PORTLAND — A Maine university is hosting a discussion between gubernatorial candidates that will center on hunger and food security.

The event is scheduled to take place at Talbot Auditorium on the Portland campus of the University of Southern Maine on Monday. It’s hosted by the university’s food studies program.

The university says the event will be a moderated question-and-answer dialogue that gives equal time to each candidate. The university says at least six candidates had signed up to participate: Democrats Donna Dion, Mark Dion and Betsy Sweet, and independents Kenneth Capron, Alan Caron and Terry Hayes.

The Cumberland County Food Security Council, Preble Street and the Good Shepherd Food Bank are co-hosting the event, which USM economics professor Michael Hillard says is the first of its kind.