Concluding steps from the short course "Food, Safety & Liability Insurance"

Identify Next Steps Notes by: Mercedes Taylor-Puckett Local Foods and Farmers Market Project Coordinator Kansas Rural Center Are there organizational level resources to keep the momentum on the initiative? How do we move forward in an environment of diminishing resources? How do we get science that evaluates our small-scale production environments? Capture farm to institution interest and direct it towards the project. Media coverage documents the interest level in local food. Could the general population be motivated to contribute individual funding for the initiative? If yes, what might this look like? Our system is good at pushing the costs down to the producer w/out giving the farmers an opportunity to recoup cost. Can the initiative be incorporated into 2012 Farm Bill objectives and planning? NSAC has become involved in food safety policy issues, yet really doesn’t have the resources($$) to keep it going. Stabenow Amendment may devote resources/funding to assist producers. Crucial for all of us to advocate for this component. Need to motivate our constituents to contact senators and explain how this legislation will impact diversified farms and emphasize the need for relevant information and support for our small growers. PASA has had success in fundraising for food safety policy and other work as it has become involved in the food safety issue (surrounding raw milk). Does internet raising hold any promise as a fundraising mechanism? What group could assist us in shining the spotlight on this issue and developing a consumer campaign? Industry has a LOT to gain from producers having access to the info we are trying to develop. (Sodexo, Whole Foods, etc...) How can we get our private industry partners assist with this? Can such partners provide funding for the development of resources for small-scale producers? Would they provide dollars for regional training on food safety? Can they provide cost-share for certification? Without it, how will producers meet their requirements and assist the industry in meeting their goals of increased local/regional food sourcing? Another idea: Ask universities to add $5 to the total student meal plan cost to support research, foodhubs, distribution, etc... Real Food Challenge: on student forms, add a check off box to devote resources to improved access. From assessments and interaction of ... Current food safety training efforts often don’t have assistance with following up and implementation, practical suggestions. NFP have been very successful in this area. Every food safety plan has a dollar value: farmer receives the training, but can’t afford to make the changes necessary to implement plans. Who are our potential collaborators that we can get to make the case for this important project USDA Rural Development: Rural Business Ent Grants (RDEG), ask for a 2%. NRCS, same theory. frame it as a water issue or soil issues. Vested self interest, find the hook. 1890s have budget for research. How can this be tapped? Ford Foundation: work in Mississippi Delta, food training/safety. How can we use foundation support for specific regions to help support issues of national importance/ relevance Glyen Holmes suggested talking to: 
each USDA agency to provide funding for what they are trying to do and apply it to our work (approach it from their perspective)
the 1862 & 1890s colleges regarding the small farm business $ they have
2009 RMA Grant: $100k Wallace Tool Kit: estimated cost $142K NSAC: would cost approximately $100K annually on the policy component alone. Need approximately $500K/annually for the complete package. The national approach brings together regional reps, with specific issues, and develops resources that can be used nationally. Next step: Given the discussion, place in “strategy form”, distribute draft to groups, encourage potential resource identification, clean it up and develop the strategy to move forward and build a coalition.

Concluding steps from the short course "Food, Safety & Liability Insurance"

by Community Food Security Coalition on Nov 05, 2010

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Concluding steps from the short course "Food, Safety & Liability Insurance" — Document Transcript