AIN Recent Projects
Over the past five years the Ag Innovations Network team has focused primarily on building out the Ag Futures and Food System Alliance Network. During that time we have also taken on a number of important and interesting short-term projects that take advantage of our knowledge of the food system and expertise in facilitation and managed change. Here we list some of our more recent work. If you are interested in retaining us to facilitate a meeting or work with you on organizational or community development, please contact us.
Sustainable Enterprise Conference: Collaboration Training
We presented an interactive training module on multi-stakeholder collaboration at the 2008 Sustainable Enterprise Conference, which received rave reviews from participants. This training is available for use in other settings.
U. of California Small Farm Center Strategic Plan
In 2007 we led a one-day strategic planning retreat for the leaders and staff of the University of California Small Farm Center. As a result of the day, the team agreed to implement a broad array of new communications and intra-program collaboration efforts.
Great Valley Center
In 2007 we were contracted the Great Valley Center to facilitate two focus groups on desirability of creating stronger regional food systems for Fresno and Madera counties.
Business Alliance for Local Living Economies
In late 2007, we facilitated a two-day board retreat for the Business Alliance for Local Living Economies where we helped the group manage a major leadership and strategy shift.
California Department of Pesticide Regulation: Environmental Justice Advisory Group
Over 12 months in 2006-2007, we were hired to facilitate a multi-stakeholder advice process to develop an environmental justice program for the Department of Pesticide Regulation. We worked with 20 culturally and politically diverse members from both industry and advocacy groups to create a consensus set of recommendations.
Food Connections Conference: Systems Thinking Seminar
In 2006, we were asked to prepare a one-day seminar on systems thinking for food systems advocates. Using a variety of systems models and methods we created an interactive workshop that built skills and created interaction between participants. One participant described it as the “best introduction to systems thinking for lay persons he had ever attended”. This training program is available for use in other settings.
Roots of Change Workforce Action Taskforce
In 2006, we were asked to co-facilitate a series of dialogues between farm workers and growers around the needs of workers. Working with simultaneous translation and across cultural barriers, we helped craft a meeting process that involved everyone fully. The result is a report on actions to take to the Roots of Change.
Slow Food International/Terra Madre
We served as facilitators for the 2006 Terra Madre event which brought together over 5000 food community members from around the world. This projects highlights the advanced facilitation techniques we offer.
Contra Costa Wine Grape & Olive Growers Association
Working with a small board of a start-up organization, we helped to craft a business plan and road map for the organization’s growth. The organization is now working on implementation.
Marin Center for Sustainable Agriculture
Over three months in 2006, we worked with the staff and the board of the Marin County Farmer’s Market Association and the new Center for Sustainable Agriculture board to create and implement a visioning process for the new Center and build support and synergy between the two groups. The result: a commitment to move forward on a unique new permanent farmer’s market for Marin.
The Vivid Picture Project
In 2005, Ag Innovations facilitated meetings of the Roots of Change Council as it worked on the Vivid Picture Project, its major initiative focused on spawning a sustainable food system in the state of California.
Slow Food USA
Slow Food USA is the US-based home of the international Slow Food movement. In the summer of 2005, Ag Innovations led a two-day strategic planning retreat that focused on updating the mission and goals of the organization in light of its continuing rapid growth and development.