Using Networks To Build Collaborative And Equitable Food Systems

View this Publication

Local food systems are widely regarded as go-to examples for fostering rural-urban and farmer-consumer connections, but they require significant investments in stakeholder networks and the institutional infrastructure necessary to sustain and expand them.

In our latest research brief, Using Networks to Build Collaborative and Equitable Food Systems, authors Rich Pirog and Marcus A. Coleman focus on local food systems as vehicles for collaboration and racial equity among multiple stakeholders and networks.

They highlight examples of statewide, regional, and national initiatives to illustrate the power of networks to foster deeper levels of collaboration and reciprocity. They also explore the vital roles of Minority Serving Institutions (MSI) and Cooperative Extension.


Thrive Rural Framework Connection: This brief examines some of the driving forces and conditions – building blocks – that determine Equitable Aims and Design, specifically achieving balanced development outcomes, valued rural stewardship, and rural stakeholder equity.

Local and regional food systems have the potential to transform engrained inequitable and unsustainable practices in agriculture and food production into equitable and sustainable stewardship of natural resources and fair worker and consumer policies and practices.

Aspen Institute Community Strategies Group
Latest From Aspen CSG
publications
Mapping a New Terrain: Call to Action

As new rural outdoor recreation economies take root, we can meet this moment by improving how we do outdoor recreation development to better support rural families, businesses, and workers, create more sustainable and equitable economic systems, and improve local health and wellbeing.

publications
Building Trust and Visibility Through Community-Based Participatory Research at Rural Minority-Serving Institutions

This research brief explores how rural MSIs and approaches to community-based participatory research can be used to better understand MSIs’ nature and practices.

event
Growing Rural Equitable Outdoor Recreation Economies

Jun. 9th, 2023, 1PM

How is your community using outdoor recreation to grow sustainable, healthy livelihoods for families and new economic futures for your region?

tools
2023 County Health Rankings

County Health Rankings & Roadmaps (CHR&R) brings actionable data, evidence, guidance and stories to support community-led efforts to grow community...

media
Rural Community College Excellence

A new report by the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program identifies four pathways that the best rural and Tribal community colleges use to capitalize on strengths and overcome challenges to achieve student success.

media
Toward Better Rural Futures

ChangeLab Solutions' new blog series highlights key learnings from their most recent rural project, Toward Better Rural Futures.

blog-posts
Learning to Seize the Moment with Regional Collaboration

Event recap blog with resources and big-picture insights on working regionally to increase capacity to drawn down federal funding.