Food Systems

Sustainability Themes, such as Food Systems, cut across all specializations—and give students and partners a chance to dig deeper in a particular area of impact and interest. Explore how our teaching, research and engagement is making an impact to tackle these global challenges.

Changing the game in agriculture and access

Feeding the growing human population in a sustainable fashion requires transforming food systems to be health-promoting, economically viable, equitable, and ecologically sound. Solving this challenge involves tackling issues around food production systems, food security, and food sovereignty at local, national, and global scales.

Our community responds to this challenge by working to generate food security for human needs. That’s the SEAS approach.

Lightning Talks

FOOD SYSTEMS PLAYLIST

Feature

Carbon emissions and grocery shopping: EVs and home delivery better, ‘trip chaining’ and robots best

During the COVID-19 pandemic, online sales rose more than 50% from 2019 to 2020 in the United States. As shoppers searched for safe and convenient ways to get essential items, grocers adapted to meet increased e-commerce demand. U-M SEAS and Ford Motor Co. researchers modeled emissions for a single 36-item grocery basket transported to the customer via dozens of traditional and e-commerce pathways to determine which method can most effectively minimize consumers' carbon footprint.