from the Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development |
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JAFSCD is the world’s only community-supported journal. JAFSCD content is open access (free) thanks to the generous support of our shareholders: the JAFSCD Shareholder Consortium, Library Shareholders, a growing number of Individual Shareholders, and our six JAFSCD Partners: |
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Community food system strategies, such as community grain banks (CGBs), are pivotal in addressing global food insecurity and advancing Sustainable Development Goal 2 (SDG 2), which aims to eliminate hunger and promote food security by 2030. These community-led institutions provide critical support during food shortages, empower local populations, and contribute to economic stability.
In a new JAFSCD article, Empowering local food security: A systematic review of community grain banks, Vaishali Sharma conducts a systematic review of CGBs, exploring their role in enhancing local food security, empowering women, and supporting farmers. The review highlights the importance of CGBs as grassroots solutions to food insecurity and community resilience.
KEY FINDINGS
CGBs ensure year-round food availability, acting as reliable sources during lean seasons and serving as safety nets for vulnerable members. They empower women by providing leadership roles and decision-making authority, challenging traditional gender norms. CGBs enhance economic stability for farmers by allowing grain storage and access to consumption credit, reducing dependency on high-interest loans.
They stabilize food prices, protecting households from debt cycles and increasing purchasing power. CGBs foster community resilience by strengthening social networks and trust, encouraging collaboration for long-term food security.
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR POLICY, PRACTICE, AND RESEARCH -
Design CGBs with strong infrastructure and community-specific resource management systems.
- Provide comprehensive training and support for staff to ensure effective management.
- Empower women in leadership roles to enhance CGB effectiveness and decision-making.
- Foster partnerships with government agencies and NGOs for ongoing support and resources.
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Future research should focus on the long-term sustainability of CGBs and their impact on dietary diversity and nutritional outcomes.
SHARE ON YOUR SOCIALS
How do community grain banks combat food insecurity and foster resilience in local food systems? In her systematic review, Vaishali Sharma, a doctoral research scholar at O.P. Jindal Global University in Sonipat, India, delves into the crucial role these grassroots initiatives play in enhancing food security. Discover how community grain banks empower local populations and build sustainable solutions for the future, and how challenges can be overcome. #CommunityGrainBanks #FoodSecurity #SDG2 Read the @JAFSCD article for free: https://doi.org/10.5304/jafscd.2024.141.006 |
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Photo above: A woman at work drying wheat grain close to the Pusa site of the Borlaug Institute for South Asia (BISA), in the Indian state of Bihar. Photo credit: M. DeFreese/International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT); shared via Flickr under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 license.
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EVENT BY A JAFSCD SHAREHOLDER
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You are invited to join the Center Fellow Speaker Series presentation: Reflections on a Community-Engaged Learning Partnership for Just and Equitable Approaches to Student Food Security November 12, 12:30–1:30 pm ET on Zoom (Registration Required) |
The Justice Challenge is a USDA NIFA–funded national Honors and Agriculture collaborative wherein students explore grand challenges in food, agriculture, natural resources, and human sciences. Its inaugural year in 2023-2024 focused on food justice.
As a lead partner, Virginia Tech hosted a justice and equity-focused student food security design challenge course, in partnership with The Market of Virginia Tech. Using a community-engaged learning approach, students completed three projects with and for their campus-community mentor: a food share cabinet toolkit, a food access resource map, and The Market of Virginia Tech Cookbook. Panelists will share partnership strategies, project outcomes, and reflections from their vantage points as faculty, partner/mentor, and student in the program.
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EVENT BY A JAFSCD SHAREHOLDER
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10th Annual Rich Earth Summit November 12–14, 2024
Hybrid: Virtual (Zoom) & In-Person (Brattleboro, Vermont, USA)
The Rich Earth Summit, hosted by Rich Earth Institute, is a global event dedicated to advancing urine reclamation to create sustainable and just nutrient cycles. This gathering brings together researchers, practitioners, and advocates to share knowledge and foster collaboration.
Join us at the 10th annual Summit, November 12–14, 2024 — a golden opportunity to explore the transformative power of peecycling. Together, we can pee the change! |
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If you are affiliated with a college or university and want to support JAFSCD, now is the time of year when libraries order new journal subscriptions. |
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Isn't JAFSCD open access and free? It is! But we are a community-supported journal. Libraries contribute to become JAFSCD Library Shareholders instead of buying a subscription — keeping JAFSCD free to all instead of buying access just for their faculty and students. Think of us as the CSA of journals!
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JAFSCD cover photo by Eugenie Doyle (co-founder and co-owner of Last Resort Farm); used with permission. |
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