Sustainability, environmental projects at WSU also will benefit

Wayne State University today received a $100,000 grant from Ford Motor Company Fund to support the university's SEED Wayne (Sustainable Food Systems Education and Engagement in Detroit and Wayne State University) program. SEED Wayne was created to aid local hunger relief efforts by establishing urban gardens and other sustainable food resources on campus and in the Detroit community. A check from Ford was presented to Wayne State University President Jay Noren during a ceremony held on campus.

SEED Wayne features gardening in city settings, food collection and distribution, research and educational initiatives aimed at building locally-grown food supplies and feeding needy residents in Detroit. Its overall goal is to bring community partners together to create a sustainable urban food system in Detroit that is capable of growing and providing fresh food to the community.

SEED Wayne was selected by a panel of Ford reviewers to receive one of five Ford College Community Challenge grants to be awarded nationally in 2008. The grant program challenged universities across the nation to propose innovative, student-led sustainable solutions to pressing community problems, addressing the theme "Building Sustainable Communities."

"This grant, through the generosity of Ford Motor Company Fund, will challenge students and others to examine and implement solutions to sustainability issues as they relate to food systems," said Noren. "Through programs like SEED Wayne, the university is dedicated to collaboratively building sustainable food systems on campus and in Detroit area communities, through activities in teaching, research, engagement and campus operations."

"Education is the top priority of Ford Motor Company Fund and partnering with institutions such as Wayne State University in developing programs like SEED Wayne are critical in helping to address the needs of our communities," said Jim Vella, president, Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services. "We are not only cultivating the soil, but cultivating new relationships with our community partners to maximize food resources and develop sustainable solutions. SEED Wayne is one of many ways Ford is helping to drive a brighter future for Detroit and Southeast Michigan."

Launched in June 2008, SEED Wayne partners with several community-based organizations to enhance local food gathering efforts, including growing vegetables and other produce on available city lots and using the harvest to help stock food warehouses. Partners include Capuchin Soup Kitchen and their Earthworks Urban Farm program, AVI Foodsystems, Inc., Greening of Detroit, The Henry Ford, Eastern Market Corporation, Forgotten Harvest, City Connect Detroit, Food System Economic Partnership, and Detroit Economic Growth Corporation. Many campus units also have signed on as partners.
Current activities sponsored by SEED Wayne include:

• Warrior Demonstration Garden - Students grow herbs and vegetables on campus, with harvests used in cafeteria meals and distributed to area food assistance sites.
  
  
• 4th Wednesday Farmers Market - Local farmers and market gardeners sell produce in a monthly farmers market on campus.
  
  
• Food Rescue and Redistribution - Food vendors learn about the benefits of donating excess, edible prepared and unprepared foods to area gleaning organizations, which redistribute food to area food assistance programs.
  
  
• Cafeteria Composting - Food wastes in WSU cafeterias and residence halls are composted using a variety of methods.
  
  
• Student-Initiated Projects - With the help of small grants from SEED Wayne, student groups design and implement projects, consistent with the program's mission, as they may relate to research, service-learning, or volunteering.
  
  
• Sustainable Food Systems in the Classroom - A compendium of related faculty expertise and resources will advance teaching, research and engagement on sustainable food systems on the WSU campus.
  
  
• For more information about SEED Wayne, visit http://www.clas.wayne.edu/seedwayne/

Wayne State University is a premier institution of higher education offering more than 350 academic programs through 12 schools and colleges to more than 31,000 students.