Meeting urban food demand due to population growth, the changing nature of food consumption patterns, and the vulnerability of both local and regional food production to environmental variability presents future challenges. Given complex patterns of urbanization and their differential engagement with global, regional, and local food supply chains, new research is needed to understand what types of urban places are most vulnerable to impacts of local and regional crop production, and what type of urban agglomerations can mitigate those impacts through food imports from distant areas. Marsh Institute Researcher Lyndon Estes (Geography) received funding from the National Science Foundation to continue the project “Linkages and Interactions between Urban Food Security and Rural Agricultural Systems” that examines the challenges associated with meeting urban food demand due to population growth and the changing nature of food consumption patterns.

For full project descriptions, see the Marsh Institute Research Projects web page.