Events and Speakers
Below is a list of upcoming and recent events that are either directly or indirectly related to the work being done by the Center for Food Systems and Community Transformation.
If you would like to share related events, please send an email including the event title; dates; a short summary; and any flyers, attachments, or hotlinks to Katie Trozzo.
Upcoming Events
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CFSCT May Fellows Series: Revisiting UVA’s BIPOC Procurement Initiative: Successes, Challenges, and Opportunities to Wholesale Acquisition , articleJoin us for the day in learning how the University of Virginia and UVA's Sustainable Food Collaborative (UVA SFC) have increased the procurement of goods for local BIPOC farmers. We will hear from Michael Carter Jr, Allie Berry, and Tom McDougall – and how UVA's BIPOC Procurement Program supports the wholesale acquisition of produce from minority farmers for UVA dining facilities, connects chefs directly with these producers, and educates culinary staff about purchasing and incorporating healthy, local produce into their menus.
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Agriculture of the Middle Webinar , articleThis webinar will feature the Extension and applied research insights of Drs. Becca Jablonski of Cornell University, Mary Hendrickson of the University of Missouri, Patrick Bauer of the University of Rhode Island, Michelle Miller of the University of Wisconsin, and host Eric Bendfeldt of Virginia Tech and Virginia Cooperative Extension. In addition to the brief presentations and comments on the importance, values, and vitality of mid-size farms on a state and national level, there will be facilitated small group discussions on Extension educational needs and applied research opportunities that can strengthen this important sector of the agricultural community.
Recent Events
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Reclaiming Our Roots: America's Native Food Trail in Virginia , articleThis food sovereignty event brings the Indigenous past to the plate, fostering a deeper understanding of the rich culinary traditions that have sustained communities for generations. Learn about the traditional foodways of the Monacan people, sample Virginia’s culturally significant dishes, bring and share seeds, and participate in fun food activities from preparation and connection to explore the sacredness of food for healing and heritage.
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Urban Agriculture Information Session , articleWant to learn about using cover crops in small spaces? Join us at Shalom Farms to learn about cover crop, it's many benefits, and how to use it on your farm or garden! You will also get a chance to tour the Northside Farm and hear from local Farm Service Agency and Natural Resources Conservation Service representatives.
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Virginia Urban Agriculture Information Session , articleInterested 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 the USDA Farm Service Agency as a resource.
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CFSCT April Fellows Series: Indigenous Climate-Food-Health Nexus: Insights from Community-Engaged Research in the Global North and South , articleThis 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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CFSCT March Fellows Series: Results from the 2024 Virginia Tech Employee Food Access and Wellbeing Study , articleSince 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.
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CFSCT February Fellows Series: The Grassfed Beef Partnership: Linking Principles of Regenerative Agriculture and Adaptive Grazing with Local Economic Resilience , articleThe 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.
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Virginia Urban Agriculture Information Session, Richmond VA , articleAre 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.
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Urban Farming and the Law , articleUrban Farming is tough enough without having to have a law degree! Gray Montrose, a local Richmond land use attorney and urban farmer, will give a guided tour of basic legal concepts for urban farmers. Topics will include a primer on local ordinances, the Virginia Right to Farm Act (RTFA) and important RTFA case law, cottage food and farm stand laws, and resources for folks with legal needs.
Events Archive
Virginia Cooperative Extension is a partnership of Virginia Tech, Virginia State University, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and local governments. Its programs and employment are open to all, regardless of age, color, disability, sex (including pregnancy), gender, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, military status, or any other basis protected by law.