Alaska Food Policy Council

THE ALASKA FOOD POLICY COUNCIL WILL ADDRESS FOOD SECURITY STATEWIDE AND BOLSTER A RESILIENT LOCAL FOOD SUPPLY BUILDING UPON THE FOUNDATION ESTABLISHED THROUGH PRIOR PARTICIPATION IN THE REGIONAL FOOD SYSTEM PARTNERSHIPS RFSP PROGRAM. THIS PROJECT CENTERS ON THE CREATION OF A CENTRALIZED REPOSITORY OF FOOD SYSTEMS DATA AND ASSETS MAPPING COUPLED WITH THE ESTABLISHMENT AND FACILITATION OF A MULTISTAKEHOLDER VALUE CHAIN COORDINATION COUNCIL DIRECTLY RESPONDING TO CRITICAL NEEDS IDENTIFIED THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT OF RECENT LEGISLATIVE AND GUBENTORIAL TASK FORCE REPORTS. THROUGH THE EXECUTION OF ITS RFSP WORK PLAN THE AFPC WILL LEVERAGE COLLECTIVE EXPERTISE TO CONNECT FARMERS RANCHERS PROCESSORS AND OTHER KEY STAKEHOLDERS ACROSS THE STATE AIMING TO IMPROVE THE VIABILITY AND RESILIENCE OF REGIONAL FOOD ECONOMIES.

ALASKAS AGRICULTURE SECTOR IS GROWING. ACCORDING TO THE 2017 USDA AGRICULTURAL CENSUS, ALASKA RANKS FIRST IN THE NATION IN NEW AND BEGINNING FARMERS AT 46 . ALASKA ALSO RANKS FIRST IN GROWTH IN TOTAL NUMBER OF FARMS, INCREASING BY ALMOST 30 BETWEEN 2012 AND 2017, WHILE MOST STATES HAVE DECLINED. WITH A VALUE OF AROUND 70.5 MILLION, AGRICULTURE INDUSTRIES ARE A SOURCE OF RENEWABLE ECONOMIES AND ARE IMPROVING FOOD SECURITY FOR MANY ALASKANS. DESPITE THIS GROWTH, ALASKA STILL IMPORTS OVER 95 OF ITS FOOD THERE IS SIMPLY NOT ENOUGH PRODUCTION, NOR ACCESSIBLE AND AFFORDABLE REGIONAL DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS. WITH THE RISING POPULARITY OF LOCAL FOOD, AS WELL AS AN INCREASED INTEREST IN CONNECTING EXISTING FOOD HUBS AND CREATING NEW ONES, THE ALASKA FOOD POLICY COUNCIL (AFPC) WILL FACILITATE FOOD SYSTEM RESEARCH AND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, TO INCREASE VIABLE AND SUSTAINABLE LOCAL FOOD PRODUCTION AND DISTRIBUTION THROUGH A NETWORK FOR ALASKAN FOOD HUBS. AFPC WILL CONVENE A FOOD WORKING GROUP WITH A FOCUS OF IMPROVING, SUPPORTING, AND CONNECTING FOOD HUB OPERATIONS STATEWIDE AND WITHIN REGIONS. THROUGH A COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT AND REVIEW OF FOOD HUB BEST PRACTICES, THE WORKING GROUP WILL INFORM THE PRODUCTION OF A FOOD HUB WORKING GROUP AND RECOMMENDATIONS REPORT AND OPERATIONS MANUAL. WE WILL PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES TO BUILD NEW SKILLS AND FACILITATE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION SHARING BETWEEN FOOD HUB OPERATORS AND PRODUCERS AT THE FALL 2023 ALASKA FOOD FESTIVAL AND CONFERENCE.

ALASKA FOOD POLICY COUNCIL AND BEYOND: GROWING CONNECTIONS AD BUILDING NETWORKS FOR GREATER FOOD SECURITY