- Beginning in July 2021, a Visioning Committee was empaneled meeting once a quarter over the next two years.
- Over 100 local leaders were invited to participate in the Mayor, Economic Development, and Chamber of Commerce teams in the Illinois counties of Edwards, Lawrence, Richland, Wabash, Wayne, and White. There was regular attendence from all areas except two communities making the committee believe they had communittee support.
- It was well agreed that the five existing USDA food deserts were impactful in their communities compounded by lack of transportation and lack of local employment.
Planning Steps 2021-2023
- The committee studied several applications of new technology.
- Information on an agri-hood driven sustainable community was reviewed.
- It was determined there is plenty of space to grow food and it’s a region of farmers.
- It was also recognized that commodity farmers need to know how to transition to specialty crops.
- Conversations also included ways to help grain bins operate with solar power relieving a large expense for every farm. Initiaive with Senator Mike Braun.
Food Council Priorities: the following were determined as group goals from meetings of the Visioning Commiittee.
- Support regional economic development inspired by sustainable agriculture by first identifying the intersectionality of food advocates working against hunger and poverty and then promoting food sovereignty across the region.
- Evaluate post-pandemic food landscape, identify food insecurity across the region
- Consider health impact of food insecurity
- Promote a healthy, local, and economically viable food system
- Improve economic opportunities for producers
- Develop local food processing and aggregation strategies
- Develop efficient distribution routes that are mindful of carbon footprint
- Acknowledge, mitigate, and adapt to new technologies that support climate change inspired agriculture