Food Systems

AFSIC “specializes in identifying resources about sustainable food systems and practices.” While much of the website talks generally about sustainable food systems, the section on “Farms and Community” focuses on the social and economic benefits of local food systems, including information for new farmers, information about grants and loans for farmers, and farmland preservation.

This service allows you to search the resources provided by your Cooperative Extension Service using a Google Custom Search Engine that includes many of the Cooperative Extension web sites provided by your Land-Grant institutions.

The Farm Foundation is a nonprofit organization that addresses policy issues in a number of agricultural areas, including local food systems. The website provides access to the Issue Report, a publication addressing the challenges of agriculture in rural America, as well as information from current projects looking at sustainable agriculture, food economics, and agricultural research.

NIFA is a research branch of the USDA. NIFA’s mission is to “advance knowledge for agriculture, the environment, human health and well-being, and communities” by supporting Extension services at land-grant universities through grants. Their website is a portal to their programming and grant-supported research, with specific reports on small and family farms and organic and sustainable agriculture.

This website provides information on organic farming, including “in-depth publications on production practices, alternative crop and livestock enterprises, innovative marketing, organic certification, and highlights of local, regional, USDA and other federal sustainable agriculture activities.” Under its “Local Food Systems” section the website provides specific information about the benefits of local foods, local marketing and distribution, policy information, and links to additional re

USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) “works [at a local level] with landowners through conservation planning and assistance to benefit the soil, water, air, plants, and animals for productive lands and healthy ecosystems.” Their website is a gateway to numerous technical resources, with topics covering conservation practices related to Animal Feeding Operations (AFOs) and Confined Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs), energy resources, plant materials, and air quality.

Mission: The Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont promotes organic practices to build an economically viable, ecologically sound and socially just Vermont agricultural system that benefit all living things.