Local Food Systems Collaboration

The CIRA (Center for Integrating Research and Action) at UNC is working on reestablishing local food systems in three low economic areas in NC as a part of the Sustainable Development and Poverty Reduction Collaboration. They are working with various organizations (ministries and food councils) in these areas focusing on different aspects such as economic, environment and social justice, emergency food supply, school lunch quality, etc. They are also planning a conference in November which appears to be focused on creating the social science research agenda for local food systems in NC. I do not foresee us volunteering, but they might offer an informative speaker or we could even contact some of the organizations they are working with. CIRA also has other groups associated with medical anthropology, and archaeology and heritage. They have a website but I don’t know how to post a link.