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Challenges in obesity, diet related diseases, hunger, rising energy costs, a growing population, dwindling water supplies and a changing climate require our attention, and it is our responsibility to lead the way for an advanced 21st century food supply." — California Department of Food & Agriculture
 
Keeping Farmers on the Land
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Improving market opportunities and infrastructure

We're identifying the opportunities and barriers through demonstration projects to expand infrastructure and market opportunities to improve farm viability through local and regional food systems.

 

conference participantsHarvesting Opportunities in New York: Growing Local Food Economies and Protecting Farmland

Farms contribute billions to New York’s economy, yet, since the 1980s, the state has lost more than 4,000 farms to development.  Harvesting Opportunities in New York: Growing Local Food Economies and Protecting Farmland is a conference designed to inspire and educate New Yorkers to support agriculture, strengthen local farm and food economies, and get involved in protecting farmland. The one-day conference will take place on November 15 at the Hotel Albany in downtown Albany, New York.


farmer-and-carrott-picking.pngRegional Project Seeks to Foster Supportive Public Policy Environment

A vibrant and viable food system in New England requires a supportive public policy environment. For this reason, American Farmland Trust is teaming up with the Conservation Law Foundation and the Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Working Group to identify the policy levers that will support improved farm profitability, expanded food production and the agricultural infrastructure needed to improve regional food resiliency. Drawing upon expertise and experience of leaders and practitioners across New England, this two-year project will focus on federal, state and regional policy arenas, analyzing policy barriers and gaps in five key areas and recommending where change is most needed, at what level and scale, and what kinds of advocacy might be most effective.

 

LettuceFood Policy Council, Massachusetts
We continue to work with a group of food, farm and conservation stakeholders to create a Massachusetts Food Policy Council.  The council would work to advance several food system goals including increased production, sales and consumption of Massachusetts-grown foods and to train, retain and recruit farmers and provide for the continued economic viability of local food production, processing and distribution.


Burlington, New JerseyA Fresh Outlook at the Urban-Rural Interface in New Jersey

Burlington County, New Jersey, has one of the state’s strongest agricultural economies, along with a nationally recognized farmland preservation program.  Our team of experts is helping the county’s farmland preservation program turn the challenges of high land values and conflicts at the urban-rural interface into opportunities for direct marketing, value-added products and a vibrant local food and farming system.


San FranciscoUrban Rural Roundtable

In San Francisco, a blue ribbon committee of city and agricultural leaders convened by Mayor Gavin Newsom outlined five important steps the mayor should take to encourage greater production and consumption of sustainably grown local food. The five initiatives were selected from dozens proposed and debated during a year-long process organized by Roots of Change, American Farmland Trust and other local leaders.

Connecticut Planning GuideGiving Local Officials a Hand

Our regional staff in Connecticut is providing technical assistance to six communities to help them create plans to support local farms and farmland. As part of this effort, we are helping them implement strategies discussed in the new Planning for Agriculture: A Guide for Connecticut Municipalities. Also see:
- Farmland Information Center: Connecticut
- Our Publications






 
 
American Farmland Trust