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Transforming Food Systems

The way we grow, transport, and consume food must adapt in order to address global hunger and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. University of Michigan experts contribute best practices from architecture and urban planning, sustainable business, ecology, public policy, and public health, with the goal of achieving future solutions that are environmentally sound, equitable, and accessible to all. The Sustainable Food Systems Initiative and U-M Sustainable Food Program are on the leading edge in charting a new, more sustainable normal ー for U-M, the region, and the world.

News and Impact

Shiloh Maples
A Conversation with Shiloh Maples
Lesli Hoey
Hoey argues for the ‘urgent role’ of urban agriculture
Earth Month
Earth Month puts focus on U-M sustainability efforts
two students working in a field
Adapting crops for people and the planet
Alexa White
The cost of a mango in January
Phimmasone Kym Owens
Farm away from home
Header graphic with sustainability-adjacent imagery
Steps to a sustainable mindset
These small vials contain biocrude created from tests using different parts of potatoes. Initially, the team will run tests to create similar amounts of biocrude and other chemicals from Matthaei organic waste to determine how the biocrude and other products vary with the types of organic waste collected. Image credit: Derek Smith, PhD
U-M’s botanical gardens taking steps toward carbon neutrality
Environmental justice issues exploration graphic
Justice should be an action, not only a core value
Dow Fellows
Announcing the 2023 Dow Sustainability Fellows and Dow Distinguished Awards
The inaugural cohort of Transformative Food Systems fellows pictured at the U-M Campus Farm.
Fellowship provides students with learning and training to transform food systems
Ivette Perfecto
Professor Ivette Perfecto highlights the benefits of shaded coffee farms on biodiversity, farmer livelihoods in Latin America
Center for Sustainable Systems factsheet poster logo
Now available: 2022 edition of peer-reviewed Sustainability Factsheet Collection covering consumption patterns, impacts and solutions
an apple orchard
Michigan Farmworker Project seeks to improve social and environmental health for marginalized population
Trish Fisher
Trish Fisher (MPP/MPH ‘23) awarded Peter Eckstein Prize for her examination of food systems and climate policy
Lesli Hoey
Interdisciplinary team awarded funds to launch the transformative food systems seminar
Malik Yakini and Lilly Fink Shapiro
Building Black Food Sovereignty: An Update
Paul Draus, professor of sociology at UM-Dearborn, has engaged with communities crafting solutions in Detroit. (Photo by Korey Batey)
Dearborn professor works in partnership to reinvigorate Detroit
fresh, organic vegetables
U-M Food Literacy for All talk explores relationship between food inequalities and income levels
Jacob Allgeier
Finding more fish
  The arched, hanging banana plant stalk with fruits from October, 2021. Photo: Katie Stannard.
When is a banana tree…not a tree?
fishng boat
Pass the whitefish: U-M chef builds a sustainable food network