Kansas State University Urban Food Systems

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Kansas State University Urban Food Systems

Urban Food Systems is a specialization under the Master of Science in Horticulture program.

The Urban Food Systems Initiative is an interdisciplinary collaboration by students, faculty, extension professionals, communities and industry who are focused on developing sustainable urban food systems that are inclusive, resilient, safe and diverse. The aim of this program is to study the potential an urban food system has in community building and economic development, educating youth and oth

ers about nutrition and wise food choices, and providing a source for nutritious food grown locally or regionally with the participation of urban residents. The specialization places an emphasis on sustainable agriculture, project management, and grant writing, in addition to having a solid foundation in urban food production. This specialization will prepare professionals for positions such as director/program managers in not-for-profit organizations, city governments or extension programs in urban districts facilitating community gardens, urban farming, farmers markets, or farm-to-school programs. There is a growing demand for professionals in this area and this unique specialization will prepare graduates well for careers in this area.

05/28/2026

We’re seeking a Graduate Research Assistant to join us at K-State Olathe this fall. The student will work with faculty at the Olathe campus and OHREC to assist with laboratory sections for required and elective Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) courses, including labs related to vertical farming and hydroponic production systems. The ideal candidate should have some experience in CEA and lab activities, and an interest in scholarship of teaching and learning. The GRA will have the opportunity to participate in research projects focused on lighting strategies and the nutritional quality of fresh produce grown in CEA systems. Send your resume and a brief paragraph about your background and interest to [email protected] with the subject line “CEA Assistantship”

05/27/2026

Dr. Arrington is an assistant professor of applied plant science in the Department of Plant and Wildlife Sciences and the director of the life sciences greenhouse at Brigham Young University. He has a strong desire to work on educational outreach to impoverished regions for agricultural production, particularly using new technologies to reduce production barriers.

He received his undergraduate degree in horticulture from BYU-Idaho, his master’s degree in horticulture from Oregon State University, and a PhD in horticulture from Washington State University.

Previously, Dr. Arrington was a research scientist for Plenty, an indoor agriculture company.

See our full panel and speaker list at https://urbanfoodsystemssymposium.org/

05/21/2026

We are excited to offer NRC SARE funds to educators attending the Urban Food Systems Symposium this fall!

Not an Urban Food Systems educator but still interested in financial assistance? Don't worry--our travel stipend page also lists opportunities for Urban Food Systems professionals and beginner farmers. Visit https://urbanfoodsystemssymposium.org/stipends-%26-awards to learn more and apply.

05/18/2026

The early bird gets the deal! Just a few more weeks to nab your symposium ticket at a discounted rate. Regular pricing begins June 1, so head to https://urbanfoodsystemssymposium.org/registration to reserve your spot today.

Have a question about registration? We're all ears!
Email [email protected] for any symposium queries.

05/17/2026

It was graduation weekend at K-State and five of our six graduates walked at the ceremony in Manhattan 🎓💜🎉 we're so proud of the six spring/summer UFS graduates: Kaleb Bell, Dustin Kohn, Lola Heintz, Justin Gross, Andrea Dinkel and Kara Walker.

05/08/2026

Dr. Meg Horst is a strategic climate, environmental, and urban planning professional whose work centers climate resilience, food systems, and land use planning. She spent nine years on the faculty of Portland State University’s Toulan School of Urban Studies and Planning, where she directed the MURP program and published extensively on food justice, urban agriculture, and equitable land use. Her scholarship appears in leading planning and food systems journals. Dr. Horst’s work is grounded in community-engaged practice and social justice, reflected in her service as co‑chair of the Portland Clean Energy Fund Community Advisory Board.

To hear from Dr. Horst during our panel session, register for the UFS Symposium using the link below!
https://urbanfoodsystemssymposium.org/registration

05/07/2026

BIG thank you to host farmer Jameson Hubbard at Dirt Beast Farm for hosting a workshop on irrigation! The primary focus was on drip irrigation systems, with a little bit of information on wobblers + sprinklers. Have you gotten your irrigation system installed yet? Summer is around the corner! 🌱💦

04/30/2026

August Stolba is a Master of Architecture student at the University of Oregon whose work centers on regenerative design and the integration of ecological systems into the built environment. As a Research Assistant in the Energy Studies in Buildings Laboratory, he collaborates on advancing architectural simulation tools to better model plant‑specific light responses—an emerging frontier in designing future food‑producing buildings.

August also serves as a Graduate Teaching Fellow, supporting courses in building construction, environmental control systems, and architectural context. With a deep commitment to sustainable food and energy systems, August’s work increasingly focuses on how architectural practice can support plant‑centered design, agricultural infrastructure, and ecologically resilient communities.

See the full speaker lineup at https://urbanfoodsystemssymposium.org/

04/23/2026

Does your work support healthy urban soil? Are you joining us for the Urban Food Systems Symposium? Then we'll let you in on some dirt.

Whether you teach about it, research it, or till it, we want you to share your insights in a 7-8 minute presentation at the September 14th pre-conference workshop!

Potential topics include:
-Educational approaches to teaching farmers, gardeners, or students about urban soils
-Methods for analyzing urban soils: soil contamination, bulk density adjustments, compaction, etc.
-Farmer perspectives on how universities, SWCDs, NRCS, and other technical service providers can better support farmers with urban soil management
-Collaborative methods for engaging urban farmers in research
-Curriculum ideas
-Calculator tools
-Anything else related to how we can better support growers with urban soil management!

Use this form to tell us what you bring to the water table:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScSE5MaPPuxZoeDbIFVLocc1nqnb1xWudVpm_GEJARJSjunhA/viewform

04/21/2026

Save the date for our next Gaining Ground Webinar! These webinars are put together by students in our Professional Development in Urban Food Systems graduate course and aim to build capacity within the food system. We hope to see you there! 🌱

Address

Olathe, KS
66061

Telephone

+19133077365

Website

https://olathe.k-state.edu/research/urban-food/, https://urbanfoodsystemssymposium.org/

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