Turner College Economics Students Present Research on Food Insecurity and Inflation

Turner College economics students Heather Chason and Michael Carter recently travelled to Valdosta State University to present their research on food insecurity and inflation as part of the 2022 Georgia Undergraduate Research Conference.  Using data from the National Garden Association, their study investigates the effectiveness of backyard farming in combatting food insecurity and inflation in the United States.  The results of the study suggest that although the initial costs of starting a backyard garden can vary, the revenue generated from the produce harvested outweighs the costs of production by as much as $2,000.  When asked by Turner Business about the conclusions and recommendations from the research, Chason explained that the results of the study “suggest that government support of backyard farming through tax[ation policies], facilitating exchange markets, and media advertising will increase participation and food security for . . . disadvantaged populations . . . [and] . . . stimulate economic growth, reduce the strain on national logistics, alleviate inflation, generate income, and promote equity and national security.”  Chason and Carter were mentored in their work by Turner College economics professor Fady Mansour, who noted that Chason and Carter “did a wonderful job” with the project, and that their presentation grabbed the audience’s attention and prompted a number of thoughtful questions.