Food Insecurity in the United States and Five Policy Responses

Craig Gundersen, University of Illinois agricultural economist, surveyed food insecurity in the United States, drawing on national survey measurement, the Map the Meal Gap project, and county-level data for Illinois, the Eastern Illinois Food Bank service area, and Champaign County. He argued for five responses: boosting SNAP participation, school lunch and breakfast programs, support for food banks and pantries, keeping food prices low, and financial-management education. The director of the Wesley Evening Food Pantry introduced him. A lively Q&A followed, with audience members challenging his positions on Walmart, wages, food taxes, and industrial agriculture.