What good is research if it doesn’t answer the questions that matter most to people? Food is the universal entry point to environmental, social, and economic questions, and to answer those questions, we must be partners with those who need the answers most, including farmers, policymakers, food-insecure communities, and more. We are human-focused so people can get (and produce) affordable food that is health-sustaining, equitable, and improves their lives and the lives of future generations.

We break down preconceived notions and siloed thinking by bringing together researchers with diverse backgrounds and experiences, bridging the gap between nutrition and sustainable agriculture researchers. That means well-thought-out research and a broader network to disseminate it. FSRC-funded researchers have diverse backgrounds as nutritionists, farmers, or leaders at food-systems-based non-profits. This, combined with our collaborative, grassroots approach, allows them to create research that is relevant, useful, and timely for food systems actors and policymakers. 

We are the first USDA-funded research center to focus on the entire food system rather than a single topic within it. We offer the opportunity to work alongside USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) researchers on campus at our research station at UVM to study regional food systems holistically. This closeness, along with our focus on finding connection points across various aspects of the food system, increases possibilities for collaboration, breakthrough discoveries, and sustainable funding partnerships. 

We prioritize research that creates results that can be applied locally and regionally across the Northeast. By providing connections, support, and resources to farmers and other food systems actors, we can build a strong and more reliable food system region-wide. 

When new researchers have an idea for a collaborative project, it can be hard to make connections across disciplines with other researchers who could make the work stronger. Often, ideas may not be funded because they’re too outside the box. The FSRC welcomes unconventional research ideas and connects young and seasoned researchers, non-profits, and other food systems actors to bring those ideas to life collaboratively. Our accessible staff, project management resources, workspaces, and living laboratory help them succeed in uncovering the intricate connections between everything from community vibrancy to the environment and agricultural practices. We facilitate connection through our annual Food Systems Research Summit and our monthly Food and Ideas Gathering.

We create and promote science-rich stories based on research we funded within our regional food system to help policymakers and food-systems actors make informed decisions, whether it’s about how to create a new policy that affects farmers or a program aimed at reducing food insecurity.  Subscribe to our newsletter to hear about our work.

Sustainability isn’t always clearly defined, recognized, or valued by markets and policies. We work to give leaders the data they need to change that. The Sustainability Metrics project is our three-year, transdisciplinary collaborative initiative to assess how to measure sustainable food systems in the Northeast focusing on consumer-facing agriculture, farmer social values and decision-making, soil health, maple syrup production, and plant-based proteins.