Friday, November 17, 2017 • 9:30 – 3:30
Doubletree Hotel, 99 Erdman Way, Leominster
The Massachusetts Food System is full of activity, energy, and innovation – from the growth in urban agriculture, to increased access to healthy foods, to innovative education and supports for food system entrepreneurs, to efforts to reduce food waste, to schools integrating nutrition and farming into their curricula, and much more. Much has been accomplished, and there is an abundance of work underway and more challenges to address. Join Massachusetts food system leaders, organizers, activists, advocates, and mobilizers as we check in on progress toward a more sustainable and equitable food system, and discuss opportunities for collective action.
It has been two years since the completion of the Massachusetts Local Food Action Plan. The 2017 Massachusetts Food System Forum is an opportunity to learn about what has been accomplished since then toward the goals of the Plan, and to have discussions to develop plans and strategies for future collaborative work.
Registration is only $15 and includes lunch. Register has closed, but you can email Director Winton Pitcoff with questions.
Agenda
Welcome and updates
A look back at the Plan, and at the work of the MA Food System Collaborative’s first two years.
Highlighting successes
Presentations from food system organizations around the state about their work toward the goals of the Plan. Scheduled presenters will discuss their work in urban agriculture, marketing, business assistance, food access, policy advocacy, and more.
Discussions
Roundtable discussions about food system issues and topics, with opportunities to make connections and find opportunities for further collective action.
Lunch
Legislation and advocacy
Panel discussions about pending food system legislation, and perspectives from legislators, legislative staff, and advocates about how to effectively advocate for legislative, regulatory and budgetary change at the state level.
The Forum and the Collaborative are supported by the Sudbury Foundation, the Henry P. Kendall Foundation, the Merck Family Fund, the Island Foundation, the Wild Geese Foundation, the John Merck Fund, and the UMass Amherst Center for Agriculture, Food and the Environment.
