Ag Futures Alliance
A Process to Create a Sustainable Food System
What is an AFA?
• Roundtable designed to build consensus on local policies impacting the food system
• Diverse stakeholders from agriculture, environmental advocacy, education, media, government, civic organizations, farm labor
• Stated goal: create a sustainable local food system
The community challenge
• The issues facing ag and the food system are complex!
• No one stakeholder has the whole view• The discussion typically is driven by the poles• Many uncoordinated efforts work at cross-
purposes• Big gaps in power and sophistication increase
conflict
A better way
• Rather than isolation or conflict:– Build on common interest:
healthy future– Seek win-win solutions– Develop personal relationships
between polarized parties– Develop actions or projects that
bond collaborators
Results in the Field
• Yolo Ag and Food Alliance operating since 2004– Targets of our work:
• Current: Yolo County “Food Hub”– Farmers, Ag Commissioner, Environmental Health, School
Districts & other instutions, City staff, BOS, Developers
• Past: Yolo County General Plan, Agriculture and Economic Development Element
– Farmland preservation, agri-tourism, local food processing, farm-to-school programming, permitting assistance, etc.
– Ag Conservation/Ag mitigation principles
– Board of Supervisors, County Departments, Environmental organizations, farmers/ranchers
Results in the Field
• AFA’s now operating in Fresno, Yolo, San Benito, San Mateo, Santa Barbara, Sonoma, and Ventura counties
• California Roundtable on Ag and the Environment a state-level counterpart
• Projects include local branding, ag land mitigation, and developing alternative distribution
Ag Innovations Network
Contact Information• agfuturesalliance.net• aginnovations.net• joseph@aginnovations.
net• 707.823.6111