Global Food Systems Leadership (GFSL), a secondary major offered only at Kansas State University, continues to grow, thanks to ongoing support from Frontier Farm Credit.
Since 2017, over 500 students from various disciplines have enrolled in the program, learning the fundamentals and uncertainties of large, complex food systems and exploring ways to impact global food security.
Students have applied some of their learnings to campus. They and their professors have collaborated with housing and dining services, Cats’ Cupboard and the Office of the Vice President for Student Life to provide free and reduced-price meals in the student union. “Swipe Out Hunger” cards are now available to provide healthy food options to food-insecure students.
The program also has led to the formation of a new student group. Food Security Scholars focuses on volunteering and hands-on service opportunities that foster a more food-secure world.
To keep up with growing interest, the program expects to hire a dedicated director and graduate assistant. The goal is to expand the program to include annual study-abroad opportunities and conferences on issues related to food systems.
GFSL plans to develop a mini ‘global food systems’ conference for high school students who are interested in issues related to food systems, such as climate change, sustainability, policy, nutrition, poverty, precision farming, role of protein in healthy diets, supply chain, food waste and loss, trade, and systems thinking. This mini conference would be used as a recruitment effort for GFSL, the College of Agriculture and K-State.
Several students have been impacted by the GFSL program. It’s influenced their thinking and their futures.
“Global Food Systems Leadership challenged me to think globally through diverse perspectives, applying curiosity to better understand our food system, but ultimately empowered me to act locally to create a more equitable food systems in the communities I am part of.”
– Hattie Polson, K-State Ag Econ Junior
