Local Food Systems
Why Local?
Why Now?
Craig Chase
ISUEO Specialist – Local Foods
LFFP Coordinator
LCSA MFSI Program Leader
Problem #1
• Who is going to farm and what are the
opportunities for a beginning farmer?
• Can most beginning farmers make a living with
a conventional C-Sb farming operation given…
– Current land prices
– Current machinery prices?
• What are the expectations that a beginning CSb conventional farmer can be large enough to
make a living?
Local Food Systems Benefits
• Opportunity #1 – the capital costs for
beginning farmers is much less due to smaller
machinery and land base needed.
– Fruit and vegetable operations, along with niche
livestock offer an opportunity for beginning farmers
that want to farm, to be able to farm with less risk
and less capital outlay.
Problem #2
• With fewer farms surrounding small rural
communities, there are fewer young families
with children in school and fewer consumers to
purchase local merchandise resulting in
declining small rural communities.
• Declining communities lead to fewer
opportunities for non-farm kids to remain in the
communities they grew up in.
Local Food Systems Benefits
• Opportunity #2 – Development of local food
systems contributes jobs to the Iowa economy.
– According to Dave Swenson at ISU, if all Iowans
purchased locally 5 servings of fruits and
vegetables for 3 months, $302 million in economic
activity would accrue along with the creation of
4,094 jobs.
– According to a recent USDA study, for every $1M
in local produce sales, 13 FTE on-farm jobs are
created.
Problem #3
• There are changes occurring to the global
climate resulting in wider swings in
temperatures and weather events (droughts,
floods, etc.) due to increases in greenhouse
gases.
• Non-renewable energy supplies are
decreasing and prices are more sensitive to
supply swings.
Local Food Systems Benefits
• Opportunity #3 – Local food systems offers the
potential to lower greenhouse gases and fuel
usage through a more regional distribution
system than the global system that is currently
in place.
Problem #4
• One third of U. S. children are obese or overweight.
Over the past three decades, obesity rates have
doubled in 6-11 year olds and tripled in 12-19 year
olds.
• Obese children are more likely to develop Type 2
Diabetes, high blood pressure and high blood lipids.
1 in 3 children born in 2000 will be diabetic in their
lifetime (CDC).
• Our children will be the first generation to have a life
expectancy shorter than their parents.
Local Food Systems Benefits
• Opportunity #4 - Promote healthier eating
habits
– Students: Regular access to healthy food has been
proven to be one of the strongest predictors of
improved school performance.
– Food Service: school meal participation average
increase +9%.
Local Food Systems Interest
• Interest is increasing rapidly because of the
benefits of local food system development.
• Local food can add diversity to Iowa’s
agricultural landscape.
• Economic benefits to beginning farmers and to
state’s economy.
Response from the Legislature
• Iowa Local Food and Farm Plan was a response to
increasing consumer demand for local food.
– Requested by Iowa legislature in 2010, presented in
January 2011.
– 29 operational recommendations / six sections:
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Business development and financial assistance
Processing
Food safety
Beginning, minority, and transitioning farmers
Assessing progress
Local food incentives.
Response from the Legislature
• Local Food and Farm Initiative passed legislation.
• Initiated Coordinator and Advisory Council:
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Iowa Farmers Union
Iowa Farmers Market Association
League of RC&Ds
Regional Food System Working Group
Industry representative
Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship.
• Preliminary report due February 2012, final report
due June 2012.
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Response from the Legislature
• 5 section leaders to assess progress, identify
barriers, and outline next steps for each
recommendation.
• Identify projects to fund based on section leader
findings and recommendations.
Next Steps…
• From regional and national studies, it appears:
– The largest barrier is likely to be expanding
production and aggregation; second largest is
providing GAP and other training to ensure food
safety.
– Other areas of expanding opportunities include
working with beginning, minority, and transitioning
farmers and urban agriculture.
Next Steps…
• BOTTOM LINE
The pace and the breadth of what
happens next is dependent upon financial
commitments by the legislature and other
interested parties.
Questions…..
Any questions or comments?
Thank You for This Opportunity!
Craig A. Chase
Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture
Marketing and Food System Initiative Program Leader
Iowa State University Extension and Outreach
Local Food and Farm Program Coordinator
Local Food Systems and Alternative Enterprise Analysis
209B Curtiss Hall
Ames, IA 50014
(515) 294-1854
cchase@iastate.edu