Creating Resilient Food Systems through Policy and Collaboration

Ag Futures Alliance

A Process to Create a Sustainable Food System

What is an AFA?

• Roundtable designed to build consensus on local policies impacting the food system

• Diverse stakeholders from agriculture, environmental advocacy, education, media, government, civic organizations, farm labor

• Stated goal: create a sustainable local food system

The community challenge

• The issues facing ag and the food system are complex!

• No one stakeholder has the whole view• The discussion typically is driven by the poles• Many uncoordinated efforts work at cross-

purposes• Big gaps in power and sophistication increase

conflict

A better way

• Rather than isolation or conflict:– Build on common interest:

healthy future– Seek win-win solutions– Develop personal relationships

between polarized parties– Develop actions or projects that

bond collaborators

Results in the Field

• Yolo Ag and Food Alliance operating since 2004– Targets of our work:

• Current: Yolo County “Food Hub”– Farmers, Ag Commissioner, Environmental Health, School

Districts & other instutions, City staff, BOS, Developers

• Past: Yolo County General Plan, Agriculture and Economic Development Element

– Farmland preservation, agri-tourism, local food processing, farm-to-school programming, permitting assistance, etc.

– Ag Conservation/Ag mitigation principles

– Board of Supervisors, County Departments, Environmental organizations, farmers/ranchers

Results in the Field

• AFA’s now operating in Fresno, Yolo, San Benito, San Mateo, Santa Barbara, Sonoma, and Ventura counties

• California Roundtable on Ag and the Environment a state-level counterpart

• Projects include local branding, ag land mitigation, and developing alternative distribution

Ag Innovations Network

Contact Information• agfuturesalliance.net• aginnovations.net• joseph@aginnovations.

net• 707.823.6111