Food security is having access by all people at all times to enough, adequate food for an active healthy life (USDA 2016).
How is it addressed? Achieving food security requires both environmental and personal endeavors, including partnerships with producers and retailers as well as fostering behavior change.
Why Does it Matter at UC Merced? A 2015 systemwide survey found that a combined 42% of UC students reported having experienced a reduced quality of diet or reduced food intake in the past 12 months.
Read more the UC's efforts on the Global Food Initiative Student Food Access and Security Page and the state of food and housing insecurity within the UC system in either this full report or executive summary.
