Equity, Land, and Food Systems (ELFS)

PLanning and design profoundly our everyday quality of life as well as the long-term sustainability of our cities and regions. Land-use and zoning also shape environments outside of cities--including farmlands and wildlife habitats. 

Food connects rural and urban communities. What we eat, the price it costs, the places we shop, and how we grow it all impact our health. Energy is similar. Vast networks connect sites of extraction with production and distribution, impacting the immediate environment as well as the climate in general.

But just how does land-use change health? Is living in a "food desert" without easy access to a grocery store neccessarily a predictor of diabetes or obesity?  Will living next to a waste-to-energy plant impact the air quality--or your property values?

More importantly, how can YOU make positive changes to the world around you?

Under the direction of Dr. Brinkley, ELFS provides applied research focused on planning for healthy communities. We use spatial analytics and qualitative methods to investigate disparities in health, policy and environmental outcomes around the food-energy-waste nexus. We focus policy recommendations on evidence-based solutions identified for and by the host community through collaborative research with community members, community-based organizations, and public officials. As part of the UC Davis Community and Regional Development Program in the College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences our education program emphasizes understanding local governance, economic development, and health policy.

Our research is supported by grants from the National Science Foundation, United States Department of Agriculture, PEW Research Center, the California Governor's Office of Land-use and Climate Initiatives, and the University of California.