Integrating Community and Modeling Efforts to Evaluate Impacts and Tradeoffs of Food System Interventions: CSU’s Food Systems Initiative

By Dr. Becca Jablonski

Assistant Professor, Agricultural & Resource Economics Department

Food Systems Extension Economist & CSU InTERFEWS NRT Program Faculty

Tuesday, March 10, 2020, 2-3pm

NESB Rm B218

Snacks Provided!

Abstract: As urban consumers become more interested in food, and where their food comes from, cities are increasingly integrating food into mainstream planning and policymaking. Food policy councils, for example, bring together diverse industry, government, and nonprofit sectors to address challenges (i.e., food insecurity) and capitalize on opportunities (i.e., farm to school). However, most food policy councils are located in urban places, and do not include membership or solicit input from the rural farmers and ranchers who grow most of the food. Accordingly, an opportunity exists to better understand how urban policies can support urban communities, and also provide opportunities for rural communities and economies. In October 2017, the City and County of Denver released its Denver Food Vision. Facilitated by the Mayor-appointed Denver Sustainable Food Policy Council, the Denver Food Vision represents the City and County’s first ever long-term strategic plan for food, incorporating 12 winnable goals under the pillars of inclusive, healthy, vibrant, and resilient. This research asks: What are the impacts of urban food policies and initiatives on provisioning producers and their communities? Working in close collaboration with a wide range of community partners, the inter-disciplinary Colorado State University food systems research team is using this case to develop an agent based model of Colorado’s food system to understand and evaluate inevitable tradeoffs that will occur across economic, social, and environmental outcomes.