Transcript A GIS Based Approach to Applying NMSU Experimental Farm Resources to Reduce Rural Food Insecurity

A GIS Based Approach to Applying NMSU
Experimental Farm Resources to Reduce Rural
Food Insecurity
Chris Sylvan BS Geography USDA funded UNM Foodshed Fieldschool Participant
Introduction
GIS analysis is a technique used to study the impact of place
on public health. One area of study is access to adequate
food. A geographic location can determine if the population
has access to adequate food. If not, then the area is known
as a food desert or vacuum. This situation contributes to food
insecurity. In New Mexico, many New Mexico State
University Experimental Farm Stations are located in
counties that are food insecure.
Problem: Food Insecurity in the United
States
Food insecurity is the inability to or limited ability to acquire
sufficient quantity of food to meet nutritional needs in socially
acceptable ways. A food insecure person may be able to
obtain enough calories, but still not meet their overall needs1.
In the United States during 2007,11.1% and rising, of
households reported food insecurity for a portion of that year.
More than a third of those households reported very low food
security2.This means that an adult in the household went
without food. Food insecurity can indicate hunger, but it can
also manifest as obesity. This is because people who suffer
from food insecurity can also become obese, because of
several factors. These include reasons such as the need to
maximize food intake when available, leading to overeating1.
GIS Analysis
Many food insecure counties in New Mexico have a NMSU
Experimental Station located in the county (see map below).
If these farms were able to donate food to local charities for
distribution, this could contribute to reducing food insecurity.
One problem with this may be New Mexico’s anti-donation
clause. This clause restricts state government institutions
from making donations. Another issue is undercutting local
producers. Careful planning would be required to prevent
competition if the NMSU Stations were used to increase food
security. Following is a GIS based analysis of travel distance
to NMSU Stations 3.4.5.6.7.
Some Food Insecure Populations in the
United States1:
•The working poor
•Children
•Single parents
•Older adults
•People who live in certain geographic areas
•Farmers
Conclusions
Food Insecurity in New Mexico
New Mexico’s food insecurity rates are higher than the
national average. According to the USDA, in 2004 about
15% of people in New Mexico were food insecure and
this calculation remains valid currently2. According to a
report compiled by the New Mexico Food and Agricultural
Policy Council, people who are located in rural areas are
vulnerable to food insecurity due to their geographic
location:
“While poverty, hunger, and food inaccessibility are
prevalent in the entire state, in rural communities these
problems are exacerbated by geographic isolation, low
population densities, high food prices, limited selection of
healthy food, and few transportation options. A “food gap”
refers to extraordinary difficulties that households face
securing an adequate diet due to economic or
geographic reasons.2”
Conclusion
While adding the NMSU research farms as distribution
centers to decrease New Mexico’s food insecurity, there
are still many areas around the state that would still be
underserved.
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Literature
Citations
Cited
Boyle, M. A., & Holben, D. H. (2010). Community nutrition in action: an entrepreneurial approach (5th ed.).
Belmont: Thomson Wadsworth Learning.
Household Food Security in the United States, 2009. (n.d.). USDA Economic Research Service . Retrieved
July 22, 2011, from www.ers.usda.gov/Publications/ERR108/ERR108.pdf Closing New Mexico's Food Gap.
(n.d.). Closing New Mexico's Food Gap. Retrieved July 24, 2011, from www.farmtotablenm.org/closing
NMSU: AES Off-Campus Science Centers. (n.d.). NMSU: College of Agricultural, Consumer and
Environmental Sciences. Retrieved July 22, 2011, from http://aces.nmsu.edu/aes/offcampus.html
http://news.unm.edu/2010/12/%E2%80%9Ceducation-is-power%E2%80%9D-campaign-looks-to-help-solveunm%E2%80%99s-budget-woes/
Download the Data. (n.d.). USDA Economic Research Service - Home Page. Retrieved July 22, 2011, from
http://www.ers.usda.gov/Data/FoodDesert/downloadData.html
Access to Affordable and Nutritious Food. (n.d.). ERSReport Summary. Retrieved July 22, 2011, from
www.ers.usda.gov/Publications/AP/AP036/AP036_reportsummary.pdf
ERS/USDA Briefing Room - Food Security in the United States: Statistics and Graphics. (n.d.). USDA
Economic Research Service - Home Page. Retrieved July 22, 2011, from
http://www.ers.usda.gov/briefing/foodsecurity/stats_graphs.htm#geographic