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Center for food systems and community transformation

We work at the nexus of food, agriculture, and society to explore and catalyze the conditions for a food system where all may thrive.

Image credit: Upper left, Kim Niewolny. Upper right and lower, Melissa Ripepi.

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What We Do

Events and Speakers

We strive to offer and support opportunities for learning that help us to support our food system and build better communities.

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Learning Circles

Our learning circles are designed to be a participatory structure for group reflection, dialogue, and planning based on selected scholarship and emergent topics.

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Programs

Our Center is  home to a number of state and regional programs supporting food systems-based community development at the nexus of food, agriculure, and society.

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Projects

The Center supports a number of projects related to and in support of regional food systems and community transformation. 

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Center Fellows

Center fellows bring the aims of the Center to their communities as leaders, educators, and advocates for transformation in our food and farming systems.

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Upcoming Events

  • Article Item
    flyer for the urban agriculture information session
    Virginia Urban Agriculture Information Session, Richmond VA , article

    Are you interested in Urban Agriculture in Virginia? By attending this on-farm information session, discover how you can contribute to advancing urban agriculture in your community, and learn how to start your journey as an urban producer with USDA Farm Service Agency as a resource.

  • Article Item
    February Center Fellows Speaker Series Event Title: The Grassfed Beef Partnership: Linking Principles of Regenerative Agriculture and Adaptive Grazing with Local Economic Resilience Speaker: Adam Taylor, Manager of the Catawba Sustainability Center Date and Time: February 26, 2:00–3:00 PM ET Details and Registration: Visit https://tinyurl.com/CFSCIFebSeries2025 or use the QR code provided. Event Description: The Virginia Tech Catawba Sustainability Center’s (CSC) Grassfed Beef Partnership explores alternatives to commodity beef production by purchasing calves from local farmers and utilizing adaptive grazing techniques. The goal is to produce high-quality, grass-finished beef that supports the local food economy. During their time at the CSC, the beef cattle contribute to regenerating the soil, fostering biodiversity, and promoting a resilient ecosystem both above and below ground. Speaker Background: Since 2016, Adam Taylor has been managing Outreach and International Affairs’ 377-acre Catawba Sustainability Center in Roanoke County, VA. The center supports research and demonstration plots for university faculty and fosters community projects, workshops, and trainings. Adam has extensive experience from his work with the West Virginia Farmers Market Association, where he supported West Virginia’s local food economy through project development, stakeholder engagement, and policy change.
    CFSCT February Fellows Series: The Grassfed Beef Partnership: Linking Principles of Regenerative Agriculture and Adaptive Grazing with Local Economic Resilience , article

    The Virginia Tech Catawba Sustainability Center’s (CSC) Grassfed Beef Partnership works to explore an alternative to commodity beef production by purchasing calves from local farmers to then be adaptively grazed in an effort to produce quality grass finished beef that is then distributed back into the local food economy. During their life at the CSC, the beef are utilized to restore, rebuild, and enhance ecosystem function and diversity for life in the soil, on the soil, and above.

  • Article Item
    A flyer for the Virginia Tech College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Center for Food Systems and Community Transformation’s March Center Fellows Speaker Series. Title: "Results from the 2024 Virginia Tech Employee Food Access and Wellbeing Study" Speakers: Dr. Chanita Holmes – Assistant Professor, Agriculture and Applied Economics (photo included). Dr. Sarah Misyak – Research Assistant Professor, Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise; Assistant Director and Program Manager for Research and Evaluation, EFNEP, and SNAP-Ed (photo included). Dr. Ralph Hall – Professor, Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning (UEPP), SPIA (photo included). Event Details: Date: March 19 Time: 2:00-3:00 pm ET Format: Hybrid (In-person and Zoom) In-Person Location: Newman Library Goodall Room (MPR), no registration required. Zoom Registration Link: https://tinyurl.com/CFSCTMARSERIES2025 Description: Since 2019, Virginia Tech has addressed student food security, launching The Market at Virginia Tech in 2022, serving 115 students weekly with nutritious food. However, less is known about food security among university employees. The 2024 Virginia Tech Employee Food Access and Wellbeing Survey was conducted in Spring 2024 to examine food security levels among staff and non-tenure track faculty. This presentation will share key findings from the study and discuss its implications for the university. Accessibility & Accommodations: For accommodations, contact Lia Kelinsky-Jones at kelinskyjones@vt.edu or (540) 231-1534 at least 10 days before the event. Contact: For questions, email kelinskyjones@vt.edu. The flyer has a decorative border of illustrated vegetables such as peppers, carrots, and eggplants, along with the Virginia Tech logo at the top. A QR code for Zoom registration is included on the right side.
    CFSCT March Fellows Series: Results from the 2024 Virginia Tech Employee Food Access and Wellbeing Study , article

    Since 2019, Virginia Tech has paid significant attention to the food security of students, officially launching The Market of Virginia Tech in 2022 that now provides around 115 students with a range of nutritious food items each week. However, limited knowledge exists on food security among university employees and its possible impact on the functioning and mission of Virginia Tech. This presentation will share findings from the 2024 Virginia Tech Employee Food Access and Wellbeing Survey, which was administered online during the Spring of 2024. The survey aimed to examine the level of food security among Virginia Tech employees, focusing on staff and non-tenure track faculty.

  • Article Item
    A digital flyer for the April Center Fellows Speaker Series hosted by the Virginia Tech College of Agriculture and Life Sciences – Center for Food Systems and Community Transformation. The flyer announces a virtual talk titled "Indigenous Climate-Food-Health Nexus: Insights from Community-Engaged Research in the Global North and South" by Dr. Eranga Galappaththi, Assistant Professor of Geography. The event is scheduled for April 23, 2025, from 2:00-3:00 pm ET and will be held online. A registration link (https://tinyurl.com/CFSCTAPRSERIES2025) and QR code are provided for access. A headshot of Dr. Galappaththi appears on the right side of the flyer, showing him outdoors wearing sunglasses, a sun hat, and a beard. Below the event details, a paragraph explains that the talk will share insights from international research collaborations with Indigenous communities, including the Vedda in Sri Lanka and Inuit in the Canadian Arctic. The research emphasizes community-driven priorities rather than externally imposed agendas. At the bottom of the flyer, accessibility and contact information are provided for individuals requiring accommodations. The contact person is Lia Kelinsky-Jones (kelinskyjones@vt.edu, (540) 231-1534). The flyer has a clean layout with a white background, decorative botanical elements at the bottom, and a color scheme that includes maroon and dark blue, consistent with Virginia Tech branding.
    CFSCT April Fellows Series: Indigenous Climate-Food-Health Nexus: Insights from Community-Engaged Research in the Global North and South , article

    This talk will share insights from three international collaborative projects that engaged Indigenous communities as active partners in addressing challenges related to climate change, food systems, and health. These projects include work with the Vedda communities in Sri Lanka and Inuit communities in the Canadian Arctic. A defining feature of these initiatives was the emphasis on identifying research problems prioritized by the communities themselves rather than imposing external research agendas. The talk will focus on catalyzing broader impacts by scaling up conceptual, methodological, and empirical insights from the community level to bridge local experiences with policy frameworks.

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