Kansas State University

MANHATTAN — Kansas State University is one of more than 50 international universities and more than a dozen organizations partnering to end global hunger and malnutrition at home and abroad.

On Tuesday, Kansas State University Provost April Mason and leaders from other charter member universities will meet for a public signing of the Presidents' Commitment to Food and Nutrition Security at the United Nations in New York City.

The signing is part of the Hunger Forum and Public Signing Ceremony by the Presidents United to Solve Hunger, or PUSH. The group is a collaboration among higher education institutions that share a collective focus on ending food insecurity around the world. The convening group will outline the next steps for PUSH members.

The signing ceremony will be the first meeting for PUSH members and will unite students and university leaders with international organizations, nongovernmental organizations and students groups focused on the same initiative.

"PUSH really reflects what Kansas State University already is doing in addressing hunger and malnutrition on various levels," Mason said. "Adding our signature to this document is a public statement that says the university and its leadership are committed to doing what we can to prevent and address hunger not only around our communities and in the U.S., but across the world."

Mason said Kansas State University's heritage as a land-grant institution has long supported the advancement of food security through more than 150 years of research, teaching and outreach.

The university also has multiple outreach programs and activities focused on combating hunger and malnutrition at both local and global levels. Some examples:

• Various colleges operating food pantries

• The School of Leadership Studies coordinating service-learning activities around hunger

• The College of Agriculture conducting events to package food that can be airlifted into foreign countries following a disaster

• The annual Cats for Cans Food Drive that benefits the Flint Hills Breadbasket

• The Global Food Systems Initiative, which combines the university's expertise in plant science, animal health, food safety and food security and its world-class research facilities to meet industry needs in addressing the growing world population and its changing food needs.

"I'm doing this on behalf of Kansas State University and our four campuses, in addition to it being a passion of mine," Mason said. "I'm excited to be a part of it and I look forward to Kansas State lending its knowledge, research, leadership and outreach in helping address these very large and important food challenges."