CALDWELL, Idaho — A group of 60 leaders from farming, ranching, government agencies, and nonprofits met Thursday to discuss the future of Idaho’s food.
The event, hosted at Peaceful Belly Farm by nonprofits American Farmland Trust (AFT) and Idaho Smart Growth (ISG), challenged participants from across Idaho to collaborate on how to improve land use decisions that preserve and sustain local food systems. The group also heard from AFT senior fellow Julia Freedgood, planning for agriculture expert and author of the new book, “Planning Sustainable and Resilient Food Systems: From Soil to Soil.”
“Reliable access to food is something that relies on a number of systems working together,” AFT’s Idaho Program Manager David Anderson said. “The way we plan and use our land, specifically building better cities, directly impacts our access to healthy and locally-sourced food. Idahoans should take pride in our local food sources and do all we can to protect our farmers, ranchers, and everyone involved in food production.”
Population growth and increasing pressure to expand development throughout the Treasure Valley is straining local farms and ranches. For example, suburban development may eliminate 20% of the agricultural economy in Canyon County alone over the next 20 years, according to AFT’s Agricultural Economic Impact Analysis.
“We are at a real inflection point in Idaho when it comes to the backbone of our economy and heritage,” said Idaho Smart Growth Executive Director Crispin Gravatt. “But I’m heartened by the conversations I’ve heard today between city planners, farmers, and nonprofits like ours. We’re getting on the right track as we keep the conversation going.”
The workshop also featured a celebration of local food systems with home-grown food from Peaceful Belly Farm and sponsored by FARE Idaho. Both AFT and ISG plan to continue working with participants on issues related to land use, farmland, and sustainable food systems.
Credits/ Source: https://farmland.org/