Transcript Changing Needs in Changing Times Civic Agriculture

Company
LOGO
The S-SARE / SRDC
Sustainable Community
Initiative
Community and Agriculture Working in Partnership
The Focus of My Presentation
• What is “Civic Agriculture”?
• Why a partnership of the
S-SARE/SRDC?
• What are the key
components of the
Sustainable Community
Initiative?
• What has been done to date?
• Other related efforts of
importance?
What is Civic Agriculture?
According to Lyson (2005). . .
• Civic agriculture is the embedding of local agriculltural
and food production in the community.
• It embodies a commitment to developing and
strengthening an economically, environmentally, and
socially sustainable system of agriculture and food
production that relies on local resources and serves local
markets and consumers.
• Locally-based organizational, associational, and
institutional components of the agriculture and food
system is at the heart of civic agriculture.
• Civic agriculture should not be confused with civic
farmers.
Company
LOGO
Why a Southern SARE /
SRDC Partnership?
The Agriculture / Community
Connection – The Current State ?
Some Examples . . .
FUMING OVER PESTICIDE; RESIDENTS
UPSET AT USE OF METHYL BROMIDE
NEAR HOMES.
Our Goal:
Build Stronger Ties Between
The Community and Agriculture
Company
LOGO
The Sustainable
Community Innovations
Grant Program
A Positive Step in Partnership Building
What Was Done?
• Worked through our different cultures
and perspectives
• Prepared a request for proposals
document
• Targeted our stakeholders
• Gave equal voice
• Invested in innovation
• Learned to be patient
Defining Sustainability
SARE’s Focus:
• Enhance environmental
quality & the natural
resource base upon which
the ag economy depends
• Efficient use of
nonrenewable & on farm
resources
• Integrate natural biological
cycles & controls, where
appropriate
• Enhance the Q of L of
farmers/ranchers and
society as a whole
Defining Sustainability
SRDC’s Rural Community
Development Efforts:
• Promote sound local decisions
on economic, environmental &
equity issues
• Expand active involvement of
diverse people
• Build trust among local people,
organizations & institutions
• Pursue honest discussions and
debates
• Build on local assets
• Preserve the health of area’s
natural resources
Weaving Our Perspectives
The Sustainable Community Innovations
Grant Program: It’s Goals
• Pursue local strategies that link sound farm
& nonfarm economic development with
agricultural and natural resource
management
• Blend sustainable agriculture practices with
new community development strategies
• Increase our ability to build resilient farms,
businesses and communities in the South
Examples of Areas of Interest
• Promote equitable economic development
that promotes/protects the human & natural
resources of a community
• Strengthen connections among on- and offfarm sustainable activities
• Expand civic engagement and build
strategic plan that recognizes the
interdependence between farming and rural
communities
Examples of Areas of Interest
• Promote balanced discussion of public policy
issues addressing sustainable agriculture community goals
• Bring local government and community groups
together to develop regional plans on
sustainability
• Develop entrepreneurs engaged in value-added
activities that bring benefits to agriculture and the
broader rural economy; explore
entrepreneurship-friendly policies/programs
Key Data on the Program
• Launched in 2002
• Approximately 53 projects funded to
date by the partners
 Over 400 proposals submitted by potential
grantees from 2002-07
• Funding levels around $10,000 per
project
• Undertook formal evaluation of the
program in 2006-07
Examples of Projects Funded
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Agritourism: A Strategy Toward Sustainable Farm, Business, Family
and Community Development
Downtown Farmer's Market- Linking the Farm to the Community
Making the Connection: Enhancing Agricultural Understanding in
Urbanizing Area
Keen on Beans: Establishing Edamame Awareness and Demand for
Kentucky Customers and Growers
Pioneering the Way to the Future
Test Marketing of New Label in Southwest Florida for USA Grown /
Living Wage Produce
Northwest Arkansas Local Food Initiative: Promoting all-Ozark meals
Taylor Community Supported Agriculture Project (TCSAP)
Putting Pike on the Map (Agri-Tourism)
New River Sustainable Agriculture Market Plan
A Strategy for Sustaining Henderson County Agricultural Communities
Youth as Community Organizers (Building Sustainable
Agric/Community Linkages)
Evaluation of 12 Projects
• Ten of the 12 projects were successful in
completing the goals/objectives of their
projects
• Six of the 12 projects demonstrated
sustainability – they’ve continued after
funding was over
• Involvement of the broader community in the
project was not always evident
• Getting buy-in by producers and other
community entities was sometimes difficult
• Solid documentation was often spotty
Recommendations
• Proposal reviewers should assess the
appropriateness of project objectives relative
to the requested funds
• SARE/SRDC implement periodic contacts with
to PIs to identify potential problems that result
from barriers
• PIs suggested follow up support in 2 areas:
– Provide opportunity for supplemental funds
– Help find partners with technical expertise
Additional Recommendations
• Funding decisions should consider
the fact that the adoption of the
practices & technologies proposed
may require structural changes, as
well as changes in producer attitudes
• Encourage the inclusion of an
educational component for each
project to help build broad-based
partnerships
Latest Journal Issue
• “Sustainable Development:
Connecting Agriculture and
Community”
 5 research articles
 1 case studies
 Introductory chapter
• Co-Edited by Bo Beaulieu
(SRDC) and Jeff Jordan
(S-SARE)
Company
LOGO
Other Important Areas
of Potential Interests to
SARE Audiences
Entrepreneurship and E-Commerce Resources
Company
LOGO
The eXtension
Entrepreneurs & Their
Communities Initiative
A Valuable Resource for Farm and Nonfarm
Businesses in Rural America
Listening Session Sites
Entrepreneurship Listening Session
Reports Published in 2007
Entrepreneurship Priorities
• Building and supporting business skills for current
and emerging entrepreneurs
• Expanding access to capital
• Building networks and collaborations
• Creating community support for entrepreneurs (i.e.,
policies)
• Strengthening youth entrepreneurship efforts
• Developing virtual resource centers
Key Components of the eXtension
Entrepreneurship Website
FAQs
Information
Briefs
Activities of
the National
eXtension
Entrepreneurship
Team
Research
Case
Studies
State/Local
Policies
Highlights
Learning
Modules
Ask the
Expert
Events/
Current
News
Data/
Tools
The eXtension Entrepreneurship Website
http://www.extension.org/entrepreneurship
Company
LOGO
Building e-Commerce
Extension Capacity
Curriculum and Training Activities
New e-Commerce Products
• Five products to be released late
2007
 Connecting Rural Communities:
IT Strategic Planning
 Farm Business Management
 Rural Artisans
 Retail Businesses (e-Tailing)
 Experience Economy

E-commerce Case Studies
Business Name
Location
Product or Service
Magic Kennels
Grand Marais, MN
Provides sled dogs adventure
weekends
Blue Smoke Salsa
Ansted, WV
Manufactures and markets salsa
Boreal Access
Grand Marais, MN
Internet service provider
Brush ArtBlack
Downs, KS
Full-service advertising agency
Columbia Falls Pottery
Columbia Falls, ME
Manufactures and markets pottery
and tiles
Dessin Fournir
Plainville, KS
Designs and manufactures home
furnishings
Eolian Farms
Newcastle, ME
Produces and sells fibers from
llamas and Shetland sheep
Farmchem
Floyd, IA
Equipment and service provider for
crop input dealers
Clemson University
EDA University Center for
Economic Development
Thank You !
Discovering New Ideas
Applying New Strategies