Food Affordability and Access Research Agenda

From June to December 2024, as part of NYC’s Chronic Disease Strategy, MOFP convened City agencies, community organizations, and academic partners to launch a Food Affordability and Access Workgroup. Understanding that food is the foundation of health and well-being, the workgroup served as a key part of the City's efforts to meet New Yorkers’ material needs, expand nutrition security, and support healthy food access. To shed light on barriers to food affordability and access, the workgroup developed a set of research priorities focusing on food prices, food retail, and food choice and behaviors. The resulting priorities are outlined in Setting the Table: NYC’s Research Framework to Enhance Food Affordability and Access, a tool designed to strengthen collaboration between City agencies and partners as we deepen our understanding of NYC's food system and identify evidence-based solutions that increase New Yorkers’ ability to access healthy, affordable food.