Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

On Nov 5th a joint meeting of NC1012 and NC1001 was convened to exchange research activities in progress and to propose to USDA through E. Tuckermanty a future joint conference funded by CSREES. L.M. Butler and M. Hamm will work with E. Tuckermanty to develop a rationale and proposal. NC1001 annual meeting convened on Nov 6 & 7. The four research cluster teams reported on grants written and submitted. (See publications and impact sections).Research clusters met separately to continue their joint work. NC1001 leadership for 2004-05 were elected as follows: Lois Wright Morton-chair; Toby TenEyck-vice chair; Richard Moore-secretary. Annual meeting for 2005 will be held October 14-16 in Denver, Colorado.

Examining the Structure of Place: The structure of agriculture, food resources and social infrastructures that support access, availability, type, and quality of food to individuals and their families vary considerably from community to community and region to region. In this research we examine the intersections of these systems with emphasis on the structure of place. This Land Grant project has assembled a multi-disciplinary team of researchers (sociology, nutrition, food science, anthropology, communications, geography) with research in areas such as food systems, nutrition, media, the environment, water, land use, social organizations, civic structure, and food science to begin to answer the question "How do variations in the structure of agriculture, food systems, and communities affect variations in place based population health?" Impacts:
From 2001-2004, members of the research team have received 26 grants valued at over $7 million to examine food, agriculture, community related systems and associations with health. Publications include 37 journal articles, 15 book chapters, three books, 18 technical reports/websites/educational outreach products and over 25 presentations and posters presented. The most significant overall impact of this project is the increased awareness and recognition by policy makers, community leaders, and the public that community organization, the food environment and agricultural practices have significant impacts on human health. A few of the impacts derived from NC1001 research are:

1. Partnerships among public health, community groups, and university researchers in several states (North Dakota, Minnesota, and Iowa) have increased awareness and begun intervention projects that link the community environment and food access research to food insecurity and hunger interventions
   • Iowa Department of Public Health has acknowledged the importance of linking the local food environment to food security over the last 3 years by providing over $160,000 to extend research to local applications. Newly developed educational materials and a hunger website (www.extension.iastate.edu/hunger) in Iowa based on research findings are used by staff and volunteers in the 4 food banks covering the state and their local food pantry partners to assess food insecurity in their communities and have public dialogues about how to solve local food issues.
   • A USDA workshop reaching 160 participants in North Dakota increased awareness of the relationships between food insecurity and the community/local food environment that makes food accessible to rural populations.
2. The public rely on mass media as their primary source of food safety and biotechnology. Food safety issues are often covered in a way that marginalizes the issue and lead the public to see information only when a problem in the food system occurs. Proceedings from a workshop on concerns surrounding future social research on biotechnology held in Baltimore, MD in 2003 have led to meetings in Canada to discuss directions for the Canadian government to fund social research on biotechnology and nanotechnology.
3. 75 educators in New York learned about the impact of food systems on health, and another 22 health professionals have been contacted to think about obesity in New York. In Iowa and New York, 47 community leaders have discussed concerns with food insecurity and are planning next steps to address these issues.
4. At universities which are represented by members of NC1001, curriculum changes have been put in place to help further develop research and teaching agendas around food issues such as obesity, diabetes, and other issues. (e.g. Michigan State University has put together an Obesity Council to think about issues such as childhood obesity and the relationships between obesity and the built environment.)
5. 13 cider processors in Michigan have been used to investigate the barriers and opportunities to the implementation of HACCP programs within the industry. Over 20 interviews with individuals around the south-central part of the state have been educated on issues such as foodborne pathogens and food handling in a study of communication and food safety. Various other projects have been developed by members to help communities better understand linkages between food and health.
6. 30 families in Houston Texas received feedback about their childrens dietary intake and obesity risks and as a result have the opportunity to change daily family dinner patterns.
7. Biweekly water quality testing of an impaired Ohio stream at 65 sites over three years reveal high nitrate and fecal coliform levels. As a result the county health department is taking action, three farmer teams are changing farm management practices to lower nitrogen and phosphorous levels in the stream, and one industry NPES permit holder created a nutrient trading program.
8. Residents of a small town in Ohio (pop.1000) now believe that they have excessive nitrate problems as a result of research that showed 23% of the residents have excessive N levels in their drinking water. This knowledge has led to health department interventions and citizens who are ready to implement recommended interventions.
9. Urban gardening offers an alternative resource that provides nutritious foods, urban greening, and sense of community. In NJ, the Healthier New Brunswick 2010 Initiative funded a 2003-4 school-community gardening project recognizing how the activity addresses obesity and chronic disease through exercise and nutrition. At the same time, with Rutgers, it co-sponsored the April 2004 New Brunswick Soil Lead Symposium, responding to findings that very high lead levels have been found in many residential lots, requiring increased testing and risk management strategies.