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In responding to shifting values and demand, local agriculture and food systems tend to <br />embrace the principles and ethics of low-impact, naturally grown, and regenerative practices <br />resulting in healthier climate, land, food, and people. Proximity creates greater awareness and <br />appreciation of these practices as well as our practitioner and consumer neighbors. <br /> <br />We are experiencing a unique time in history. Awareness and values are changing, demand is <br />changing and our response must also change. <br /> <br />Notes from slide presentation: <br /> <br />Food System Components <br /> <br /> Production: farmers growing / producing agricultural products <br />Processing: value-added processes (washing, packing, processing derivative <br />products) <br />Distribution: aggregation & distribution of product from field to consumer <br />Markets: food service (restaurants & institutions) & consumer (grocery & <br />convenience stores) <br />Waste: composting of food waste, using “2nd grade products”, extracts, etc. <br /> <br />Local Economy <br /> <br /> a local economy is a radius of about an hour drive from job centers <br /> money is always leaking from the economy <br /> goal: create, grow, and attract primary contributory businesses – increase inflow <br /> locally owned businesses help keep money in the local economy longer <br /> <br />Trends <br /> <br /> food systems increasingly seen as a comprehensive industry <br /> food systems recognized as community & economic development opportunity <br /> changing technology in agriculture (examples): <br />o controlled environment agriculture (growing indoors) <br />o cellular agriculture (products from cell cultures) <br /> food and agriculture are growing components of land planning / the built environment <br /> greater interest in funding all aspects of the food system (grants, loans, impact capital) <br /> heightened awareness of issues in the food system (resilience, climate, access, fair <br />labor) <br /> COVID <br /> <br />COVID Impacts <br /> <br /> Major disruption in market, demand, and supply chains <br /> <br /> Illuminated vulnerable portions of the industrial food <br /> <br /> Illuminated inequities on the “human side” of the food <br /> <br /> Affected our concepts of food, health, social interaction, community, how we value <br />workers, and the nature of work itself. <br />4