Engaging Stakeholders To Refine Models of State-level Food Self-reliance

Authors

  • Christian Peters Tufts University
  • Jennifer Wilkins Cornell University
  • Scott Rosas Concept Systems, Inc.
  • Brenda Pepe Concept Systems, Inc.
  • Jamie Picardy Tufts University
  • Gary Fick Cornell University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5304/jafscd.2016.064.003

Keywords:

Evaluation, Food System, Foodprint, Foodshed, Local Food, Modeling, Outreach, Regional Food, Workshops

Abstract

Self-reliance measures the capacity of a geographic area to produce the food needed by its population. While the importance of food self-reliance, at even the national scale, is debated, the concept remains useful for evaluating the capacity of local and regional food systems to meet current and future human food needs. Modeling can estimate the capacity of geographic areas to supply food to their own population, but such approaches may be mere academic exercises if not perceived as credible and useful to stakeholders. This paper reports on an effort to engage stakeholders in refining a model. Small groups of stakeholders were gathered in one-day workshops in four states to learn and provide feedback about two ways of modeling food systems: a simulation model of dietary land requirements and human carrying capacity (foodprint), and a spatial-optimization model of the potential for population centers to meet food needs locally (foodshed). Workshop participants engaged in small- and large-group discussions to critically assess the value of the models for food system planning and policy. Formal evaluation gauged the utility of the workshops as learning environments and the participants' opinions of the models as food system planning tools. Results indicate that the workshops successfully taught participants about the models and elicited feedback on the relevance of the models to food systems planning. However, assuring relevance and application of food system models in local and state planning will require a deeper level of engagement and a greater time commitment from both researchers and stakeholders than a one-day workshop can accomplish.


Note: This paper is published under JAFSCD Open Choice, which allows papers to be published as freely accessible (not limited to JAFSCD subscribers) in perpetuity. The authors have paid a fee to make this access possible.

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Author Biographies

Christian Peters, Tufts University

Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University; 150 Harrison Avenue; Boston, MA 02111 USA; +1-617-636-6908.

Jennifer Wilkins, Cornell University

Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University, 305 Martha Van Rensselaer Hall, Ithaca, NY 14853 USA.

Dr. Wilkins is now at the Department of Public Health, Food Studies, and Nutrition; 417 Sims Hall; Syracuse University; Syracuse, NY 13244 USA

Scott Rosas, Concept Systems, Inc.

Senior Consultant, Concept Systems, Inc.; 136 East State Street; Ithaca, NY 14850 USA.

Brenda Pepe, Concept Systems, Inc.

Client Services Consultant, Concept Systems, Inc.; 950 Danby Road, Suite 150; Ithaca, NY 14850 USA.

Ms. Pepe is now at eCornell, Cornell University; 950 Danby Road, Suite 150; Ithaca, NY 14850 USA.

Jamie Picardy, Tufts University

Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University; 150 Harrison Avenue; Boston, MA 02111 USA.

Dr. Picardy is now at Geography and Regional Planning, Mount Ida College; 777 Dedham Street; Newton, MA 02459 USA.

Gary Fick, Cornell University

Section of Soil and Crop Sciences (Emeritus), Cornell University; 507 Bradfield Hall; Ithaca, NY 14853 USA.

Published

2016-09-06

How to Cite

Peters, C., Wilkins, J., Rosas, S., Pepe, B., Picardy, J., & Fick, G. (2016). Engaging Stakeholders To Refine Models of State-level Food Self-reliance. Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development, 6(4), 55–69. https://doi.org/10.5304/jafscd.2016.064.003

Issue

Section

Open Call Paper