Many good policy options exist for changing food availability, food prices or food marketing - thereby changing the food environment - at the local, state and federal level. Many such policies, aimed primarily at the downstream, consumer end of the food chain, could be considered as policies designed to either increase consumer demand for healthy foods or decrease consumer demand for unhealthy foods. In addition, however, policymakers and researchers are only just awakening to the upstream links between obesity and policy determinants of what happens on the farm. Changes to agricultural or food policy at the farm end could have positive downstream health impacts, both in terms of food availability and prices, but also in terms of environmental health writ large, e.g. less fossil fuel use, less eutrophication, better water management, etc.

Primary Responsibilities

The goal of the internship is to collect examples of policies that have been proposed, piloted or enacted at both ends of the food chain, and then to organize them, in consultation with IATP staff, in ways that facilitate the public and policymakers gaining access to them.

Experience and Qualification Requirement

Graduate level student in public policy, food and nutrition policy or related discipline.

Additional Information

Location: Off-site or on-site at IATP's office in Minneapolis. If off-site, initial in-person meeting required, and then phone/email check-ins, as well as a final in-person meeting at the end of the project.

Duration: To begin immediately. Flex time over 6-8 weeks.

Compensation: Unpaid

How to Apply

Email résumé, cover letter and one writing sample to Emily Barker at ebarker@iatp.org by February 14, 2010. Please indicate in your e-mail the name of the internship for which you are applying.