$60,000 in scholarships to support research on food insecurity in Canada.
MISSISSAUGA, Ontario , June 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — (TSX: MFI) Maple Leaf Foods and the Maple Leaf Centre for Food Security (the “Centre”) today announced the four recipients of the 2024/25 Maple Leaf Board Scholarships in Food Insecurity.
Master’s candidates Yannick Brunet from the University of Ottawa, Shara Fuller-Smith from the University of Lethbridge, Sharita Henry from the University of Victoria and Destiny Otoadese from the University of Alberta will each receive a $15,000 stipend to support their research.
Yannick Brunet’s research describes the impact of social determinants and food insecurity on access, utilization, and effectiveness of perinatal nutrition care and services for pregnant women. Shara Fuller-Smith explores whether and how food insecurity in Lethbridge, Alberta is associated with class status and how perceptions of individual identity influence changing food bank demographics. Sharita Henry’s research identifies determinants of food security in urban Black diaspora communities in Canada and proposes targeted interventions towards community-driven solutions. Destiny Otoades partners with local community-based organizations to explore the food security situation of Edmonton’s African immigrant population and explores barriers and facilitators to participation in collaborative community gardening.
These scholarships honour the extraordinary contributions of past chairs of the Maple Leaf Foods Board of Directors: David Emerson, Wallace McKain, Purdy Crawford and W. Jeffrey Beatty. Each year the Centre awards four scholarships to master’s or doctoral students conducting research that contributes to the body of knowledge on food insecurity in Canada. Candidates are selected based on academic achievement, contribution to filling a research gap, and the quality of their submission, including feasibility and methodological rigour.
“The dramatic rise in food insecurity rates in Canada highlights the importance of changing how we meet the needs of food insecure people,” said Sarah Stern, executive director of the centre. “These research projects will help expand our knowledge about the needs and opportunities of specific populations, including Black communities and pregnant women.”
The Center is proud to support research that contributes to understanding the barriers and interventions in achieving food security. 17 students have received research scholarships since the scholarships were introduced in 2020. For more information about the scholarship process, please visit the Maple Leaf Center for Food Security.
About the Maple Leaf Food Safety Center
The Maple Leaf Centre for Food Security (the “Centre”) is a registered charity committed to working collaboratively to reduce food insecurity in Canada by 50% by 2030. The Centre advocates for critical public policies and invests in knowledge-building and programs that increase the capacity of people and communities to achieve sustainable food security. The Centre was founded in 2016 and is governed by a Board of Directors that includes four independent experts.
About Maple Leaf Foods
Maple Leaf Foods Inc. (Maple Leaf Foods) is a carbon neutral company with a vision to be the most sustainable protein company on the planet, producing food responsibly under key brands including Maple Leaf®, Maple Leaf Prime®, Maple Leaf Natural Selections®, Schneiders®, Schneiders® Country Naturals®, Mina®, Greenfield Natural Meat Co.®, LightLife® and Field Roast™. Maple Leaf Foods employs approximately 13,500 people and has operations across Canada, the United States and Asia. The company is headquartered in Mississauga, Ontario and its shares are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (MFI).
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Source: Maple Leaf Center for Food Safety
