USU President Signs Hunger Initiative as Extension Launches Food Systems Alliance

As food insecurity continues to rise across Utah, a new collaboration is bringing people together to strengthen food systems, reduce waste and increase community access to nutritious food.

Utah State University Extension’s Create Better Health Hub recently hosted leaders from across Utah’s agriculture, food manufacturing, government, higher education and community sectors to launch the USU Extension Food Systems Alliance.

As part of the event, USU President Brad Mortensen signed the Presidents United to Solve Hunger (PUSH) Commitment, joining university leaders nationwide in pledging support for efforts that address hunger, poverty and food insecurity through research, education, partnerships and action. PUSH institutions work collectively toward achieving zero hunger across campuses, communities, and nations.

Mortensen discussed the role of land-grant universities in addressing complex challenges, and he reaffirmed USU’s commitment to improving student and community well-being, strengthening local economies and addressing hunger statewide.

According to Feeding America estimates shared during a recent statewide food security gathering, Utah's food insecurity rate increased from 9 percent in 2021 to more than 14 percent in 2024, affecting nearly 500,000 residents, including 1 in 6 children (161,000 children). Rising food costs, inflation, drought impacts and recent spring freezes have added pressure to household food security across the state.

“No one person or entity can solve food insecurity,” said Lea Palmer, Create Better Health Hub director and one of the event organizers. “This year, nutrition security programs nationwide have been hit with major resource and support reductions that will have long-term impacts on our communities. This alliance creates a space for leaders across industries and communities to come together, identify challenges, share ideas and build solutions that strengthen every stage of the food system.”

At the event, Senator Luz Escamilla, chief sponsor of 2022’s Senate Bill 133 that established the Food Security Council, said it is critical to support initiatives addressing hunger and food insecurity — particularly for children, so they don’t have to wonder where their next meal will come from.

“This alliance provides an opportunity to put ‘the Utah way’ into practice by bringing stakeholders together and finding opportunities within the systems we currently have,” Escamilla said. “It's a matter of organizing, and it is really exciting that USU is leading the way. We want to be part of that conversation and offer support as the alliance grows.”

Justen Smith, USU Extension interim vice president, highlighted Extension's unique role in connecting university expertise with communities throughout Utah. He said Extension's statewide presence and long-standing relationships provide a foundation for strengthening food systems.

“Food insecurity is not simply a hunger issue,” Smith said. “It’s a health issue, an education issue, an economic issue and ultimately a community issue. Through collaboration, universities can play a powerful role in solving hunger.”

Addressing these challenges requires participation from every sector of the food system. Jay Johnson, vice president of operations at Schreiber Foods, discussed sustainability practices that reduce waste and improve resource use. He emphasized the importance of collaboration to create more efficient pathways so that surplus foods are not wasted or underused.

Palmer said Utah's unique combination of agricultural strength, manufacturing capacity, community partnerships and collaborative culture positions the state to become a national leader in food system innovation.