Savanna Institute

THIS AGREEMENT IS TO CREATE A WISCONSIN AGROFORESTRY DEMONSTRATION NETWORK FOR BEGINNING LANDOWNER SUPPORT, AND AGROFORESTRY EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES.

THIS ACTION APPROVES AN AWARD IN THE AMOUNT OF $994,287 TO THE SAVANNA INSTITUTE TO SUPPORT THEIR EFFORTS WITH IMPROVING WATER QUALITY IN THE GULF OF MEXICO THROUGH REDUCTION OF NUTRIENT EXPORT TO THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. THIS PROJECT WILL ENGAGE FARMERS TO FACILITATE WIDER ADOPTION OF AGROFORESTRY TECHNIQUES ON FARMS AS A WAY OF REDUCING NITROGEN AND PHOSPHOROUS TO IMPROVE LOCAL WATER QUALITY AND REDUCE HYPOXIA AND HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOM IMPACTS.

THE MINNESOTA AGROFORESTRY TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND TRAINING PROJECT

PROVIDE FUNDING SUPPORT FOR THE EMPLOYMENT OF AGROFORESTRY TECHNICALSERVICE PROVIDER(S).

EXPANDING AGROFORESTRY IN THE KANKAKEE RIVER WATERSHED, IS A COLLABORATION DESIGNED TO MEET THE NEED FOR SOCIALLY-DISADVANTAGED PRODUCERS

PLANNING, DESIGN, AND IMPLEMENTATION OF AGROFORESTRY AND SILOPASTURE SOLUTIONS TO ADDRESS RESOURCE CONCERNS

AGROFORESTRY TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE

REGIONAL BERRY CROP PRODUCTION OF ELDERBERRY, BLACK CURRANT, ARONIA, AND HONEYBERRY IS A MAJOR ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY FOR MIDWEST FARMERS AND, AS WOODY PERENNIALS, THESE CROPS CAN SEQUESTER CARBON TO REDUCE LEVELS OF GREENHOUSE GASSES IN THE ATMOSPHERE. ALTHOUGH ACTIVE MARKET DEMAND IS A PRIMARY LIMITING FACTOR, PRELIMINARY STAKEHOLDER CONVERSATIONS SUGGEST THAT TAPPING INTO THE ROBUST MARKETS FOR SMALL FRUIT IS WITHIN REACH. TURNKEY FUNDING WILL BE USED TO FULLY RESEARCH THIS OPPORTUNITY IN THE MIDWEST AND DEVELOP A BERRY MARKETING AND BRANDING CAMPAIGN, WITH ASSOCIATED MATERIALS. THE CAMPAIGN WILL HELP ALL FOUR CROPS COLLECTIVELY AND INDIVIDUALLY FOR EXAMPLE, HARNESSING EXISTING CONSUMER AWARENESS AROUND ELDERBERRIES TO ELEVATE THE POSITIONING OF OTHERS, INCLUDING ARONIA, WHICH COULD CONVERT STRANDED ARONIA ACREAGE FROM LIABILITY TO ASSET.THE SAVANNA INSTITUTE, A MIDWEST AGROFORESTRY NONPROFIT, WILL DEVELOP A MARKETING STRATEGY, PLAN, AND MATERIALS TO POSITION THE FOUR BERRIES AS BEING DESIRABLE IN THE MINDS OF MIDWEST BUYERS AND CONSUMERS. THE PROJECT WILL LEVERAGE OUR FRUIT AND NUT CROP MARKET DEVELOPMENT EXPERTISE, OUR REGIONAL AND NATIONAL NETWORK OF FARMERS AND FOOD INDUSTRY CONTACTS, AND A CONTRACT WITH TASTE PROFIT MARKETING, A SPECIALTY FOOD BUSINESS MARKETING AND BRANDING FIRM. OUR NETWORKS WILL BE INVALUABLE NOT JUST FOR THIS MARKET RESEARCH AND CAMPAIGN DEVELOPMENT, BUT ALSO FOR THE NEXT STEPS OF FUNDING AND LAUNCHING THE CAMPAIGN. A MIDWEST BERRY MARKETING BOARD OR EQUIVALENT STAKEHOLDER-LED STRUCTURE TO EMERGE FROM THESE EFFORTS AND ANTICIPATE TRANSFERRING TO IT THE INCUBATED ASSETS (WHETHER BEFORE OR AFTER THE CAMPAIGN LAUNCH).

PARTNERING FOR AGROFORESTRY IN THE MIDWEST

PILOTING LAND ACCESS STRATEGIES FOR AGROFORESTRY

ASSESSING LEASES AND