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Local Food Systems: Emerging Research and Policy Issues Agenda

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Preliminary Agenda

Friday, June 26, 2009

8:00 am — 8:30 am

Registration

8:30 am — 8:45 am

Introduction and Welcome

8:45 am — 10:00 am

Session 1 – Describing local food systems and evaluating market performance

This session will be devoted to assessing the size and scope of the local foods industry and discussing methods for evaluating local food market performance.  Topics to be addressed include the various definitions of “local,” the current state of knowledge regarding local foods, and how researchers evaluate the market performance of local food systems.

  1. “Eating local: Concepts, impacts, and issues” Steve Martinez, USDA ERS
  2.  “Evaluating local foods and other alternative agriculture systems,” James Hanson, University of Maryland
  3. “Performance-based evaluation of local food systems,”
    Luanne Lohr, University of Georgia

 

10:00 am — 10:30 am

Break

10:30 am - Noon

Session 2 – Performance issues for local food markets

The second session will begin to examine different aspects of local foods market structure, retailing, demand and supply.  Specific examples of how local food supply chains operate and how they may be different or similar to predominant supply chains will be provided. 

  1. “Availability, price, and retail marketing,” Ed McLaughlin, Cornell University
  2. “Local food systems and institutional purchasing,” Shermain Hardesty, UC Davis
  3. “Demand for local foods,” Dawn Thilmany, Colorado State University
  4.  “Supply and marketing issues in a local food supply chain: A pilot case study,” Rob King, University of Minnesota

Noon — 1:15 pm

Luncheon Keynote Speaker - Topic and speaker TBA

1:15 pm — 2:45 pm

Session 3 – Economics and Impacts of Local Foods

This session will highlight key topics of market performance for local food systems. Major topics include social sustainability, environmental performance, and rural economic impacts from local food systems.

  1. “Values-based value chains: Case studies from Agriculture of the Middle,” Larry Lev, Oregon State University
  2. “Environmental performance and sustainability of local foods,” David Oglethorpe, Newcastle Business School (UK)
  3. “Rural economic development impacts of local food systems,” Rich Pirog, Iowa State University

2:45 pm — 3:00 pm

Break

3:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Session 4 – Panel discussion: “Programs for Local Food Systems: What’s Available, What Works?”

The first of two panel discussions will focus on the interaction between organizations and people who are involved in local food systems, and the Government programs that are aimed at supporting the development of local foods.

Moderator: Tom Tomich
Panelists:
Debra Tropp, USDA AMS
Michael Rozyne, Red Tomato
Glyen Holmes, New North Florida Cooperative
State product promotion representative, TBA
Ann Karlen, Fair Food/White Dog Community Enterprises

4:00 pm - 5:00 pm

Session 5 – Panel discussion: “Policy and the Role of Government in Local Food Systems”

The second panel will discuss issues related to public policies, laws, and regulations that affect the size and scope of local foods. Key issues to be addressed include what barriers may exist that inhibit growth in local food systems, what role the Federal government should play in local food systems, and how businesses and organizations may be affected by policies related to local foods.

Moderator: Tom Tomich
Panelists:
USDA AMS representative, TBA
Foodservice marketer and distributor representative, TBA
Larry Yee, UC Cooperative Extension
Ferd Hoefner, National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition
Marion Kalb, Community Food Security Coalition and National Farm to School Network

5:00 pm

Adjourn

 

For more information, contact: Michael Hand, Michelle DaPra

Web administration: webadmin@ers.usda.gov

Updated date: April 27, 2009