South Dakota launches collaborative to fight food insecurity

By Scout Nelson

In observance of Hunger Action Month, a new statewide collaborative was launched last week to combat food insecurity in South Dakota. According to recent data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, nearly 14 percent of U.S. households faced food insecurity last year, including over 100,000 South Dakotans.

Timothy Meagher, a member of the steering committee for the South Dakota Healthy Nutrition Collaborative, explained that the initiative aims to tackle food insecurity by integrating a network of resources, including healthcare groups, universities, community foundations, and food producers. Meagher stated that the collaborative's goal is to “align resources to actions,” focusing on better coordination among organizations.

The high rate of food insecurity has drawn national attention, with U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack attributing it to Congressional actions such as blocking the expansion of the Child Tax Credit and restricting access to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). These decisions, according to Vilsack, have directly impacted the ability of households to secure sufficient food.

The South Dakota Healthy Nutrition Collaborative has set ambitious goals for its first year. These include assessing the landscape of organizations addressing hunger, improving coordination among them, elevating the voices of advocates, researchers, and those experiencing food insecurity, and advancing policies to address the issue effectively.

Nutritious diets are essential in preventing chronic diseases, such as cancer and heart disease, which are the leading causes of death in South Dakota, according to the South Dakota Department of Health.

By focusing on nutrition and access to healthy food, the collaborative hopes to not only reduce food insecurity but also improve overall health outcomes for residents across the state.

The collaborative approach is a promising step toward creating a more sustainable and healthy future for South Dakotans. By bringing together a diverse group of stakeholders, the initiative aims to make a significant impact in the fight against hunger.

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