Published Jul 13, 2010
Leopold Center Food and Farm Report to Statehouse
By Luke Gran
The Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture has been asked by the Iowa Statehouse to:
To the extent feasible, the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture established pursuant to section 266.39 shall prepare a local food and farm plan containing policy and funding recommendations for supporting and expanding local food systems and for assessing and overcoming obstacles necessary to increase locally grown food production. The Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture shall submit the plan to the general assembly by January 10, 2011. The plan shall include recommendation for short-term and long-term solutions, including but not limited to the enactment of legislation. This division of the Act is repealed on January 10, 2011.
What is the top obstacle that prevents Iowa from having a strong local and regional food business sector.
Its kind of a wicked/messy problem best described like this: 1) Lack of Capital flowing to the farmers interested in producing local/regional food in sufficient quantity and quality to generate revenue to reinvest in the business and expand;
What strateg(ies) are needed to address this obstacle?
Business Skill Development money would be highly useful if the state would commit sustained funding (for 3-5 years) to diverse organizations including grassroots NGO’s that are working on improving beginning farmers business and life skills.
What is the SECOND obstacle that prevents Iowa from having a strong local and regional food business sector.
Lack of business skills to convince self that start-up costs for business is a good bet; and Lack of business skills to convince a lender to invest.
What strategies are needed to address this obstacle?
Business Skill Development money would be highly useful if the state would commit sustained funding (for 3-5 years) to diverse organizations including grassroots NGO’s that are working on improving beginning farmers business and life skills.
What is the top obstacle that prevents Iowa from having a strong local and regional food business sector.
To have a “strong” sector I am assuming that means 1) local foods are accessible everywhere, nearly all year long; 2) farmers are in greater number than they are today, scattered around the state; and 3) local is not seen as “abnormal” and seasonal eating of Iowa products is “normal”. To achieve that the biggest obstacle is lack of processing, aggregators and diverse market delivery mechanisms.
What strategies are needed to address this obstacle?
I’m really not sure at this point….but if I had to say something it would be: Commit to help seek funds (or tax credits) to build infrastructure that farmers have for other crops, this should be smart and slow, so it can grow as farmers and fresh food crop enterprises grow.
What is the SECOND obstacle that prevents Iowa from having a strong local and regional food business sector.
I chose “Lack of understanding of local food cost infrastructure.”
What strateg(ies) are needed to address this obstacle?
This is another really tough question. I am not sure yet, but I think we need Federal policy change in agriculture; show all market externalized costs so consumers see true cost of “cheap” food, greater knowledge about the health care implications of chemical agriculture. Greater transparency of how much food costs to produce at a “just” wage in Iowa, a fair return to all those involved in the work, production, delivery, and safety of our food.