The Food Assistance and Nutrition Research Program of U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service named the Institute for Research on Poverty (IRP) the UW–Madison as the RIDGE Center for National Food and Nutrition Assistance Research following a nationwide competition.
As the new RIDGE (Research Innovation and Development Grants in Economics) Center, IRP serves as a national hub for sponsoring new, innovative research related to such programs as the food stamp and school lunch programs and as a center for training and mentoring scholars.
ERS also established a second research hub, for targeted studies, at the Southern Rural Development Center, Mississippi State University.
The announcement of the two new centers came as food stamp use has increased sharply as the severe economic recession continues.
Nearly one in eight Americans and one in four children received food stamps in October 2009, up 22 percent from a year earlier. In 2010 it is estimated that $60 billion will be spent on this program alone.
Judith Bartfeld—food insecurity researcher, professor in the UW–Madison Department of Consumer Science, specialist with Cooperative Extension, and IRP affiliate—serves as center director. Bartfeld notes, "Food assistance programs are taking on a phenomenally important role as a safety net, and center research will inform policymaking in this area."
- Institute for Research on Poverty selected as national research hub (University Communications)
- UW-Madison poverty institute chosen for new nutrition research center (Wisconsin State Journal)