After an unprecedented hurricane season, Tampa Bay’s food systems were revealed to be vulnerable. Communities that were historically insulated from food insecurity found themselves unprepared.
To address these issues, a new think tank, Future of Food, convened for its inaugural meeting last December with a unified vision “to create a dynamic university and community partnership network across the Tampa Bay food system, dedicated to the translation of research and education into practice and action.”
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Using USF as the central hub, the think tank and its community partners comprise five groups: Local Economic Models, Education and Training, Holistic Human Health, Novel Models of Agriculture, and Emergency Response. Each group contributes research and action plans to devise a holistic approach to improve food systems around Tampa Bay.
Best practices for an improved food system
During the think tank’s initial meeting, discussions highlighted the potential to bolster extant community providers during crises. In some cases, during the storms, community providers like Feeding Tampa Bay and 360 Eats identified and aided vulnerable areas of the city more quickly than official lines of communication. A coordinated activation of those providers could improve emergency response after future storms.
Proposed solutions include storing and managing food resources, mobilizing storage sites in key areas, partnering with local farmers to access resources quickly, community preparedness planning and education, and using alternative communication channels during power outages.
The think tank has only just begun its research and development. As of now, each of the five groups is outlining actionable blueprints to address key issues. On April 11, the think tank will reconvene from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 3624 Causeway Blvd. in Tampa. At this public event, the think tank will share best practices for an improved food system across Tampa Bay.
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