Montana Food System Action Plan Report

 

• Introduction
• Action Group 1. Infrastructure
• Action Group 2. Food System Outreach, Education, Research and Curriculum
• Action Group 3. Food Security
• Action Group 4. Farm Viability and Land Use

 

Introduction

On November 16-17, 2007, over 50 Montanans gathered at the Ursuline Centre in Great Falls for the first follow-up event to the March 2007 Governor's Summit on Food and Agriculture. The primary purpose of this follow-up meeting was to convene action groups to carry forward the mission of working toward a Montana-based food economy - one in which there is a stable base of family farms; an increased capacity for food production, processing and distribution; and access to healthy, Montana-made food for all Montanans.

At the Ursuline Centre, the groups worked diligently to arrive at specific action steps they will immediately begin to address in order to improve our state's ability to feed our citizens while building our family farm and community economies. The action groups will be coordinated by an umbrella state-wide task force, the Montana Food System Task Force, whose primary role is to provide a communications clearinghouse and organizational framework for Montana food system activities going on throughout the state.

The four action group categories that arose out of the work completed by the March 2007 Summit participants are:

• Food production, processing, distribution infrastructure, and cooperative development.
• Education, outreach, research and curriculum related to Montana food system issues
• Food security for all Montanans
• Farm viability and land use

The three action groups that participated in the Great Falls meeting developed one-year plans that outline needs/issues to address and specific action steps that will be taken in both six-month and one-year time frames. The food security action group did not meet at the Ursuline Centre during this event. This action group has, however, convened and is moving forward with developing an action plan. A summary of the action plans for all four action groups follow.

Common themes emerged in all action groups. Education among all stakeholders in the food system from producer to consumer, the need for basic research on the economics of food system change in Montana, engaging the Montana University System in supporting Montana food system research, training and educational needs, and the unique challenges associated with the vastly different needs of Montana urban vs. rural communities were raised by all action groups. Food security, specifically connecting Montana food producers with Montana's food insecure citizens, was also central to all conversations.

The Montana Food System Action Groups all outlined plans to continue their work. Group members volunteered for various action steps and all groups will be re-convening via conference calls in the near future. In addition, all groups look forward to having the support of the statewide Montana Food System Task Force as a conduit of information and source for networking and coordination on Montana Food System issues.

 

Action Group 1. Infrastructure:
Food Production, Processing, Distribution, and Co-op Development

Priorities

1.1 Technical assistance for development of food production, processing, distribution enterprises

Specific Activities

• Food Innovation Centers—flesh out details of and support creation of a statewide network of Food Innovation Centers.
• Promote state policies that support ongoing maintenance of Food Innovation Center programs.
• Work with the four state agency directors (Ag, Commerce, DPHHS, Labor) and the Congressional delegation on a letter to include funding for the Food Innovation Centers in federal appropriations.
• Food Science Program—work to gain support for a food science program or food science curriculum at MSU, and an accompanying food scientist to help entrepreneurs bring their products to market, meeting all safety and other regulatory requirements
• High school curriculum on food science and local food use—promote development by OPI. Extend the curriculum for recipients of food stamps and to accompany elementary school garden programs.
• Buy Fresh, Buy Local campaign—relaunch this AERO-initiated program to educate consumers and food retailers/restaurants on the value of local food.

1.2 Incentives for development of Montana food processing, marketing, distribution enterprises

Specific Activities

• Research and identify possible business development tax credit programs that could be adopted in Montana.
• Study and propose improvements specific to food processing and distribution in the existing Growth through Agriculture Program and Board of Investments programs.
• Provide ways to help meet the health insurance needs of small-scale food producers, processors, distributors, especially look for ways to improve the "Insure Montana" program.
• Promote funding sources for food processing and distribution: publicize the availability and proposal deadlines for programs like USDA's Value-Added Producer Grants, Community Food Projects, etc. Encourage Montana's USDA Rural Development office to improve outreach to Montanans.
• Redesign and revitalize the Made in Montana program; encourage interdepartmental support and implementation.
• Develop a MT food system resources clearinghouse. Find resources for and establish and maintain a web-based source of food system-related funding opportunities, policies, programs, information, models, food products, markets, etc. Include an interactive electronic bulletin board for individuals and businesses to post need for and availability of specific items.
• Explore applying farm/ranch enterprise laws and regulations to farmers/ranchers processing their own products. For example, allow farmers to deliver their own processed goods without a commercial driver's license.
• Explore incentives to foster development of Montana food distribution capacity, e.g., one idea is to provide for trucks in which, if X percent of their load is comprised of Montana-produced food, they can use dyed (tax-exempt) diesel.

1.3 More food processing facilities in Montana

Specific Activities

• Investigate ways to increase the number of Environmental Health Professionals and improve access to their services.
• Investigate food industry workforce training opportunities within Job Corps and the MT prison system. Job Corps as source of school garden managers?
• Develop another food processing incubator like Mission Mountain Food Enterprise Center. Assess Mission Mtn.'s services, costs, demand, etc., and apply lessons to a plan for another one in eastern Montana.
• Increase access to existing food processing resources, i.e., commercial kitchens at schools, churches, etc.
• Promote expansion/upgrades of existing food processing facilities.
• Provide education and training in food processing for home use, including highlighting potential market benefits/incentives for restaurants and grocers to offer "to-go" meals prepared with Montana ingredients.

 

Action Group 2. Food System Outreach, Education, Research and Curriculum

Priorities

2.1 Media campaign on local food
Specific Activities

• Develop clear branding for this group – name and mission.
• Create topical one-year bi-monthly media schedule
• Establish a protocol for article review/approval
• Write and distribute bi-monthly press releases
  

2.2 Organizational website
Specific Activities

1. Develop framework for website
2. Establish content for website
3. Secure funding for webmaster
4. Hire webmaster
   

2.3 Outreach to K-12 schools on local food
Specific Activities

1. Investigate role of Ag in Montana Schools and how it might tie in
2. Investigate Farm Camp model from Missoula
3. Gather information from 4-H, FFA, Extension, regarding what already exists for connecting schools with community gardens

2.4 Study labor/profitability issues of local food production thru consumption
Specific Activities

• Investigate if research model already exists – plug in Montana inputs
• Identify researcher (university or private contractor) willing to lead study
• Request appropriations for this study
  

2.5 Sustainable crop production research
Specific Activity

• Look into collaboration with experiment stations – identify appropriate stations

2.6 Communicate more with legislators
Specific Activities

1. Identify local legislators from districts of all action group members
2. Seek opportunity to update local legislators on food system issues in Montana and the mission and activities of the Montana Food System Task Force

2.7 Sustainable Local Food System Curriculum Development
Specific Activities

• Explore potential for new university faculty positions in specific content areas including food technology, bioenergy, and sustainable crop production,
• Advocate food system experiential learning for university students
• MSU Towne's Harvest farm - Assist with Capital Development campaign for farm improvements (water well, produce washing/prep facility, greenhouse),

 

Action Group 3. Food Security

(Note: This action group did not formally meet at the Ursuline Centre event. The following is a partial summary of plans for this action group based upon outcomes from the March 2007 Governor's Summit and follow-up work done by the Food Security Work Group of the Food Security Council of the Montana Food Bank Network):

Priorities

3.1 The Food Security Work Group will take the lead on the following action items:

• Conduct Food and Nutrition Assessment in 5 Montana counties to look at multiple issues including poverty, access to healthy foods, public program participation, access to grocery stores, availability and affordability of locally grown food, special dietary needs and access to nutrition education.
• Create county nutrition coalitions in select counties to bring in key local leaders to follow-up on assessment data and implement changes.
• Work with public county agencies to maximize participation in all public food nutrition assistance programs.
• Identify and reduce barriers to participation.
• Provide information to local counties on the economic benefits of increased participation in public food programs. Provide county information on lost dollars.
• Empower local communities to increase access to food through their own resources.
• Help communities start more Summer School Food Programs.

3.2 The Food Security work group will support efforts and work closely with other organizations on the following action items:

• Find ways to make locally grown food more affordable for all people.
• Help create community gardens in low-income neighborhoods, provide tools and guidance in growing vegetables and using them.
• Start school-yard gardens and bring local senior citizens to help and teach children how to grow a garden.

 

Action Group 4. Farm Viability and Land Use

Note: This action group divided into 3 sub-groups to work on their action plan.

Priorities

4.1 Develop incentives that enable farmers to produce food, forage and fiber in Montana growth areas
Specific Activities

1. Create policies that encourage developers to keep a portion of their land in food and fiber production
2. Develop models that preserve and protect food production with in new or existing developments
3. Promote community farms close to growth areas
4. Educate the public on the importance of farm land preservation

4.2 Protect critical farmlands in high growth areas
Specific Activities

• Identify factors that influence the selection of critical farmland in growth areas
• Identify criteria for what constitutes a high growth area
• Identify and prioritize critical lands in growth areas using GIS technology

4.3 Create a land link program to connect aspiring producers with available agricultural lands
(This could include a web-based database, resources and workshops to inform land transfers, and outreach activities to landowners and communities with available land.)
Specific Activities

• Secure funding for pilot projects in the Missoula and Bozeman areas
• Pilot projects will establish web-based databases
• Pilot projects will facilitate the relationship/communication between producers looking for ag land and the owners of farms/ranches
• Establish an information clearinghouse for farm and ranch transfers and tenure agreements
• Evaluate the first year of the pilot projects to guide future development of the program

4.4 Explore Farm & Ranch Resource Centers (FRRC)for people starting agricultural enterprises(where farmers can share infrastructure, equipment, and technical resources. Examples include incubator farms and equipment cooperatives.)

Activities to Support Outcome Goal:

• Recruit interested communities to do a feasibility study for a FRRC in their area
• Identify parcels of land and equipment/infrastructure needs
• Design FRRCs in feasible communities
• Secure land and funding to develop FRRCs

4.5 Support producer innovation—identify model programs, motivation for innovation, and opportunities for change
Specific Activities

• Research and demonstrate effective methods of past innovations (farm and ranch improvement clubs, transition to organic program)
• Identify and profile lead innovators
• Draw new ideas, examples and tools from research and other areas – including methods for documenting impacts at different scales
  

4.6 Establish a network of innovators and assistance providers and develop means to help producers learn and innovate successfully
Specific Activities

• Create nodes of innovation for shared information and demonstration (assess farm, community and state situation and existing resources)
• Use what's there (ATTRA, NRCS, and others) to discuss how to work together – e.g., producer groups, 1st Nations Development Institute, Horizons Project
• Utilize multiple methods for disseminating and sharing/supporting change. Montana farm press, workshops, mentoring, risk management, websites, farm tours, K-12 education, assessments

If you were not able to attend the Great Falls event, but are interested in becoming involved with one of the action groups, please contact Mary Stein, who can put you in contact with the leadership of the individual action group.

Mary Stein
Department of Health and Human Development
Montana State University
Bozeman, MT 59717
Phone: 406-994-5640
Fax: 406-994-7300
Email: mstein@montana.edu

 

« Back