Local Food Fuels Local Economies

Regional food production creates benefits that stretch from local jobs to lowered greenhouse gas emissions. Steve Bosserman is studying the economic impact of regional food webs in Ohio and Michigan. Vicki Pozzebon and the Santa Fe Alliance are preparing a regional food and fuels project for the Santa Fe area. They will share their perspectives on February 18 at the Complex.

Steve Bosserman (Bosserman & Associates, Columbus, OH) will describe a variety of projects and partnerships in Northeast Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Michigan to increase participation in local agriculture systems. One of these is a three-year project funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture with multiple university and corporate partners. This project will explore networking, transportation, and other infrastructure to develop and promote local and regional economies.

He would like to open a conversation about how to reach 100% participation throughout the value chain (production, processing, preparation, distribution, retail, regulation, and consumption) in local agriculture (food, feed, fuel, fiber, forestry, floriculture) systems as an essential step in establishing and sustaining local and regional economies.

Vicki Pozzebon, Executive Director of the Santa Fe Alliance, will provide a specific example of this step with an overview of a regional food and fuels project being launched in Northern New Mexico as part of a partnership between the Santa Fe Alliance and the national Business Alliance for Local Living Economies.

The Regional Food and Fuels Project will link rural and agricultural economic development to our urban economy in Santa Fe to localize our food system, increase food production by reducing costs through renewable energy projects, and connecting small rural areas to one another. This program also seeks to create green jobs which will address Santa Fe Alliance’s workforce development initiative needs as well.

Time will be left after both talks to continue the conversation and to discuss how these regional initiatives can share directions and results.