The goal of the Benson Institute is to overcome hunger and malnutrition by helping people to produce sufficient quantities of high-quality food.

The distinction between hunger and malnutrition lies in the fact that people can satisfy hunger without consuming a nutritionally balanced diet. In rural communities families often produce foods of high nutritional value and sell them to buy inexpensive but less nutritious foods. Thus, in order to overcome hunger and malnutrition, it is necessary to address both food production and consumption practices.

In its work the Benson Institute integrates the disciplines of agriculture and nutrition and applies them to a rural environment. Efforts focus on teaching families improved agricultural techniques to produce foods of high nutritional value. Families then learn how to integrate these foods into their daily diet.

The work of the Benson Institute centers on the theme of progress through education. Education is primary focus of the Institute's activities because it allows people to become self-sufficient in solving their food production problems, thus making improvement efforts more sustainable.

The Benson Institute participates in education on two levels. First, the Institute supports university students in their research of agriculture and nutrition. Second, students and Institute personnel work together to educate rural community residents about improved food production and consumption habits.

To initiate improvement efforts in a rural community, the Benson Institute performs a diagnostic study of the nutrition and agriculture situation. Guided by the results of the diagnosis, local university students investigate the deficiencies in the community and explore solutions to these problems. By performing these investigations, the students fulfill the thesis investigation required for graduation.

Using the findings of their research, students teach lessons to the community members addressing the problems that they investigated. Through this process, university students are able to finish their graduation requirements while serving the rural people of the country. The students also gain a valuable service experience that encourages further development efforts.