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Educating the Public

Educating the Public. How can we support the transition to a Community Based Food System?. Planning for Agriculture Columbia-Greene Community College November 12, 2011 Andy Turner, Executive Director - CCE of Columbia and Greene County. Presentation Outline. Community Food System Trends

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Educating the Public

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  1. Educating the Public How can we support the transition to a Community Based Food System? Planning for Agriculture Columbia-Greene Community College November 12, 2011Andy Turner, Executive Director - CCE of Columbia and Greene County

  2. Presentation Outline • Community Food System Trends • Local Research Results • Action Steps

  3. Introduction • Local food movement is growing in the U.S. • Reducing “food miles” is a growing focus • Goals 1.improving food security 2. Building the local economy 3. responding to Climate Change

  4. New York State Specifics • Agricultural production was a $4.7 billion dollar industry in 2010 in New York State • 36,300 farms occupy 23% of NYS land area • Not much information about the economic impact of the local food movement at the community scale

  5. Community Based Food Systems • Considers production, processing and distribution in the context of local economic and human health and well being as well as the health of the environment. • Sustainable practices take into consideration the future as well as the present.

  6. Importance of Local • For a growing number of us, local is more important than organic • 55%: “locally grown” affected their food purchases • 38% “organically grown” influenced food choices Hartman Group’s Organic Trends Study, 2004

  7. Global Food Security Challenge • Dramatic increase in food production will be required by the end of the 21st century • Little available additional land without severe ecological consequences • Energy and water constraints

  8. Assessing the Impact of Local Agriculture Production in the Capital District Region of New York State Rosy Cohane-MannCornell Cooperative Extension InternSummer 2011

  9. Data Collection • Farms of all sizes • All types of products included in study Dairy, Fruit, Vegetable, Maple, Meat, Hay, Greenhouse, etc. • Organized Interviews  $20 incentive to participate

  10. Data Collection • Various Methods to get farmers involved • In person interviews • Phone Surveys • Online Surveys

  11. Some Preliminary Results

  12. Further Results and Conclusions • 118 Surveys Collected • Further analysis of the results will be augmented with the help of Cornell faculty using economic impact planning software • We will have a clear sense of the impact of local agriculture production on the Capital District economy so that we can further research, educate, and advocate in the U.S. for more locally grown products, with an increase in total jobs and labor income, and reduction in fossil fuel usage.

  13. Columbia County Community Food Survey • Anna Duhon • Cultural Research and Outreach Coordinator • Hawthorne Valley Farmscape Ecology Program • 518-672-7994

  14. Columbia County Community Food “Dot” Surveys Surveyed more than 650 residents at 11 community events (Preliminary Results)

  15. For questions or additional information, contact: Anna Duhon Cultural Research and Outreach Coordinator Hawthorne Valley Farmscape Ecology Program 518-672-7994 anna@hawthornevalleyfarm.org www.hawthornevalleyfarm.org/fep Or stop by for our weekly open house “pizza nights” every Thursday, 5-8pm at the Creekhouse (1075 Harlemville Rd, Ghent).

  16. Conclusions • Potential exists for regional agriculture to meet more of total food needs • CBFS represent an opportunity for food product, and food-based enterprise development • Rich area of research and education • Allows for a comprehensive and engaged approach to policy formation • Community-based food systems suggest a need to rethink food and nutrition education

  17. Educational Opportunities • Clearly a role for general education and building awareness of existing opportunities • Existing engaged citizens are eager to participate in the process of education and building on strengths • Provide evidence base related to claims • Identify questions, confusion, misunderstandings • Continue to increase access to local/healthier options for lower income • Youth education/workforce development is going to be critical in building the next generation of food system entrepreneurs • Partnership among local institutions is critical

  18. Roles for Local Government • Support efforts aimed at increasing Local Processing Options • Support efforts to provide increased local/regional based marketing and direct sales • Cooperate across traditional “home rule” boundaries • Promote local organizations and programs that are contributing to the solutions • Take advantage of opportunities to learn more

  19. Thank you! Andy Turner Executive Director Cornell Cooperative Extension Columbia/Greene Counties ast4@cornell.edu

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