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Hub for Food Systems Communication and Engagement

The Hub for Food Systems Communication and Engagement Officially Launches at NC State

July 25, 2025

The Hub for Food Systems Communication and Engagement has officially launched, aiming to bridge the gap between agri-food research and innovation development and its end-users – including stakeholders, policy makers, and consumers. This initiative comes at a crucial time, as novel innovations are essential for tackling global challenges like changing climates and food insecurity, provided they are developed sustainably and consider various audience needs. The decline in public trust in food systems further underscores the complexity and necessity of this work.

Scientists are tasked with translating their research for the public good and ensuring it meets the needs of both stakeholders and consumers. The Hub was established to address these interlocking challenges.

The Hub is guided by three core goals:

  • Increasing the social, economic, and environmental sustainability of agri-food innovation research and development through community and stakeholder engagement and feedback, thereby increasing transparency and responsiveness.
  • Promoting best practices for participatory science communication to improve engagement efforts through Cooperative Extension and other organizations via trainings, webinars, and continuous learning informed by rigorous social science research.
  • Examining public trust in agri-food systems through mixed-method monitoring of consumer perceptions and proactive communication on emerging issues.

The Hub has three primary activity areas:

  1. Collaborating and consulting with researchers, industry leaders, and others to conduct engagement around emerging agri-food innovations and technologies;
  2. Hosting The Science that Feeds Us podcast to showcase the stories of the science behind the food on our plates;
  3. Fostering on-going professional development opportunities for engagement scholars and practitioners through the Community of Practice for University Outreach and Extension Engagement.

Through these efforts, the Hub aims to enhance responsive research, engagement, and programming to more closely connect you to the technology and science behind the food you eat. 

If you or your organization is interested in collaboration, reach out today!