The Food Systems Planning and Healthy Communities Lab is dedicated to research that critically examines the role of planning and local government policy in facilitating sustainable food systems and healthy communities. The Food Lab’s research unfolds in collaboration with other research groups within and outside UB, as well as in partnership with community and planning organizations and local governments in the United States and globally. Drawing on its research, the Food Lab team provides technical assistance to community advocates, planners, and local governments on the use of policy and planning to create equitable food systems and healthy communities.
A food system cannot be understood through the lens of a single discipline. As such, research in the Food Lab occurs in collaboration with colleagues across a number of disciplines including planning, policy, public health, and agriculture. Results of our research informs on-the-ground changes in local government policy and plans.
