COVID-19 affected food systems at many scales. Local and regional food systems were both impacted but also demonstrated resilience in many ways. These grants explored the effects of COVID-19 on local and regional food systems, and lessons for resilience.
COVID-19 Research Grants
➤ Impacts of COVID-19: Harnessing a critical window of opportunity to prepare farmers for shifts in consumer behavior
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What did the study find?The researchers analyzed consumer behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic to try and inform farmers in decision making for the future. Data shows consumers want food products with high quality sensory features and prefer supporting local food producers and businesses, as well as looking to them as standards of quality and innovation. Vermonters report they will spend more time eating at restaurants and less time getting take out at the conclusion of the pandemic. This information provides local farmers, producers, and restaurants with critical information of the Vermont food landscape moving forward.
What were the impacts?
- Study produced preliminary data that aided in the award of a $60,000 USDA Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program grant
- Data from study was reported at 11 different outreach events, providing information to farmers, producers, and restaurants in Vermont
- Enabled researchers to make valuable connections with critical members of Vermont food systems
Stay up-to-date on the work Roy is leading
➤ Increasing food agency and resilience to food insecurity for college students through community cooking and learning
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Abstract:
What did the study find?
This project sought to determine if a learn-to-cook meal kit with a food agency intervention can increase food agency and resilience among undergraduate students in the face on unprecedented events, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Data showed an educational intervention positively influenced student food agency and meal kit program enhanced student attitudes toward valuation of local foods. Researchers also found those in the intervention group reported a greater willingness to participate in on-campus food programs.
What were the impacts?
- One publication is in preparation
- Generated three unique datasets that can be used for analysis
- Team is continuing to expand this line of research and are working on various outreach strategies
- Stay up-to-date on Qingbin's work
➤ Assessing Vermont farm and food sector COVID impacts, pivots and future needs
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What did the study find?The research team surveyed farmers and food producers to assess the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as gauge the needs of these groups and inform future policy to provide assistance to those impacted. This study provided critical information on food access and security in Vermont during the pandemic, displaying a decrease in food security in 2020. Importantly, this study directly resulted in political impact, with the researchers being invited to present findings to the Vermont Senate and House Agricultural Committees, as well as Lt. Governor of Vermont, Molly Gray.
What were the impacts?
- One publication on the impact of COVID-19 on Vermont farms and food businesses in UVM Scholar works
- One presentation at the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
- An article on the effects of COVID on farmers in the VTDigger
- Stay up-to-date on Meredith’s work
- Follow Meredith on Twitter
➤ Social and economic factors and resilience in Vermont’s food system: Critical lessons from COVID-19
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What did the study find?This project explored the social and economic factors affecting Vermont farmers before and during COVID-19 to determine the extent and strength of social ties and resilience among farmers. Found 62% of farmers surveyed identified operations as sustainable and 80% of farmers saw a change in total production during the pandemic (39.39% increase, 40.4% decrease), with 93% reporting increased estimated profits from 2019 to 2020. Found 17% decrease in paid employees and a 22% decrease in volunteer labor from 2019 to 2020.
What were the impacts?
- Currently analyzing data and preparing findings for publication
- Established valuable contacts with farmers across Vermont
- Drafted a press release on findings
- Learn more about UVM Extension’s Center for Sustainable Agriculture
➤ Seeds of resilience: Learning from COVID-19 to strengthen seed systems in Vermont
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Using an interdisciplinary approach, this research sought to highlight and enhance seed system resilience in Vermont with a focus on learning from COVID-19 associated disruptions and analyzing the pandemic’s short- and long-term impacts within the Northeast. Results showed that 52% of individuals surveyed reported difficulty in obtaining seeds. In response to shortages and delays from the commercial seed sector, growers coped by switching the species and varieties they grew and seeking out alternative sources of seed. Researchers also found that many Vermonters took innovative steps to enhance the local availability of seeds during the pandemic, including the creation of online seed catalogs for low-income families, instituting new seed libraries, and providing free online seed-saving workshops to help improve access to healthy food during the pandemic despite commercial disruptions.
What were the impacts?
- One publication on seed resilience
- One presentation on COVID-19 and seed resilience from student Carina Isbell
- A summary report on Vermont seed saving in UVM ScholarWorks
- Development of a website on crop genetic heritage
- Stay up-to-date on Dan’s work
➤ Understanding food access impacts from COVID-19 in Vermont and beyond
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What did the study find?A project utilizing datasets to determine the impact of COVID-19 food security on rural and urban regions. The study provided critical data on food security during the pandemic, including home procurement and diet quality. Findings showed charitable feeding systems helped participants to maintain fruit and vegetable intake during the pandemic.
What were the impacts?
- Three papers published, one in pre-print, one in review
- Impact of home food procurement on food security and diet quality in BMC Public Health
- Early impacts of COVID-19 on food insecurity in Nutrients
- The role of food banks and pantries in aiding in fruit and vegetable intake in food insecure participants in Frontiers in Nutrition
- Food insecurity and COVID-19 across multiple states in medRxiv
- Four news articles
- Food insecurity and the pandemic by WCAX3
- Long-lasting impacts of the pandemic on food insecurity by My Champlain Valley
- SNAP increases for Vermonters facing food insecurity by the VTDigger
- One in three Vermonters faced food insecurity during the pandemic by VPR
- Seven policy briefs and six presentations at various meetings and conferences
- One grant from the Gund Institute for Environment and Northern New England Clinical and Translational Research Network Joint Catalyst Award and the drafting and submission of two others awaiting review
- Stay up-to-date on Meredith’s research
- Follow Meredith on Twitter
➤ Agility in the face of disruption: Food business rapid response to COVID-19
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What did the study find?A project focused on investigating intermediate supply chain actors, notable processors and distributors, and food service providers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Found local farm-to-table restaurants, food service providers, and hospitals overcame supply chain issues utilizing local vendors and producers, with these groups relying heavily on government sources, person-to-person connections, and local food organizers. Researchers discovered strong trust in information sources and connections pre-pandemic resulted in strong ability to adapt to hardships brought on by the pandemic.
What were the impacts?
- One article on anchoring New England communities throughout COVID-19 published by Farm to Institution and another on information sources utilized by Vermont foodservice businesses during the pandemic in the Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development
- Courtney Smith presented on the impact of COVID on Vermont food resilience and Naomi Cunningham presented on the role of anchor institutions in food system resilience at the UVM Student Research Conference
- Established a line of research that is ongoing and will continue to better understand the local food systems and connections in Vermont
- Stay up-to-date on David's research
➤ Refugee communities and food security in response to COVID-19
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This study explored and assessed levels of food insecurity in refugee populations living in Chittenden County, VT as a result of and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Found the pandemic significantly impacted New Americans’ food security, with 80% of survey respondents reporting receiving support from a food bank or free food organization and 87% reporting utilizing these services on a weekly basis. Researchers found providing culturally appropriate foods to New Americans was particularly successful and expansion in this area would be beneficial.What were the impacts?
- Resulted in 4 presentations at the Refugee and Immigrant Service Providers Network meeting, the Translational Global Infectious Diseases Research Program meeting, the American Association of Geographers Annual Meeting, and the Just Food Conference and publications are in preparation
- Piloted a vegetable box food delivery program to migrant farmworkers in the Northeast Kingdom in the summer of 2021
- Developing an online and mobile tool to expand food accessibility and food guide for immigrants arrivals in Vermont with local distributors, recipients, and retailers
- Stay up-to-date on Pablo's research