and Public Policy

Our understanding of “food deserts” has shifted dramatically in the 15-20 years since the idea first entered the public lexicon. Food access, especially to affordable, nutritious, minimally processed food, is shaped by much more than the geographic distribution of grocery stores. Public policy has both perpetuated and alleviated aspects of this crisis through SNAP (“food stamps”), while mega-corporations both contribute massive donations to food banks and ensure the continued need for food banks by paying less than a living wage. We invite you to join the conversation on the economic and political power of food as we seek solutions at local, state, and national levels.

Moderator: Naim Edwards, Director of the MSU Detroit Partnership in Food, Learning, and Innovation

Panelists:

• Katherine Alaimo, Associate Professor in the MSU Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition; Director of the Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems Program
• Steven Haider, Professor and Chair of the MSU Department of Economics
• Alex B. Hill, Anthropologist and Cartographer
• Dawn Opel, Director for Research and Strategic Initiatives for the Food Bank Council of Michigan

The MSU Museum CoLab Studio is pleased to present a slate of programs and events in conjunction with the Food Fight! exhibition on display in the Main Gallery from January 9th to June 29th, 2024. The exhibition and programming explore the themes of global food security, food production and consumption, and our complex relationships with food.