The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth will host the South Coast Food Security Forum on February 1, 5-8 p.m., at the Charlton College of Business Learning Pavilion and Auditorium.

Participants will hear from keynote speaker Ellen Parker, executive director of Project Bread. Discussion will focus on food deserts — lack of healthy and affordable food, or reliable transportation to such — along the South Coast.

The event is sponsored by the UMass Dartmouth’s Business Innovation Center at the Charlton College of Business and the Leduc Center for Civic Engagement.

Collaborators include Coastline Elderly Services, the Marion Institute Connector Series, the Southeastern Massachusetts Agricultural Partnership (SEMAP), and the Southeastern Massachusetts Food Security Network.

Admission is free. For more details, and to register for the event, visit semaponline.org/foodsecurity.