Sustainable  Agriculture  and  Food  Systems  

A  new  interdisciplinary  major  at  the  University  of  Rhode  Island

Marta  Gomez-­‐Chiarrigomezchi@uri.edu

http://web.uri.edu/cels/safs/

The  SAFS  Major:  Exploring  the  Food  Chain

• Core  values:– Sustainability  and  resilience– Recognizing  the  intrinsic  value  of  heterogeneous  scales  of  production

– From  local  to  global:    Preserving  local  food  cultures  and  biodiversity

– Systems-­‐based  approach

SAFS  curriculumIntroductory  Course  Sequence

Spaceship  Earth; Sustainable  Agriculture,   Food  Systems  &  Society;    The  Problem  of  Hunger  in  the  US;  Intro  to  Resource  Economics;  Applied  General  Nutrition

SAFS  CapstoneLearning  how  to  address  complex  challenges  in  SAFS  through  experiential  

learning  in  interdisciplinary  teams  

Sustainable  Agriculture  OptionPlant  Crops,

Animal  Agriculture;Fisheries  and  Aquaculture

Nutrition  &  Food  Option

Basic  Principles  of  Food  Science  and  

Nutrition

Food  &  Society

Social,  Political,  Economic,  

Marketing  aspects  of  food  production

Experiential  Learning

International  Experience

Careers  

CONSUMPTION RI Restaurant Association Matunuck Oyster Bar* Farm Fresh RI Supermarkets (i.e.,

Roch’s Dave’s)

PRODUCTION & HARVESTING

Wishing Stone Farm Matunuck Oyster

Farm* American Mussel

Harvesters*

University of Rhode Island

The Compost Plant

RESOURCE RECOVERY

DISTRIBUTION

PROCESSING

Daniele* Blount* Seafreeze*

United Natural Foods* A.T. Siravo

ENTERPRISE Social Enterprise

Greenhouse Hope & Main* Eat Drink RI*

EDUCATION POLICY

RI Food Policy Council* RI Dept. Of Health* City of Providence DEM—Div. of

Agriculture*

THE RHODE ISLAND FOOD SYSTEM

This diagram is adapted from the Rhode Island Food System 2015 Snapshot (rifoodcouncil.org). These organizations listed are representative examples ,but not inclusive, of all members of the food system in Rhode Island. We will cast a wide net to ensure that as many can be involved in the project as possible.

* Organization who have provided letters of support at the time of this application

FUNDERS US Department of

Agriculture RI Foundation van Beuren Charitable

Foundation

Organizations like the University of Rhode Island and the RI Food Policy Council have several relationships (in various capacities) with the entities listed in the cluster diagram. However, there is no formalized collaboration or interaction between these entities.

Attachment 3: Cluster Diagram

Examples  of  careers:  from  the  Rhode  Island  Food  Systems  (adapted  from  the    Rhode  Island  Food  Council;  rifoodcouncil.org)