New Ag initiative to address food, ag policies

[from Philanthropy News Digest] With the global population expected to pass nine billion by 2050 and resources becoming ever more constrained, eight leading foundations have announced the launch of an initiative designed to address long-term food and agricultural policy challenges.

Sponsored by the Gates, Hewlett, Packard, Walton Family, Kellogg, McKnight, Ford, and Rockefeller foundations, the AGree initiative aims to spur discussion and consideration of solutions to global food and agriculture problems across multiple sectors, including health, energy, rural economies, and the environment. To that end, the initiative will commission research and facilitate discussion among a diverse set of stakeholders, including conventional and organic farmers, ranchers, nutritionists, energy experts, environmentalists, financiers, international aid veterans, and public health specialists.

The launch of AGree comes at a pivotal moment for food and agriculture policy. Experts predict that over the next four decades the global population will increase 38 percent, swelling the ranks of the 925 million people worldwide who currently suffer from under-nutrition or hunger. What's more, the challenges associated with feeding all those people are likely to be exacerbated by the limited amount of accessible arable land, increasing pressures on fresh water quality and availability, and accelerating environmental degradation.

"AGree will elevate the agriculture and food policy conversation," said Dan Glickman, who served as security of the U.S. Department of Agriculture in the Clinton administration. "We will make it clear to leaders and policy makers that, while difficult, solving food and agriculture issues is of utmost importance and can help solve other pressing problems including public health and the need for economic growth."

“New Initiative to Provide Path Forward for Transforming Food and Ag Policy.” AGree Press Release 5/03/11.

Supporting Local Farmers and Providing Nutritious Food

[From Senator Casey's website] : As I am a Member of the Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee and the Chair of the Subcommittee on Hunger, Nutrition and Family Farms, I know that by supporting Pennsylvania farmers we can also provide nutritious, fresh food for Pennsylvania’s growing children and for all of our residents. With over 1.2 million citizens in Pennsylvania at risk for hunger, we need to ensure this food is available to them.

Low-income Pennsylvanians enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, will soon have greater access to fresh, locally grown produce at farmers market stands across Pennsylvania, while supporting local farmers at the same time. SNAP, a program of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food and Nutrition Service, puts healthy food on the tables of more than 40 million Americans each month. Pennsylvania's agriculture department facilitates the national program, in addition to several other food programs, through the Bureau of Food Distribution. Pennsylvanians can apply for SNAP benefits using the online application COMPASS, or by filing an application at a local county assistance office.

Farmers markets or farm stands can apply for one of the 145 wireless machines that are being made available with a federal grant through the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. Machines will be available on a first come-first served basis. The grant funding is made possible by the Farmers Market Promotion Program, which was reauthorized in the 2008 Farm Bill.

Applications are available at http://agriculture.state.pa.us by searching "EBT Wireless Terminal Application" or from Heidi Crager at 717-787-4956. The machines can also be used for credit card purchases, and training will be offered by the company providing the devices. Card-readers will be distributed until gone. Completed applications can be sent to the Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Food Distribution, 2301 N. Cameron Street, Harrisburg, PA 17110.

Specialty Crop Block Grant Program - Farm Bill

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) announces the availability of approximately $55 million in grant funds, less USDA administrative costs, to solely enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops. Specialty crops are defined as fruits and vegetables, dried fruit, tree nuts, horticulture and nursery crops (including floriculture). State departments of agriculture interested in obtaining grant program funds are invited to submit applications to USDA. State departments of agriculture, meaning agencies, commissions, or departments of a State government responsible for agriculture within the 50 States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands are eligible to apply. Please contact your local State department of agriculture if you are not eligible to apply. State contacts can be found at www.ams.usda.gov/scbgp. State departments of agriculture are encouraged to conduct outreach regarding the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program - Farm Bill to specialty crop stakeholders, socially disadvantaged, and beginning farmers and conduct a competitive grant proposal process. Applications must be submitted by July 13, 2011.