College of Agriculture & Natural Resources Department of Community Sustainability

Retired as of July 1, 2021

Mike Hamm is the former C.S. Mott Professor of Sustainable Agriculture and CRFS Senior Fellow. Mike is affiliated with the departments of community sustainability; plant, soil and microbial sciences; and food science and human nutrition. His appointment encompassed teaching, research and outreach. Community food security and community, regional, and sustainable food systems are research interest areas. Mike founded the C.S. Mott Group for Sustainable Agriculture in 2003 and was founding director of the MSU Center for Regional Food Systems from 2011-2015. Prior to moving to MSU, he was Dean of Academic and Student Programs for Cook College, Rutgers University. As a faculty member at Rutgers University, he was co-founder and director of the New Jersey Urban Ecology Program and founding director of the Cook Student Organic Farm. He was also facilitator for the New Jersey Cooperative Gleaning Network and a board member/board president of the Northeast Organic Farming Association of New Jersey.

Degree: Ph.D., University of Minnesota, 1979 B.A., Northwestern University, 1974

Research Interests:

Community-based food systems, food security, sustainable agriculture and nutrition education.

Instructional Activities:

ISS 310 - People and Environment

Outreach Focus:

Working with communities to develop community-based food systems.

Working on local and state food policy issues, including membership on the Michigan Food Policy Council.

www.foodsystems.msu.edu

Publications:

Meeh, Daimon C., Rowntree, Jason E., Hamm, Michael W.  Feeding a Population with Smaller Scale and Alternate System Production:  An examination of farm requirements with a multi-species pasture system to feed 10 million people.  Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems.  In press.

Hamm, Michael and Rachel Plawecki.  A Comparative Carbon Footprint Assessment of Winter Lettuce Production in Two Climatic Zones for Midwestern Market.   Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems.  In press.

Colasanti, Kathryn and Michael Hamm.  2013.  Increased Productivity, Role in Alleviating Food Insecurity Possible.  Response #1 to viewpoint.  Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems and Community Development 3(2): 15-16. 

Colasanti, K., Matts, C. and Hamm, M. W. Results from the 2009 Michigan Farm-to-School Survey: Participation Grows from 2004. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior 44(Nov 4, 2012): 343-349.

Waldman, Kurt, David Conner, John Biernbaum, Michael Hamm and Adam Montri. 2012. Determinants of Hoophouse Profitability: A Case Study of 12 Novice Michigan Farmers. HortTechnology 22(2) 215-223.

Colasanti, Kathryn, Michael Hamm and Charlotte Litjens. 2012. The City as an “Agricultural Powerhouse”? Perspectives on Expanding Urban Agriculture from Detroit, MI. Urban Geography 33(3): 348-369.

Conner, D, T. Liquori, B. Izumi, M. Hamm. 2012 Sustainable School Food Procurement in Large K-12 Districts: Prospects for Value Chain Partnerships. Agricultural and Resource Economics Review 41(1) 100-113.

Conner, D., Nowak, A., Berkenkamp, J., Feenstra, G., Van Soelen Kim, J. Liquori, T. and Hamm, M. 2011. Value Chains and Sustainable Procurement in Large School Districts: Fostering partnerships. Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems and Community Development 1 (4).

Conner, David, Adam Montri, Kurt Waldman, John Biernbaum, Michael Hamm. 2011. Hoophouse Contributions to Farm Profitability and Food System Sustainability: Lessons from Michigan. Journal of Extension 49(1): 1-5.

Colasanti, Kathryn, Michael W. Hamm. 2010. Assessing the Local Food Supply Capacity of Detroit, Michigan. Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development 1(2): 41-58.

Izumi, Betty, D. Wynne Wright, Michael Hamm. 2010. Market diversification and social benefits: Motivations of farmers participating in farm to school programs. Journal of Rural Studies 26 (2010) 374-382.

Conner, David S., Abate, Getachew, Liquori, Toni, Hamm, Michael W. and Peterson, H. Christopher. 2010. Prospects for More Healthful, Local, and Sustainably Produced Food in School Meals. Journal of Hunger & Environmental Nutrition 5(4): 416-433.

Conner, David S., Kurt B. Waldman, Adam D. Montri, Michael W. Hamm, and John A. Biernbaum. 2010. Hoophouse Contributions to Economic Viability: Nine Michigan Case Studies. HortTechnology 20: 877-884.

Izumi, B, Alaimo, K., Hamm, M. W. 2010. Farm to School Programs: Perspectives of School Food Service Professionals. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior 42(2): 83-91.

Story, M., Hamm, M.W, Wallinga, D. 2009. Research and Action Priorities for Linking Public Health, Food Systems, and Sustainable Agriculture: Recommendations from the Airlie Conference. Journal of Hunger and Environmental Nutrition 4(3-4): 477-485.

Hamm, M.W. 2009. Principles for Framing a Healthy Food System. Journal of Hunger and Environmental Nutrition 4(3-4): 241-250.

Story, M., Hamm, M.W, Wallinga, D. 2009. Food Systems and Public Health: Linkages to Achieve Healthier Diets and Healthier Communities. Journal of Hunger and Environmental Nutrition 4(3-4): 219-224.

Izumi, B., Wright, D.W., Hamm, M. 2009. Farm to School Programs: Exploring the role of regionally-based food distributors in alternative agrifood networks. Agriculture, Food and Human Values. http://www.springerlink.com/content/8632j280744740g5/.

Conner, D., A. Montri, D.Montri, M. Hamm. 2009. Consumer demand for local produce at extended season farmers' markets: Guiding farmer marketing strategies. Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems 24 (4) 251-259.

Conner, D., A. Montri, and M. Hamm. 2009. Demand for Local Produce from Passive Solar Greenhouses: Contributions to Sustainable Food Systems. Journal of Food Distribution Research 25 (1) 47-52.

Conner, David S., Knudson, William A., Hamm, Michael W., Peterson, Christopher. 2008. The Food System as an Economic Driver: Strategies and Applications for Michigan. Journal of Hunger and Environmental Nutrition 3 (4): 371-383.

Hamm, M.W. Linking Sustainable Agriculture and Public Health: Opportunities for Realizing Multiple Goals Journal of Hunger and Environmental Nutrition, 3(2/3):169-185 (2008).

Conner, D. Campbell-Arvai, V. and Hamm, M. Consumer Preferences for Pasture-Raised Livestock Products: Results from Michigan Journal of Food Distribution Research, 39(2):12-25 (2008).

Conner, D., S. Cocciarelli, B. Mutch, M. Hamm. Community-Based Food Systems in Michigan: Cultivating Diverse Collaborations from the Ground Up. Journal of Extension, 46(4) (2008).

Wilkins, J., C. Peters, M. Hamm, and E. Reinhardt. Increasing Acres to Decrease Inches: Comparing the Agricultural Land Requirements of a Low-Carbohydrate, High-Protein Diet with a MYPyramid Diet. Journal of Hunger & Environmental Nutrition, 3(1):3-16 (2008).

Conner, D., Campbell-Arvai, V. and Hamm, M. Value in the Values: Pasture-raised livestock products offer opportunities for reconnecting producers and consumers. Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems, 23(1):62-69 (2008).