Activities

NESAWG and its members are working in hundreds of ways and arenas --from the marketplace to schools, from land grant universities to legislatures -- to make our regional food and farming system more sustainable, just, and secure.

To realize this vision, NESAWG focuses on:
• Public policy reform and development
• Food systems development and market-based innovation
• Professional training and education
• Accountability on the part of our publicly funded institutions
• Public education
 

Our activities are based on a “systems approach” -- recognizing the interdependence of governmental, market and civic arenas for social change. We work on all fronts. Within this framework, we address:
• Farm economic viability and food system economic development
• Natural resource conservation and enhancement
• Rural and urban community food systems
• Food security, nutrition and food-related health issues
• Food 'citizenship'
 

Below you will find some current and recent examples of NESAWG's activities:

In the area of public policy:
• Northeast Ag Works! project (2005-2007) worked at the state, regional and federal levels to promote policies that foster regional food systems. The project’s regionalism framework focused on the strengths and needs of the Northeast. With its partners (American Farmland Trust, Conservation Law Foundation, Northeast States Association for Agricultural Stewardship and Northeast Midwest Institute), NESAWG addressed such key policy issues as food safety inspection, farmland affordability, institutional procurement and integrating agriculture and economic development. Northeast Ag Works! was instrumental in developing a Northeast agenda for the 2008 Farm Bill.

• NESAWG organizes Northeast stakeholders to participate in federal policy development. One key policy opportunity is the federal Farm Bill that encompasses agriculture, forestry, energy, and food and nutrition programs. NESAWG works in collaboration with national and regional partners, and draws from its database of over 3000 contacts to bring a Northeast voice to federal policy, and to assure that Northeast farmers and others make optimal use of federal programs.

 

• NESAWG works with member organizations and others to gather and share policy innovations and strategies at the state level. For example, NESAWG hosted a gathering of state legislators and grassroots groups to learn about food policy councils. With the Hartford Food System, NESAWG compiled model state policies in the areas of farm viability, market development, farmland preservation and conservation. See Agriculture Policy in the Northeast States: Inventory and Innovation.

In the area of food systems development:
• NESAWG and its members focus on a range of topics to strengthen our region’s food system. These include community based food systems, rural development, agricultural cooperatives, market development, value-added production, processing, farm lending, new farmer development, farm business development and innovation.

 

• NESAWG and partners produced a report and educational slide show about farm-direct marketing regulations in CT, MA, NY and VT.

• In collaboration with NESAWG members, NESAWG produced a feasibility study with business scenarios for a state-wide buy local program for Connecticut. It contains information valuable to other groups considering similar programs.

In the area of professional development
• NESAWG fostered the development of buy local and farm-to-institution programs by training over 150 Extension and other agriculture professionals to help develop these programs in their communities, in partnership with the Community Food Security Coalition and FoodRoutes Network.

In working with our publicly funded institutions:
• In 2006, NESAWG published a report on how our region’s Land Grant institutions are responding to the “Stakeholder Rule” passed by Congress in 1998 to encourage broader and more transparent roles for stakeholders in the Land Grant university system. NESAWG investigated and suggested ways to strengthen stakeholder-institution engagement. See the Stakeholder report.


In the area of public education:
• NESAWG publications educate the public about our food system and encourage active involvement. Northeast Farms to Food: Understanding Our Region's Food System and the 2004 and 2006 Updates offer a wealth of information about the Northeast food and agriculture system. NESAWG disseminates information on topics such as agricultural biotechnology, the national organic certification program, food safety, dairy policy, farmland preservation, and nutrition issues

• Outreach tools such as our 580-subscriber listserv, website, database, and annual events bring citizens as well as food and agriculture professionals into dialogue and sharing. NESAWG staff offer presentations, host meetings and serve on panels on a wide range of food system issues.

 

• NESAWG’s Building Advocacy Capacity training program helps member and other organizations clarify and pursue their advocacy goals. During 2006-2007 we provided training to eight organizations in the Northeast.

• NESAWG sponsors opportunities for citizen engagement such as the Citizens Panel on the Future of the New England Food System, with the University of New Hampshire's Office of Sustainability Programs.