Accelerating Transformative Change: from Farm-to-Fork

• Brief background on CEFS

• How we are approaching transformative change

• Recommendations

Center for Environmental Farming Systems

• Partnership initiated in 1994

NCSU

NCA&T SU

NCDA &CS

www.cefs.ncsu.edu

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

Structure of CEFS (the place)

• NCDA&CS owns and operates the facility with approximately 23 staff.

• New programming is brought primarily by NCSU and NCA&T SU and its partners through grants or internal allocation of resources.

• 35 research, extension, and teaching faculty represent 12 disciplines

• Strong working relationships with numerous other organizations

• Inclusion of general public

Program Highlights: Research

Organic Forestry Crop/animal BMP Old Field

81 hectare long-term study Comparison of 5 systems

Program Highlights

• Academic: Agroecology minor, residential internship, graduate students

• Extension and Outreach: workshop series, extension training, public events

• Local and Community-based Food Systems

Transformative Change: Our Assumptions

• Traditional Land Grant University focus (research, extension, academic) are very important components but not enough

• Arguments based on “sustainability” or “environment” are not enough

• The time is right, right now -the “perfect storm” (minus high fossil fuel prices)- to make transformative change

• Demand side is important

Transformative Change: Our Assumptions

• Big One: “Building a Local Food Economy in North Carolina”-When people start wanting to know where there food is coming from and who is growing it, and learn about how it is grown…… they want foods grown more sustainably

• Our research, extension, and teaching initiatives continue to be important and backstop everything we do, But…our Local Foods initiative seems to be supporting transformational change within the state more than our efforts in the past

Across the State We Saw: Community Leadership, Business

Entrepreneurship, Regional Planning, Public Policy

Southeastern NC Food Systems ProjectSoutheastern NC Food Systems Project

But….

• Lack of coordination• Piecemeal approach• Lack of momentum• No “Strategic Plan” to move the

state’s Local Food Economy forward• Funders wanted to know where to

put their money- what would be successful?

New CEFS Initiative:Building a Local Food Economy in NC

• Initiated in April 2008 with funding from Golden Leaf Foundation, Z Smith Reynolds foundation, Agriculture Advancement Consortium, and W.K. Kellogg Foundation.

• Goal was to develop a Statewide Action Plan for building the Local Food Economy describing the current food system, important successful models in the state, and prioritizes policies and programs for the private and public sectors.

Economic Development Potential

Average household spends $4010 per year per person on food (USDA ARS)… half spent in the home.

If just 10% of the $4010 was spent on Local ($.55/person/day)…

With 8,8000,000 people in the state (US Census, 2006), local food sales would total $3.5 billion.

To meet this demand, we need… enhanced local processing, distribution, transportation infrastructure, more farmers growing diverse products…

This all translates to economic development and jobs.

Appeals to a wide cross-section

• Green space and farm viability

• Carolinians enhanced health and nutrition (and associated decrease in costs)

• Farmland Preservation

• Decreased use of fossil fuels and reduced greenhouse gas emissions

• Enhanced environmental quality

• Enhanced food security & access for all North

The Farm to Fork Local Foods Initiative..

• Established advisory committee (80+)• Regional meetings across the state (6)• Working Issues Teams established (11)• “Game Changer Ideas developed”• Sold out Statewide Summit (400+ attendees)• An active listerv (1000+ subscribers)• Directory of food system activities (www.ncfoodnet.com)• Publication of State Action Guide

Some Significant Accomplishments to Date

• Legislation establishing Sustainable Local Foods Advisory Council

Whole Farm Gap CertificationAddressing regulatory frameworkNC statewide food assessment Improve access (EBT), increase snap-ed

fundingFarm to School (coordinator legislated)Secured recurring funding for the NC

Agricultural Development and Farmland Preservation Trust Fund ($2 million)

Some Significant Accomplishments to Date

• Golden Leaf Foundation $2.5 million Local Foods Initiative

10% campaignFeed the Forces InitiativeTargeted Infrastructure PiecesMarket DevelopmentSustainable Local Food Policy Council

New partners..

• 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.

Some of our Sponsors..• 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

10% Campaign Overview

• Outcome of Communications Working Issues Team• Funded by Golden Leaf Foundation• 10% is doable and a place to start (not intimidating!)

for the newly engaged, institutions, restaurants, etc. • A $3.5 billion endeavor.

Make the Choice. Make a Difference. Make it Local.

Key Components of the Campaign

• Web Portal for signing up individuals, businesses, agencies, and organizations

• Basic information: About, Where to Find, Learn More, Events, Partners

• Push people out to existing initiatives and information resources

• Energize the grassroots

Key Components of the Campaign: Transformational Change

• Get businesses, organizations, and individuals involved: Three ways to partner

• Work with all scale farmers

• Address associated barriers

• Partnership with Cooperative Extension

Cooperative Extension Local Food Coordinators

• Respond to businesses signing up• Help promote local foods in their county and help

individuals signing up locate them• Assist with community-based interest in 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!

Pledge of Purchase Partners

• Compass Group• Both Land Grant Colleges of

Agriculture• NCSU Dining Services• Restaurants• Blue Cross Blue Shield• Cabarrus County• Conservation Trust of NC• Slow Food Triangle• RAFI USA• Red Hat• Rex Endowment

• Carolina Farm Stewardship Association

• Eastern Carolina Organics• NC Farm Bureau• NC Department of Agriculture• NC Fruits and Veggie

Coalition• NC Sea Grant• NC Environmental Education• RAFI-USA• UNC Center for Health

Promotion and Disease Prevention

Keys to Transformational ChangeInternal to Universities

• Faculty reward structure• Academic and degree programs• A collaborative place matters• Support for faculty working on policy• Leveraging the “army”• Food Systems not Production Systems

Keys to Transformational ChangeExternal to the University

• Facilitation and Process• Collaboration and Partnership• Beyond production• Inclusiveness• Promoting a positive message