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Join the Harvard Food Law and Policy Clinic for a workshop on policy advocacy strategies for enhancing production and consumption of local agricultural products. Learn how to develop a strategic policy advocacy action plan and choose policy goals. Presented on July 9th, 2014 in Grundy & McMinn Counties, Tennessee.
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Strategic Policy Advocacy WorkshopAppalachian Diabetes Coalitions Presented by the Harvard Food Law and Policy Clinic July 9th, 2014 Grundy & McMinn Counties, Tennessee AlliCondra, HFLPC Senior Fellow Austin Bryniarski, HFLPC Summer Intern Kate Giessel, HFLPC Summer Intern
Roadmap Morning • Policy Advocacy • Agriculture & Local Food Systems • Policy Advocacy Strategies for Enhancing Production • Policy Advocacy Strategies for Enhancing Consumption of Local Agricultural Products Lunch (12pm – 1pm) Afternoon • Developing a Strategic Policy Advocacy Action Plan • Choosing a Policy Goal • Identifying Possible Partners • Assigning Advocacy Strategies • Creating an Action Plan
What is Policy? • Policies govern our environmentand behaviorby outlining specific conduct, whoshould do it, how and when it should be done, and for whatpurpose. • Example: Food Policies are the set of laws and regulations that inform how, when and why food is produced, transported, distributed, and consumed, and by whom.
Three Different Levels of Policy • The U.S. food system is governed by a combination of laws and regulations spanning various decision-makers • Federal • Limited Authority • Example: The Farm Bill • State • Broad Authority • Example: Marketing Initiatives for Local Agricultural Products • Local • Authority Dependent upon the State • Example: Zoning Ordinances for Farmers Markets
Policies & Programs Policies Programs Are More Short-sighted in Scope Provide Temporary Relief Have Variable Impacts More Easily Dismantled • Are Farsighted in Scope • Provide Systemic Solutions • Have Long-lasting Impact • Have Staying Power
Policy Advocacy: Identify, Educate, Advocate • Identify… • Policies, Stakeholders, & Opportunities for Change • Educate… • Coalition Members and Communities • Advocate… • For the Adoption and Implementation of Policy Goals
Local Agricultural Landscape in Tennessee Agricultural Products: Hay, Soybeans, Corn, and Cotton Poultry and Eggs Cattle and Calves Only 1,284 (1.9%) of farms produce vegetables Only 719 (1%) of farms have land in orchards • 2012 Ag Census at a Glance: • 68,050 farms; average size is 160 acres • Number of farms is decreasing, size of farms is increasing • Average net cash income is $10,233 • 90% of Farmers are men; Less than 4% are non-white • Average age of KY Farmers is 59.2 • About 4% of KY Farmers are under age 35
Enhancing Rural Agricultural Production • Enhancing rural agricultural production encourages more consumption of locally grown, healthy foods. • Policy Advocacy Options • Increase Funding • Increase the Availability of Training Programs • Improve & Increase the Use of Land-Linking Programs
Enhancing Rural Agricultural Production • Increase Funding • Grants & Loans • Vermont Working Lands Enterprise Initiative • Wisconsin Grow Wisconsin Dairy Processor Grant Program • Tax Incentives • Nebraska Tax Credits for Young or Beginning Farmers • Woodbury County, Iowa Tax Rebates for Organic Farming Conversion
Enhancing Rural Agricultural Production • Increase the Availability of Training Programs • The University of Kentucky MarketReadyTraining Program • MarylandFuture Harvest Year-long Program • University of California Apprenticeship Program
Enhancing Rural Agricultural Production • Improve & Increase the Use of Land-Linking Programs • National Center for Rural Affairs Land-Linking Service • MarylandFarmLink Online Property Exchange Listing • Connecticut Statute authorizing Department of Agriculture to establish a Database
Enhancing Consumption of Local Agricultural Products • Enhancing the consumption of locally grown, healthy foods bolsters rural agricultural production. • Policy Advocacy Options • Increase Contract Purchasing • Improve Aggregation & Distribution • Increase Direct-to-Consumer Access
Enhancing Consumption of Local Agricultural Products Increase Contract Purchasing • Institutions • Memphis, Tennessee Five Percent Discount to Local Business Purchases over $10,000 • WashingtonFunding for Low-Income Schools to Purchase Local, Fresh Food; Piloted “Farmer to Food Bank” • Retailers • New York City Healthy Bodegas Initiative • VirginiaOnline Grocery Store Purchase Agreement
Enhancing Consumption of Local Agricultural Products Improve Aggregation & Distribution • Food Hubs • Tracy City, South Carolina South Cumberland Food Hub • Dane County, Wisconsin Wisconsin Food Hub Cooperative • Food Processors • WashingtonIsland Grown Farmers Cooperative Mobile Slaughtering Unit • New Mexico The Food Center and Commercial Kitchen
Enhancing Consumption of Local Agricultural Products Increase Direct-to-Consumer Access • Farmers Markets • California Wireless EBT Devices • OregonFarmers Market Advertising Campaign • Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) • College Grove, Tennessee Devlin Farms CSA Organic Produce • New York City Chelsea CSA Income-Based Payment Scale
Developing a Strategic Policy Advocacy Action Plan • Choosing A Policy Option • Policy Goals must be Attainable and Impactful • Challenges and Successes • Challenges must be Anticipated; Success must be Defined • Identifying Possible Partners • Partners must be Supportive and Influential • Assigning Advocacy Strategies • Strategies must be Feasible and Impactful
Developing a Strategic Policy Advocacy Action Plan: Choosing a Policy Option • Questions to Consider: • How attainable is the policy? • What sort of impact would this policy have? • How long will it take to achieve this policy change?
Developing a Strategic Policy Advocacy Action Plan: Challenges And Successes • Questions to Consider: • What Challenges do you anticipate? • What does Success look like?
Developing a Strategic Policy Advocacy Action Plan: Identifying Possible Partners • Questions to Consider: • What support will this individual or group lend to the initiative? • What kind of influence does this individual or group have? • Does this individual or group have contacts on the Coalition, and is he or she easily accessible? • Whose guidance, help, or voice could the Coalition incorporate to best advocate for this policy change? • Who are some partners that could have a stake in this policy that are not so obvious?
Developing a Strategic Policy Advocacy Action Plan: Assigning Advocacy Strategies • Questions to Consider: • What kind of impact would the strategy have? • With what ease can the strategy be completed? • How much time would it take to implement the strategy? • What partners could be involved in executing the strategy? • Which Coalition member will carry out the strategy?