Reference sources can be a useful place to explore a topic and begin your research. Not only do they give background information, but they can also provide keywords and other search terms that will be helpful for you.
Here are some suggestions for references that are related to topics in Food and Food Security.
The Oxford Encyclopedia of Food and Drink in America by If none of these are helpful, you can search in the library catalog for other reference sources. Do a keyword search using "reference", "food", "agriculture", and perhaps another more specific key word such as "obesity" or "GMO" or whatever your more specific topic is. When you look through your list of results, look for buzzwords like encyclopedia, almanac, or handbook. Those often denote reference sources.