AIN Recent Projects
Ag Innovations Network provides a wide range of facilitation and capacity building services to organizations and communities grappling with food system issues. Here we list some of our more recent work. If you are interested in learning more about how we support your efforts to strengthen your community or organization, please contact us.
San Diego County Food System Working Group
2009-Current. AIN has provided technical support and facilitation for the San Diego County Food System Working Group as it develops an assessment of the San Diego County food system and recommendation for actions. As part of this project, we have provided food system training to participants, project coordination, and input on food system challenges.
Stewardship Index for Specialty Crops
2009-Current. AIN is pleased to provide ongoing public input design, facilitation, and administrative support for the Stewardship Index for Specialty Crops. This ambitious project seeks to create a set of measuring sticks to gauge the actual stewardship performance of all parts of the specialty crop (generally everything grown apart from grains and soybeans) supply chain. It is a multi-stakeholder process involving food producers, buyers, and civil society organizations.
The California Ag Water Stewardship Initiative
2010. AIN convened a regional forum hosted by CAWSI for the Northern San Joaquin farming community, entitled Farm Water Toolbox: Know your Risks, Plan for the Future. Growers, technical experts, and agricultural supporters gathered at the UC Cooperative Extension classroom in Merced to explore strategies for improved farm water management. Through presentations and group discussion, participants gained insight and resources for an improved approach to agricultural water issues. For more detailed information, see the presentations and the full meeting results (pdf).
Market Mechanisms for Agricultural Greenhouse Gases
2010. Working with our partners, Blue Source and The Sustainable Food Lab, AIN co-hosted and facilitated an effort to engage agriculture in the potential opportunities for markets in carbon sequestration. Sessions were held in Davis, CA and Washington, DC. More information is available at the Sustainable Food Lab climate and ag carbon markets page.
California Agricultural Vision 2030
2009. AIN served as the lead facilitators for California’s State Board of Food and Agriculture effort to create a shared vision for the future of agriculture in the State. We designed and lead a 3-session public input process that has resulted in 8 recommendations to assure the long-term viability of the California food system. Visit the California Ag Vision site for more information.
USDA Agricultural Marketing Service West Coast Direct Marketing Summit
2009. AIN served as the lead facilitators for USDA Agricultural Marketing Service West Coast Direct Marketing Summit, “Developing Sustainable Foodsheds to Enhance Food Access and Nutrition”. This project involved conference design and large and small group facilitation. More information about the event is available at the US Department of Agriculture’s Agriculture Marketing Services site.