FOOD FORWARD: COMMUNITY-FOCUSED FOOD AND HEALTH IN RURAL DEVELOPMENT

Goal 1: Increase awareness of community-focused food, health and rural development research occurring at Clemson UniversityShort-Term: Participants will be aware of at least 2 new research projects that were not previously known prior to conference. Participants will engage in at least one conference session outside their own discipline.Intermediate-Term: Research faculty will engage in at least one new external partner for collaborative research projects. Foster new and expand collaborative relationships, to include local farmers and community partners.Long-Term: Establish a forum that continues to bring awareness of research and community efforts through continued collaborative research and dissemination of knowledge.Goal 2: Prepare a robust, intercollegiate research collaborative to support new and ongoing research related to community-focused food, health and rural developmentShort-Term: Coordinate an interdisciplinary team to continue the conversations initiated by the conference. Prepare a plan to sustain the interdisciplinary team with scheduled meetings, targeted goals, objectives, and activities.Intermediate-Term: Identify gaps and leverage expertise across disciplines to fill gaps in research and contribute new methodologies and interventions to the evidence-base. Submit a cohesive, interdisciplinary research proposal to the USDA Rural Economic Development Program by September 2022.Long-Term: Establish a center that fosters new and innovative research that contributes to food, health, and agriculture systems knowledge, supports community-based rural economic development; and serves as a clearinghouse for information dissemination.