President Joe Biden, during the recent White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition and Health, expressed his confidence in the possibility of eradicating hunger in the US by 2030. This sparked optimism among attendees such as Lisa Hamler-Fugitt, Executive Director of the Ohio Association of Food Banks. The conference occurred following the announcement of the administration’s national strategy on hunger, nutrition, and health, which was bolstered by $8 billion in commitments from various sectors.

Attendees like Joel Berg, CEO of Hunger Free America, appreciated the balanced approach of the strategy which prioritized safety net measures and government initiatives, while also acknowledging the importance of charitable contributions. Berg emphasized the importance of aligning efforts to end hunger and ensuring access to healthy food, based on the expressed desires of those affected by poverty and hunger.

A positive takeaway from the conference was the recognition of the link between nutrition and health. The emphasis on improving food accessibility through affordability, as mentioned by Jackie DeCarlo, CEO of Manna Food Center, was a key highlight. She cited the role of initiatives like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in boosting people’s purchasing power.

Hamler-Fugitt pointed to the importance of incorporating ‘Food is Medicine’ initiatives, such as using 1115 Medicaid waivers to fund medically tailored meals and produce prescriptions. These efforts could potentially save significant resources in the healthcare sector. Karen Pearl, President and CEO of God’s Love We Deliver, echoed the sentiment, highlighting the need for these ‘Food is Medicine’ programs to be fully reimbursable and made into official policy, rather than remaining as ad-hoc initiatives.

Despite the prevailing optimism, challenges and legislative hurdles still exist in achieving the national strategy’s goals. Nonetheless, the conference was seen as a crucial stepping stone, providing legitimacy to the ideas and ambitions set forth in the fight against hunger.