CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL FARMING SYSTEMS

Transcription

1 Sustainable Farms, Local Foods, Healthy Communities CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL FARMING SYSTEMS Building a Local Food Economy in North Carolina

2 CEFS Today About the Center for Environmental Farming Systems Developing a Statewide Action Plan What states can do to foster the development of a thriving local food economy 2

3 CEFS CEFS beginning 22 years ago Mission: To develop and promote agricultural systems that protect the environment, enhance rural and urban communities, and provide economic opportunities in North Carolina and beyond North Carolina State University (NC State) North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University (NC A&T) North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (NCDA & CS) CEFS 3

4 CEFS Our Mission expands CEFS develops and promotes just and equitable food and farming systems that conserve natural resources, strengthen communities, improve health outcomes, and provide economic opportunities in North Carolina and beyond. 4

5 CEFS Our Focus Areas Research Farm Food System Initiatives Education and Outreach Integrating Research, Education, and Extension 5

6 CEFS Focus Area: Research Farm Each unit provides research opportunities for faculty as well as demonstration models and teaching tools for farmers, extension agents and students. Farming Systems Organic Research Pasture-Based Dairy Pasture-Based Beef Small Farm Alternative Swine Production 6

7 CEFS Addressing Complex and Interdisciplinary Problems A model for long-term, large-scale systems research directed toward agricultural sustainability. USDA SARE (Mueller et al) Sustainability indicators as management tools to guide farmers, scientists, policy makers and the general public. USDA SARE (Wossink et al). Demonstrating and supporting adoption of innovative conservation practices on outdoor hog production systems in North Carolina. USDA NRCS (Morrow, et al) Assessment of the diversity of entomopathogens in vermicomposts and their potential as biological control agents for agricultural insect pests. NSF (Cardoza, et al) Assessing the greenhouse gas mitigation potential of organic systems in the Southeast. USDA-NIFA (Hu, et al) Creating an Organic Plant Breeding Center for the Southeast. USDA-OREI (Reberg-Horton et al) 7

8 CEFS Focus Area: Extension, Education and Outreach Farm Apprenticeship Program Summer Internship Program Seasons of Sustainable Agriculture Workshop Series Annual Sustainable Agriculture Lecture Farm to Fork Picnic Agroecology Education Farm and Program Amazing Grazing 8

9 From Production Systems to Food Systems

10 Why Food Systems?

11 Why Food Systems? Responded to a RFP from WK Kellogg Foundation in 2002 (University-Community partnerships) to connect interested buyers of sustainable pork to producers. Plenty of market demand for pork raised differently Plenty of producers willing to raise them.

12 Why Food Systems? Partners: American Livestock Breeds Conservancy Carolina Farm Stewardship Association Environmental Defense Fund Heifer International Neuse River Foundation North Carolina Coastal Federation Rural Advancement Foundation International USA Sierra Club North Carolina Chapter Southern Environmental Law Center Sustainable North Carolina

13 Local Meat Bottleneck: Processing, Aggregation, and Distribution Markets Processors (cutting, packaging, value added) Bottleneck Marketing Transportation Aggregation Farmers

14 Significant Hurdles in the State Local food system was broken. No matter how good the production systems were that we were developing, we had to address these issues so that our growers could take advantage of the growing opportunities.

15 NC Choices CEFS First Food Systems Project Work across the Supply Chain, from Farm to Fork to solve problems

16

17

18

19 Rise in NCDA & CS NC Farmer Meat Handler Registrations 2014: 842 June 2016: 1073

20 Building a Local Food Economy

21 2008: Across North Carolina Local and Regional Projects, Community Leadership, Business Entrepreneurship, Agency Engagement Southeastern NC NC Food Food Systems Systems Project Project

22 But Lack of coordination Piecemeal approach No Strategic Plan to move the state s Local Food Economy forward No momentum Funders wanted to know where to put their money- what would be successful for statewide progress?

23 Funding Received from Three State Entities

24 Statewide Initiative Launched 2008 Goal was to develop a Statewide Action Plan for building the Local Food Economy Describe the current food system Highlight important successful models in the state Prioritize policies and programs for the private and public sectors. Build networks and strengthen collaboration and coordination.

25 Mapping the Process

26 CEFS Process: Step 1 Established advisory committee (70+) Public Health professionals and researchers, Food Service, Cooperative Extension, Farmers, Former Congresswomen, University, County Government, County Commissioners, Other farm-related organizations and NGOS, Youth, Finance, Land Conservationists, Sociologist, Processors, University Dining, Banking, Environmental groups, Journalists, State Agencies (Ag, Public Health, Commerce), Retailers, Commodity Groups, Food Banks, Farm Workers, Faith Community, Technology companies 26

27 CEFS Process: Step 2 Regional meetings across the state (were going to host 3, had to host 6) 27

28 CEFS Purpose of the Regional Meetings Gathering ideas for action Cataloging current activities Building interest Networking Started with a discussion of what we mean by sustainability and local 28

29 CEFS Process Step 3: Working Issue Teams (WITS) Determined based on what surfaced at regional meetings Small groups (8-12) of key individuals One ½ day meeting with followup Focused on statewide policies, partnerships or programs, or pilot programs that could be expanded Asked for 1 Game Changer that could be implemented in 1 or 2 years, that would be the next big thing that would move that issue forward 29

30 CEFS Working Issue Teams (WITS) Formalizing the Initiative: Foundations and Baselines Farm-to-School Institutional and Retail Markets Public Health and Food Access Disparities Direct Markets New and Transitioning Farmer Support 30

31 CEFS Working Issue Teams (WITS) Community Gardens Land Use and Local Government Initiatives Youth and Social Networking Consumer Outreach and Marketing Processing and other Physical Infrastructure 31

32 Process Step 4: State Summit Inclusive event with 400+ people Raised broad public awareness Presented set of game changer ideas Discussed community-focused action agenda ideas Prioritized local ideas that had energy Built a took kit for local strategies (by region)

33 New Partnerships Geared Towards Action Broad-based commitment from local government officials, nutritionists, farmers and farmer organizations, anti-hunger groups, faith-based organizations, youth-based organizations, economic developers, funding partners, entrepreneurs, retailers, consumers, academic institutions and other agencies.

34 Broad Sponsorship Support Carolina Farm Credit Blue Cross and Blue Shield of N.C. Foundation North Carolina Farm Bureau Federation Compass Group NC Association of County Commissioners Heifer International Carolina Farm Stewardship Association BRAC-RTF (Fort Bragg) Burch Farms Food LogiQ Grateful Grower Farm

35 CEFS Initiative Outcomes: Statewide Action Plan es/from-farm-to-fork-a-guideto-building-north-carolinassustainable-local-foodeconomy-2010/ 35

36 CEFS Golden Leaf Foundation offered $2.5 million RFP 36

37 CEFS Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation Community Garden in every county in NC Bought 5 tractor trailers for Farm to School RFP to fund additional priorities identified in the state action guide (increased access, etc) 37

38

39 Sustainable Local Foods Advisory Council 27 members (Including Commissioner of Ag, Secretary of Commerce, State Health Director) Three Subcommittees Economic Development Health, Wellness, Hunger and Food Access Land, People, and Natural Resources

40 Addressing regulatory framework NC statewide food assessment and infrastructure assessment and needs Improve access (EBT), increase snap-ed funding Farm to School (new position, garden produce) Securing recurring funding for the NC Agricultural Development and Farmland Preservation Trust Fund ($2 million)

41 On farm poultry processing Waste water Present Use Value Annexation Egg Law Raw Milk Health Department Rules Etc

42 Unlegislated in 2013

43

44 NC 10 Percent Campaign Outcome of Communications Working Issues Team 10% is doable and a place to start (not intimidating!) for the newly engaged, institutions, restaurants, etc. Funded by Golden Leaf Foundation for 3 years, now adopted by Cooperative Extension Make the Choice. Make a Difference. Make it Local.

45

46 Cooperative Extension as a Key Partner Local Food Agents Assigned in Every County Respond to businesses signing up Help promote local foods in their county Assist with establishing local markets Distribute information about the campaign Assist farmers in connecting with new markets Enter events and articles on their website Assist with addressing barriers Assist with data collection Serve local foods at their meetings!

47

48 CEFS Food Youth Initiative: Statewide Teen Network 48

49 Farm to School Develop a model farmto-school pre-service teacher instruction program

50

51

52 Bring more locally grown foods into mainstream retail and food service supply chains Supply chains of produce, meat, dairy, and seafood Strengthen the ability of small and mid-scale farmers and fishing operations to enter these mainstream markets profitably Improve access

53 County Government and Municipality Support State Procurement Goal Food Assessments Local Food Policy Councils Incubator Farms Local Government Tool Kit School of Government support Procurement Policies Example resolutions Infographics

54

55 CEFS Lessons learned Pay attention to process and have good facilitators Don t shy away from being inclusive Don t underestimate the interest: rural and urban Diffuse tension early in the process Engage many along the way 55

56 CEFS Lessons learned Narrow the conversation to Game Changers Many ways to slice and dice, don t get too bogged down. After all, it s a system and everything really is connected By the time we held the summit, people were bought-in, engaged, and ready to act in their communities Inclusivity is key; think outside the box 56

57 CEFS Lessons learned Institutional Change and leveraging resources is very important for ongoing success Have Funders at the table from the beginning Put key people on the Working Issues Teams State Councils: Legislative vs Executive Order? 57

58 CEFS Round Two 58

59

60 Community Food Strategies is a multi-organizational team of food systems experts providing leadership and technical support for food council development across North Carolina.

61 Food Many Policy participants Council Development took action based on the critical path and began food advisory councils. NC Farm to Fork NC Sustainable Local Food Advisory Council Sustainable Food NC North Carolina Food Youth Initiative Cabarrus Food Policy Council Western NC Food Policy Council Charlotte Mecklenburg Food Policy Council Durham Prosperity Council Upper PeeDee Farm & Food Council Fayetteville All-American Homegrown Robeson Farm, Food, & Family Council Chatham Food Council Task Force Asheville- Buncombe Food Council Hoke Farm, Food & Family Council Forsyth Local Food Consortium Dare Food Council Task Force Raleigh Wake Food Council Task Force Brunswick Food Council Task Force Alamance Food Council Task Force McDowell Beaufort Caldwell Carteret Chowan Pitt Greene Rowan Iredell Gaston Cleveland Guilford Orange DATELINE

62 Local Food Council of NC-a state level view

63 Resources for Food Councils Community Food Strategies

64 Ultimate Goal Provide training, resources, TA and facilitation support to developing FCs. Strengthen collaboration and networks between FCs Identify innovation and create opportunities to seed that work in communities across the state Create a system for tracking measurable change with shared measurement (results based accountability) Create a culture of authentic community representation on FCs by using a racial equity lens Leverage the state-level resources of the LFCNC to amplify opportunities

65 CEFS What you can do Develop an Action Plan 65

66 CEFS Establish a State Food Policy Council Legislate a State Food Policy Council 66

67 Support and Network Local Food Councils

68 CEFS Support Statewide Food Assessment 68

69 CEFS Establish Procurement Goals 69

70 CEFS Support Local Foods Infrastructure 70

71 CEFS Support Business Development Departments of Commerce offering incentives for local food entrepreneurial efforts Food Processing initiatives that can facilitate local foods Public-Private partnerships that can meet processing needs, but also fulfill public need (farm-toschool) Business Development Funds 71

72 CEFS Support Farm to School 72

73 CEFS Work to Improve Access to Healthy Foods I can go and buy every variety of fried chicken imaginable on the west side of Chicago. I can get it in great variety. I can buy cigarettes. I can get liquor. I can get designer clothes. I can get heroin, I can get crack. I can get a gun, but I can t get an organic tomato. I can t get a cup of yogurt. I can t get romaine lettuce.i can t get a banana or an apple. But I can get every variety of potato chip there is La Donna Redmond 73

74 CEFS Work to Improve Access to Healthy Foods 74

75 49 million in US Food Insecure (8.6 million children) Obesity-related medical treatments approximately $147 billion annually (including the cost of diabetes). 35% of adults (CDC) One in three children are overweight or obese A third of the children born in 2000 or later will develop diabetes 27 percent of those who go to military recruiting stations are too heavy to serve

76 There is a trade-off between improving access of local foods (which infers it needs to be low-cost ) and insuring the farmer receives adequate compensation. We can t have both affordable healthy food and more farmers (without public investment and/or policy support). Farmers alone shouldn t bear the brunt of keeping food affordable food for all.

77 We must grow more farmers Average age of farmers is 57 Since 1964, we have lost approximately 1 million farms in the US (USDA ag census) In NC, there were 100,000 farms in 1976 and 48,000 farms in 2008 There are now more people in prison than on farms.

78 CEFS Support Urban Farms and Gardens Let s not forget the impact of Victory Gardens During World War II, Americans planted 20 million gardens and produced 40% of our fruits and vegetables 78

79 CEFS Support Farmland Preservation 10,321 acres of farms and forest lands. 90 conservation easements projects awarded. 47 agricultural development projects Established 15 Voluntary Agricultural Districts programs and 38 Farmland Protection Plans 79

80 CEFS Support Cooperative Extension 80

81 CEFS Remove Barriers and Level the Playing Field Tax Incentives Zoning Exceptions Healthy Food Financing Data Collection Policy Reviews and Changes Informational Resources Infographics Marketing Programs 81

82 CEFS A Journey & Broader Vision towards an Equitable Food System