Project Spotlight
Delta GREENS Study
Co-Investigator · Tufts University Friedman School of Nutrition · Delta Health Center · Tufts University School of Medicine · Reuben V. Anderson Institute for Social Justice
Dr. Vanessa N. Robinson, DrPH, MPH serves as Co-Investigator on the Delta GREENS (Growing a Resilient, Enriching, Equitable, Nourishing food System) “Food is Medicine” Project, a five-year, NIH-funded study exploring ways to build more equitable food systems in the Mississippi Delta.
The initiative involved community focus groups across three counties (Bolivar, Washington, and Sunflower), listening to residents about local barriers to healthy food access, and rigorous policy and environmental analysis. A major challenge was reconciling lived experiences of “food swamp” conditions and distrust of short-term programs with actionable strategies for long-term food systems change.
By centering community voices and integrating those insights with nutrition science and public health best practices, the team developed recommendations for food-is-medicine programs designed to improve health outcomes, reduce obesity and chronic disease risk, and reshape food access in the region. The findings are now informing implementation of interventions and may serve as a model for similar communities seeking sustainable food equity.
As a Native Mississippian, Dr. Robinson has prioritized the voices of local community members to establish feasible solutions to existing food challenges, while also upholding the standards and mission of Tufts University. She has been recognized for her exemplary work by many entities including Tufts University President Dr. Sunil Kumar.
Highlights & Publications
Making Progress Toward Equitable Food Systems in the Mississippi Delta
Tufts Now
Amplifying Lived Expertise on “Food Is Medicine” in the Mississippi Delta’s Legacy of Racism
American Journal of Public Health
The Age of the Soft-Girl Era: How Public Health Scholars May Seize Opportunity of Innovatively Promoting Reproductive Health and Nutritional Health Among Black Women of Color
Health Equity
Systems science methods reveal and address links between discrimination and health disparities in US food systems
Nature Food
Food is Medicine Action Plan
Aspen Institute
Nutrition shapes health at every stage of life, yet access to healthy, affordable food remains out of reach for too many.
I work at the intersection of research, community engagement, and policy to address these gaps and highlight solutions that make nourishment more equitable. From leveraging systems science methods to examine gaps in food systems to working with partners on food access, my approach connects science with real-world impact. At its core, this work is about helping individuals and communities thrive.
