Advancing Food Security through Justice and Dignity: Cross-Sector Approaches for Research, Practice, and Policy

Persistent food insecurity and the increasing strain on public nutrition programs call for a fundamental reimagining of how social work and allied fields engage with food systems. This roundtable brings together scholars and practitioners advancing interdisciplinary, justice- and dignity-based approaches that center the voices, agency, and cultural strengths of those most affected by food insecurity. Moving beyond traditional models of charitable food access, panelists will explore how food can be positioned as a human right, and how dignity-driven frameworks offer transformative alternatives for policy and practice.

This session features experts working across public health, behavioral science, social policy, nonprofit leadership, and social work education. Participants will draw on statewide strategic planning, institutional change initiatives, and practice-based research, panelists will share lessons learned and practical strategies for embedding justice and equity into food security efforts.

In the face of federal nutrition policy rollbacks, rising cost-of-living pressures, and growing disillusionment with the charitable food system, this discussion is both timely and urgent. Panelists will identify key leverage points for integrating food justice into social work education, research, and advocacy framing this as a critical area of disciplinary innovation. Discussions will examine assets, challenges, and opportunities across various sectors, including food retail, federal nutrition assistance, and charitable food networks.

Learning Objectives 1. Define core principles of dignity- and justice-based approaches to food security. 2. Explore cross-sector strategies for advancing food justice in research and practice. 3. Identify opportunities for the social work profession to lead systemic change in food policy and access.