FAS PROJECTS 
Community Food Nutrition Profile (CFNP)
The UNH Department of Molecular, Celluar, & Biomedical Sciences and the UNH Office of Sustainability are collaborating in the development of a profile tool that integrates multiple disciplines and societal sectors to inform systemic assessments, interventions, and evidence-based evaluations to improve health and integrity across the entire food system. Specific components of the Community Food and Nutrition Profile (CFNP) include characterization of community members' food resources, acquisition behaviors, and diet and health practices and status. These will be integrated with assessment of the economic, cultural, and ecological resources of the community's agriculture and foodways. The CFNP findings will be used to provide baseline data on the University's sustainability and status in terms of food, nutrition, and health practices, and will also be used as a benchmark from which progressive interventions and policies will be developed and evaluated.
Dual Major in EcoGastronomy
Integrating UNH's strengths in sustainable agriculture, hospitality management, and nutrition, the new Dual Major in EcoGastronomy -- the first of its kind in US higher education! -- offers a unique academic program emphasizing the interdisciplinary, international, and experiential knowledge that connects all three fields. And as a dual major, the program provides a complement to any primary major. The program is a unique partnership between the Whittemore School of Business & Economics and the College of Life Sciences and Agriculture, in collaboration with the University Office of Sustainability. Learn more...
Local Harvest Initiative
In recognition of the many benefits vibrant agriculture affords New Hampshire, the UNH Local Harvest Initiative raises awareness and educates students, staff, and community members about our local agricultural landscape and its role in sustaining our physical and economical health and well-being, now and in the future. This initiative includes increasing local food served on campus (such as cage-free eggs, local honey, and produce from local farms), hosting the award-winning Local Harvest Dinner, and supporting the UNH Compost Program. In addition, UNH Dining has renovated the campus Dairy Bar to a "Local-Sustainable-Fresh" eatery, which includes serving local and regional foods, recycling and composting waste, using biodegradable containers, and more.
New Hampshire Center for a Food Secure Future (NHCFSF)
The New Hampshire Center for a Food Secure Future (NHCFSF) is a University of New Hampshire-based collaboration among diverse stakeholders in the food system including state agencies, non-profits, business and industry partners and associations, as well as educators and practitioners. The Center was created to address the need for coordinated, comprehensive action linking agriculture, the food environment and health and nutrition in our state and region.
New Hampshire Farm to School Program
Thousands of school children -- over half the K-12 schools in the state -- enjoy eating and learning about the benefits of locally grown products throught The New Hampshire Farm to School Program housed at UOS. The program is designed to connect local farms and farm products to New Hampshire classrooms and cafeterias by integrating agricultural production, school food procurement, and school curriculum.
Organic Dairy Research Farm
The Organic Dairy Research Farm, the first of its kind at a land-grant university, provides research to New England farmers and training to UNH students. The UNH Organic Dairy Research Farm is part of UNH's commitment to sustainability and the renaissance of food and agriculture in New Hampshire. It is complemented by related UNH research, including research in dairy nutrition.
In spring 2008, UNH researchers received a significant grant to study UNH's organic dairy research farm as a sustainable closed agroecosystem, exploring viable strategies for becoming energy independent. The $380,000 three-year grant, from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Sustainable Agricultural Research and Education (SARE) program, aims to explore whether closing energy and nutrient cycles could help small family dairy farms in the Northeast survive economic vulnerabilities. The study comes as rising energy, feed and capital investment costs shrink the already narrow profit margin of dairy agriculture in the Northeast, threatening the regional sustainability of the industry. Such an ecosystem-level approach to a commercial organic dairy production is unique, at least in the United States. Learn more...
Watch video of the first calf being born at the Organic Dairy Research Farm!
Organic Garden Club
Founded in 2003, the student-run Organic Garden Club (OGC) was voted UNH’s Student Organization of the Year in 2007. The OGC maintains a two-acre site on a 30-acre, USDA certified organic parcel of land on the UNH Durham campus - the first certified organic land on campus. The OGC grows a variety of produce, which it sells to UNH Dining and at a weekly farm stand on campus (Wednesdays July through September from 11 AM –2 PM in Murkland Courtyard). The OGC also helps to host a free monthly Durham community dinner at the Waysmeet Center. Elisabeth Farrell, Food & Society Initiative Program Coordinator, serves on the club's advisory committee.
Real Food Challenge
"The Real Food Challenge serves as both a campaign and a network. The campaign is to increase the procurement of real food on college and university campuses. By leveraging their purchasing power we can catalyze the transformation of the larger food system. The network offers a chance for students and their allies (those working on the campaign along with those who've yet to sign on) to make connections, learn from one another, and grow the movement." Chief Sustainability Officer, Tom Kelly, serves on the advisory board of the Real Food Challenge. In 2007, UOS sponsored several UNH students to attend the first Real Food Student Summit, and in 2009, UOS will sponsor the second Northeast Real Food Student Summit to be held in February in Amherst. MA. In October 2008, UNH offically "kicked off" the Real Food Challenge at UNH with a Real Food Forum. Click here to contact the UNH Real Food Challenge representative.
Slow Food Principles & Terra Madre 
In May of 2006, UNH signed the Agreements of Intentions and Collaborations “for the purpose of creating a worldwide network of universities and research institutions linked to the International Slow Food Association.” These principles include “protection of agricultural biodiversity,” “support of the rights of peoples to self-determination with regard to food,” and “education of civilized society and training of workers in the food and agricultural sector.” UNH is one of ten universities in the U.S. to have signed the principles, and the first to award the founder of Slow Food—Carlo Petrini—an honorary degree. As a result, UNH faculty and staff participated in the 2006 edition of Terra Madre, an international meeting and network of food communities. In October, UNH faculty and staff participated in the 2008 edition of Terra Madre.
Additional Activities
Every year, UOS engages in a variety of activities related to its FAS Intiative which are not captured under a specific project. These include co-sponsoring various events, collaborating with partners on emerging projects, presenting at meetings and conferences, and more. Some recent include:
- collaborating with partners to host the UNH Fair Trade Fair, a day-long event examining fair trade practices;
- co-sponsoring conferences, including NH Beginner Farmers Conference and the NOFA-NH Winter Conference, and resources including the Seacoast Harvest guide and the NH Virtual Farmers' Market;
- presenting at the Northeast Campus Sustainability Consortium Conference and NH Farm & Forest;
- serving on committees including the Northeast Regional Farm to School Steering Committee and the Organic Dairy Research Farm Executive Committee;
- and more!
