Arkansas Delta Seeds of Change

Arkansas Delta Seeds of Change (ADSOC) Initiative

The Beginning

Mission

The mission is to empower small scale producers

to grow and market produce to

enhance their financial livelihood;

create food-based business enterprises;

make nutritious food readily available

so as to reduce diet related chronic illnesses;

protect and improve the natural environment;

and enable individuals to invest in and

rejuvenate their communities.

Poverty in the Delta

ADSOC OBJECTIVES

Sustainable Agriculture

Program participants will increase income generation through sustainable agriculture

ADSOC OBJECTIVES

Livelihood Security

Low-income and food insecure individuals will have increased access to healthy, nutritious food.

ADSOC OBJECTIVES

Natural Resource Conservation

Program participants will produce food in an environmentally sustainable manner.

ADSOC OBJECTIVES

Social Equity

Socially disadvantaged individuals will be empowered to participate

in decision making processes concerning the food systems in their communities.

In the summer of 2011, Heifer International put out a RFP

and the EAEC was chosen to take the role of the backbone organization

In January 2012, Heifer & USDA signed a Proclamation to work together to improve conditions on the Delta through agriculture

Spring of 2012, the Arkansas Delta Seeds Of Change Coalition was formed using the Collective Impact model

Fall of 2012, a 5-year implementation plan was created that focused on improving the livelihood of low-income small scale producers and communities throughout the Delta

Our Timeline

A Collaborative Effort A coalition of 42 organizations formed to help create a

local food system and improve the quality of life of Delta residents through job creation, access to healthy

nutritious foods and preserving natural resources.

COALIITION MEMBERS

Supply & Demand

Residents in need of fresh, healthy food, particularly

in food desert counties

Walmart interested in purchasing local food for its Grow Local initiative

Schools demanding fresh fruits/vegetables after USDA changed school food policy

Future demand: Nursing homes, Memphis public schools, Memphis health system

Demand

Started by working one-on-one with farmers to

produce food for themselves and at community markets

To meet demands of larger buyers (Walmart/ schools), farmers need to be certified and have to keep good business records

EAEC is helping farmers meet these standards and preparing them to sell to large markets

Supply

Produce production

Livestock production

Finance (different type of capital)

Agriculture Inputs

Processing

Aggregation

Distribution

Markets

Transportation

Value Chain Analysis

Input

Suppliers

Producers

Processors

Direct Sales

Aggregators Distributors

Brokers

Wholesale Buyers

Consumers

Waste Management

The Different Parts to Our Value Chains

What could have a positive impact on the Value Chain?

Marketing Economic

Development

Media Government

Other Value Chains

National Organizations

Trainers/

Extension Researchers

Certifiers Landowners

Brokers Financing

63 producers engaged (most making more money!)

4 new community markets

Sales to Walmart

Successful Farm-to-School pilot in summer 2013 (corn, sweet potatoes, cherry tomatoes…)

Expanding the program for 2013-2014 school year

Results so far…

Individual: New farming & entrepreneurial skills; improved health

Intellectual: Producers certified to meet ag standards

Social: Coalition of 42! New relationships built, many have never

worked together before. New relationships with customers

Natural: Environmentally-friendly farming practices restore soil

quality, reduce erosion, save water and energy

Built: Underutilized infrastructure put to good use; refrigerated

trucks purchased to transport produce

Political: ADSOC partening with USDA StrikeForce program to

access federal funds, technical assistance and waivers

Financial: Leveraging investments from government and non-profit

partners into the region. New income for farmers reinvested locally.

More locals buying food from producers in the region

Building Local Capital(s)

ADSOC partners are exploring cooperative ownership models for farmers selling their products to schools.

Local firms growing

Exploring new enterprises in livestock and poultry

Triple C CSA – Three 10-year-old boys take it on!

Building Ownership & Control

Families have access to fresh, healthy food.

Low-resource farmers gain income from new markets.

Access to loans allows low-resource entrepreneurs to start food-related enterprises.

Building Better Livelihoods

New infrastructure/facilities

Access to credit and capital

Lack of control over land

Outmigration of youth

Limited agriculture programs in the school to encourage agriculture for a profession

Policies that restrict interstate commerce

Issues of food safety

Barriers that we face…

USDA's StrikeForce aims to increase investment in rural communities for

technical assistance and high-priority funding in rural communities in 16 states with an emphasis on historically underserved communities in

rural counties with persistent poverty.

Government Can Help: The Difference StrikeForce Has Made

Irrigation equipment and TA

Processing facility equipment

Insurance premium waived on some crops

Engage in Farm to School

$35,000 microloan requirement reduced

Preparing federal applications

So far, StrikeForce coordination and assistance

has helped us with:

Increase enterprise opportunities in the Delta

Increase income & jobs for Delta residents

Increase access to healthy nutritious foods

Improve the environment in the Delta

Transform the Delta into a place where people want to work, play and stay

Moving Forward