OSU ranks No. 1 nationally for UN Sustainable Development Goal to address hunger, food insecurity

OSU ranks No. 1 nationally for UN Sustainable Development Goal to address hunger, food insecurity

Tuesday, July 30, 2024

Media Contact: Sydney Trainor | Communications and Media Relations Specialist | 405-744-9782 | [email protected]

For the second straight year, Oklahoma State University has been awarded the top rank in the U.S. for its work to combat hunger and food insecurity.

The recently released 2024 Times Higher Education Impact Rankingsalso moved OSU up three places to No. 2 globally for the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal No. 2: Zero Hunger - ahead of Michigan State University, Penn State University, Iowa State University and Arizona State University.

This ranking evaluated more than 800 universities' efforts in researching hunger, teaching food sustainability, and addressing food waste and hunger among students and local communities.

"As a modern land-grant university, we are committed to finding solutions to address the world's most pressing challenges," OSU President Kayse Shrum said. "Through continued efforts to live out the We Are Land-Grant Strategy,OSU has established itself as a leader in innovation to nourish the world. I am proud of our progress in these areas, and I'm particularly proud of the fact that we are leading the nation in this important effort."

Significant developments to combat food insecurity include the establishment of Pete's Pantry Program, which provides free food and advocates for reducing food insecurity on campus, and Pete's Eats, a food recovery program that donates surplus food from dining services to students and their families.

"One of our key efforts at OSU is to innovate to nourish the world, and it is wonderful to see our efforts recognized," said Dr. Jayson Lusk, vice president and dean of OSU Agriculture. "Unlike many other rankings, this one focuses on objective, documented efforts in agricultural research, and global and local efforts to solve hunger and food insecurity. I'm pleased that our team in OSU Agriculture is having a worldwide impact while simultaneously feeding our community."

Extension is one of the three pillars of OSU Agriculture as a land-grant university. With a presence in each of Oklahoma's 77 counties, OSU Extension educators serve communities through programming opportunities in agriculture and natural resources as well as family and consumer sciences, health and 4-H youth development.

OSU Extension educational programs emphasize the importance of plant and animal welfare, sustainable agricultural practices and food security. Also, the Robert M. Kerr Food and Agricultural Products Center at OSU supports Oklahoma's food and agricultural business sectors with public programming in food safety and quality assurance. Advancing agricultural enterprise and ensuring food safety drives economic growth in the state, region and nation.

To involve students in providing food for families in their community, Dr. Bailey Norwood, agricultural economics professor, teaches a Farm to Forkcourse - an initiative to help fight food insecurity - each spring where 200 students work in the gardens at Our Daily Bread Food and Resource Center to grow fresh fruits and produce that's supplied to the community.

In 2023, OSU's Student Farm was launched on the west side of campus on Highway 51 in Stillwater on 2.5 acres and has since produced over 60,000 pounds of food for Payne County residents.

OSU Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecturehead Dr. Justin Quetone Moss leads the project and secured a partnership with Rachael Condley, director of Stillwater's Our Daily Bread, to deliver fruits and vegetables to the food center and serve Payne County residents. Fresh produce is also supplied to Pete's Pantry, the food bank located on campus. Currently in its second year of production, the farm has doubled in acreage.

OSU also supports local, sustainable food sources through the Cowboy Meat Retail Store, which sells a variety of local meats. This initiative helps reduce campus food waste and promotes sustainable practices.

The Impact Rankings evaluate universities based on the 17 UN SDGs, assessing their 2022 efforts in research, stewardship, outreach and teaching, with the 2024 rankings including approximately 500 more universities than the previous year.

This is the fourth consecutive year OSU has submitted data for evaluation.

OSU ranked overall in the top 10% globally and No. 9 in the U.S. among much larger universities, such as Massachusetts Institute of Technology, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Florida International University, Penn State, Arizona State, Iowa State and Michigan State.

OSU achieved notable rankings in other SDGs as well, including No. 89 globally and No. 4 in the U.S. for SDG No. 17: Partnerships for the Goals, which evaluates universities' collaborations to support the SDGs.

A cornerstone of OSU's success in this area is its Center for Health Sciences' Project ECHO. Launched in 2017, this initiative aims to improve health outcomes in rural areas. Project ECHO currently operates 17 medical and five educational echo lines, facilitating cross-sector dialogue among government officials, tribal leaders, health care administrators, physicians and educators. This virtual platform enhances health care access by enabling collaborative problem-solving and knowledge sharing.

OSU's commitment to environmental sustainability is evident through initiatives like the Oklahoma Native Plant Corridor. Established as a Monarch Waystation, this project aims to protect monarch butterflies and other pollinators from habitat destruction. OSU collaborates with various sector organizations and agencies to identify challenges and develop solutions for preserving these ecologically vital species.

The OSU Rural Renewal Initiativefurther exemplifies the university's dedication to partnership and community development. This initiative connects researchers and community members to review approaches and develop best practices for rural renewal. The annual Rural Renewal Symposium offers a unique platform for faculty, students and rural community members from across the U.S. and worldwide to connect and learn about the latest discoveries, trends, and approaches in rural development. The program also provides seed grants to enhance collaboration and support research projects.

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