Central Texas Food System Research Landscape
Based on a project conducted in summer 2024
Introduction
Central Texas Food Bank (CTFB) is invested in catalyzing change within the food system so that communities can have more equitable access to nutritious food. To that end, one purpose of the Central Texas Food System dashboard is to centralize information about the food system research landscape in our region, starting with an analysis of the current landscape. This includes answering questions, such as:
What are the strengths and opportunities in food system research in Central Texas?
Who are the key researchers and institutions engaged in this research in Central Texas?
How do collaborations play out among those researchers and across institutions?
We started by interviewing 25 researchers across six Central Texas higher education institutions during the summer of 2024:
10 researchers from UT Austin
4 from Baylor University and Baylor Collaborative on Hunger and Poverty
4 from Texas A&M
4 from Texas State University
2 from UTHealth
1 from Austin Community College, Elgin Campus
These 25 researchers were identified through various channels: research asset mapping conducted by Central Texas Food Bank in 2023, suggestions from Central Texas Food Bank staff and Dashboard Advisory Group members, and web searches. During interviews, additional researchers were identified through snowball sampling.
Below, we summarize our learnings from these interviews, framed by the food system sectors as presented on the dashboard.
Note about this project: The findings below reflect the landscape analysis CTFB’s research team conducted during summer 2024, which focused on higher education institutions. However, we continue to connect with additional researchers to learn about their interests and maintain a research directory and network map. We also plan to conduct outreach to researchers in the private food industry and nonprofit sectors in the future. See our Research Directory and Network Map page for an up-to-date list of who is involved in food system research in Central Texas.
For details on our methodology, please contact us at research@centraltexasfoodbank.org.
Suggested citation: Burger M., Gougeon L., Ayrhart T. (2024). Central Texas Food System Research Landscape. Retrieved [Month Day, Year] from https://www.centraltexasfoodsystem.org/research-landscape.
Food System Research by Sector
We used the sectors that comprise the food system, as laid out on our dashboard, to identify strengths and potential gaps in research. Based on the primary research interests expressed, current research has a strong presence in the Food Consumption and Food Production sectors, limited presence in Food Waste and Food Markets and Retail, and potential gaps in Food Processing and Food Distribution, as shown in Table 1. Policy and Advocacy arose as a key research area that shapes the food system and touches on all sectors.
Central Texas Food Bank views food insecurity and the need for charitable services as a result of a food system that is not functioning equitably rather than part of the food system itself. Nonetheless, given the importance of understanding people’s experiences with food insecurity and the role of the charitable sector in filling in food gaps, we also explored research focused on Food Security and Charitable Services.
The network map in Figure 1 illustrates the connections and areas of interest identified during our interviews.
Note: For an updated version, check out our Research Directory and Network Map page.
Table 1. Researchers’ interests across food system sectors and focus areas (N=25).
Figure 1: Network map showing researchers’ primary food system sectors (solid color in each circle), the other sectors to which their work relates (represented by the color-coded curved lines around each circle), and their main collaborators in Central Texas (connecting lines). Researchers in gray circles were mentioned as collaborators by other researchers but were not interviewed.
For an updated version, check out our Research Directory and Network Map page.
Click on a research area to expand
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Not surprisingly, the Food Consumption sector has a strong presence among nutrition and dietetics researchers, particularly represented by UT Austin. Two-thirds (eight of 12) of the researchers primarily connected to this sector also see their work contributing to Food Security and Charitable Services research.
Researchers interested in the Food Consumption sector focused on understanding the relationship between non-medical drivers of health (a.k.a., social determinants of health or SDOH) and dietary behaviors, and/or on examining the influence of interventions and strategies on those behaviors and incidence of chronic disease. Health equity was a strong theme either as an outcome or as a lens through which they examined interventions.
Researchers at all academic institutions expressed a focus on historically socioeconomically disadvantaged populations and/or underserved communities.
Research topics in this sector are summarized below:
The interplay of SDOH (e.g., income, education, housing) and physical environments (e.g., walkability, food advertising) and how they impact behavior change and population health.
Nutrition technology, such as in-clinic and app-based interventions, and its role in improving community health and addressing chronic disease (prevention and/or management).
Nutrition interventions throughout the lifespan, from nutrition during pregnancy, breastfeeding support, and promotion of infant feeding practices to environments supporting healthy aging.
Public health nutrition infrastructure and its effectiveness in promoting healthy eating, including subsidies and taxes to incentivize or disincentivize certain consumption patterns.
"Food is medicine" initiatives, such as produce prescription programs and food bank/healthcare partnerships at clinics, and their potential to improve community health.
School gardens and their effects on health markers (e.g., obesity and type-2 diabetes).
Community health outcomes related to local food systems and the environmental impact of dietary patterns.
Cultural aspects of consumption patterns (e.g., how people derive joy from what they consume).
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Another area of strength in academic research in Central Texas is Food Production, with representation across four of the six institutions. Most (4) are agricultural scientists. While research interests were diverse, sustainability was a common thread, as summarized below:
Sustainable agricultural production (e.g., regenerative, organic, agroecological approach), both crop science and as local production relates to supporting food security.
Production of nutrient-dense foods like fruits and vegetables rather than commodity crops (e.g., corn, cotton, soy).
Assessing the effectiveness of organic waste to improve soil health, nutrient recycling, and water holding capacity through practices like composting and biochar.
Studying the economics of farming, including the implementation of financial literacy programs and provision of planning and technical assistance to producers.
Human-environment interactions, such as competing land uses related to urbanization, water resource management, and environmental justice.
Strategies to promote climate and crop resilience and prepare for future changes to agriculture, like controlled environment agriculture systems, increasing biodiversity, and cultivating crops that are more immune to insects and disease.
The Texas state prison system’s agricultural production model and how it relates to self-reliance.
Studying school gardens as a strategy to supplement food production at the community level.
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Only one researcher at Texas A&M identified Food Waste as a primary research area, and another at Texas State as a secondary sector for their research. Their work encompasses:
Food waste at the consumer level, including advancing methods of quantifying food waste.
Food loss occurring at the farm level and at direct-to-consumer outlets like farmers markets.
Refer to the Glossary for the distinction between food waste and food loss.
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A portion of the research conducted by three researchers touched upon the Food Markets and Retail sector. While their main focus is on another sector (refer to Table 1), their research explores important topics related to food markets and retail in Central Texas:
Understanding race- and income-based disparities related to grocery store access.
Assessing the effectiveness of large-scale interventions in increasing retail access to nutritious foods, such as nutrition incentives like Double Up Food Bucks and the Farmers Market Nutrition Program; and outlets like Fresh for Less, farm stands, and healthy corner stores.
Strategies to increase access to online purchasing of nutritious foods, especially in rural areas.
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Two researchers, both at the LBJ School of Public Affairs at UT Austin, shared research interests that cross-cut various sectors and were strongly related to Policy and Advocacy. These researchers study systems change and the ripple effect of major policies (“the food system as a system”) and effective ways to take pure science and turn it into policy (e.g., policy briefs, translating policy for non-academic audiences). Their previous work has looked at topics such as the following:
Labor and land dynamics
Policy change to address food security
Investing in social welfare programs like nutrition incentives
Building the next generation of food system advocates through student training and community outreach
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Research on Food Security and Charitable Services has a strong presence in Central Texas, led mainly by two institutions: Baylor University and UT Austin. These institutions present a comprehensive approach to improving food security and nutrition through a convergence of direct intervention, community involvement, environmental considerations, and technological innovation, as exemplified below.
Community-based initiatives to alleviate food insecurity and/or bring about food sovereignty and food justice (e.g., Black gatherings and what they teach about food justice).
Disaster preparedness and response and neighborhood climate impacts (flooding, extreme heat, winter storms) in connection with food security.
Studying the effect of certain contexts, like mental health and religion, on food security.
Despite research in the Food Consumption sector focusing more on individual-level interventions and impact and research on Food Security and Charitable Services pertaining more closely to root causes of food insecurity, researchers in both areas had overlapping priority populations, which include individuals in low-income households, accessing federal programs such as SNAP/WIC, visiting Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), or living in rural areas. Their similarities also stem from Food Security and Charitable Services providing strategies or a lens to understand or change consumption.
Research Collaboration
Collaboration among researchers happens in various forms, such as participation in committees, coursework, grant applications, papers, presentations, etc., as shown in Figure 2.
Collaboration Catalysts
"Project Planning" and "Grants" emerged as the most common catalysts of collaboration among researchers interviewed, underscoring the need for structured timelines and funding to facilitate partnerships.
Other collaboration methods included committee participation, ranging from simply sharing organizational membership to actively serving on small committees together, and coauthoring papers. These efforts illustrate the existing connections among researchers but also point to the importance of formal structures in fostering collaboration.
Figure 2. Types of collaboration among researchers by frequency of mentions.
Non-Academic Collaboration and Support
Researchers emphasized the value of incorporating non-academic perspectives to gain a comprehensive view of food system research. Key partners mentioned include nonprofits, government offices, and community organizations such as Farmshare Austin and Waco Family Medicine. Foundations like Episcopal Health Foundation, St. David’s Foundation, and Michael and Susan Dell Foundation also play a significant role in supporting collaborative research initiatives. These partnerships help bridge the gap between academic and community-based knowledge, fostering a more inclusive approach to understanding local food systems.
Barriers to Collaboration
Many cited major barriers to collaboration that stem from within and outside academia:
Time constraints: Researchers often found it challenging to connect even with those at nearby institutions.
Academic promotion system: Cited as a potential challenge for young investigators pursuing tenure, since it often undervalues partnerships and community engagement in preference of federal grants and publications. Meaningful community-engaged research requires building trusting relationships, which, in turn, require time and commitment to develop.
Lack of awareness about who is working on food system research, as researchers' evolving interests and projects are not always reflected in public profiles or professional summaries. Time constraints also prevent connections.
Enhancing Collaboration
To enhance collaboration, researchers suggested strategies such as:
Hosting regular gatherings would allow researchers to share updates, learn together, and form connections.
Creating a directory of researchers and their work. A centralized directory could help researchers build interdisciplinary teams and pursue joint projects.
Developing actionable research questions driven by community needs.
Gaps and Opportunities for Food System Research in Central Texas
Based on our findings and our work in creating the Central Texas Food System Dashboard, Figure 3 shows opportunities for food system research in academic institutions in Central Texas that could help build a more equitable regional food system.
Figure 3. Opportunities for food system research in Central Texas.
Limitations and Other Important Considerations
Limitations of this research landscape and additional important points made during interviews include:
Expanding collaborations beyond Central Texas can enhance research impact. Some researchers identified essential partners and projects outside the region, particularly in Dallas and Houston. Including these broader connections in future research network maps and directories would be beneficial for capturing the full scope of food system research and fostering a more interconnected regional research landscape.
Engaging non-traditional researchers within academia is equally important. Researchers in fields not directly related to food—such as History, Religious Studies, and Government (“unusual suspects”)—provide valuable insights that enrich food system research, building a multidisciplinary foundation for understanding and addressing food system issues.
Acknowledging that research also exists outside of academia. While we have started by examining food system research in the region within academic institutions, we acknowledge that a wealth of research exists in the food industry, research institutes and centers, and nonprofit organizations—our own organization, Central Texas Food Bank, being one strong example.
What’s Next?
We plan to continue our connection with academic researchers and explore future collaborations in line with our mission and research goals. One strategy is to form a Data and Research Advisory Group in 2025 and identify potential student projects related to food system research for course credit.
Central Texas Food Bank is also leading the formation of the Central Texas Regional Food System Council in 2025, which will strengthen the bridge between research and action. The Data and Research Advisory Group will be directly connected to the Council, providing an evidence-based approach to decision making.
Finally, our Research Directory and Network Map page provides contact information and research interests for the researchers that we learned about during this project. We see these as tools to facilitate collaboration among researchers and to connect food system planners with researchers to fill gaps in data and knowledge. We will add to and update the directory and map on an ongoing basis.
If you have any questions about this work, please reach out to our research team at research@centraltexasfoodbank.org. If you would like to be included in our directory, please submit an add/update form, available on our Research Directory and Network Map page.
