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Sustainable Agriculture and Food Projects Information
In 1990, the US government
defined sustainable agriculture in Public Law 101-624, Title XVI,
Subtitle A, Section 1683, as “an integrated system of plant and
animal production practices having a site-specific application that
will, over the long term, satisfy human food and fiber needs;
enhance environmental quality and the natural resource base upon
which the agricultural economy depends; make the most efficient use
of nonrenewable resources and on-farm resources and integrate, where
appropriate, natural biological cycles and controls; sustain the
economic viability of farm operations; and enhance the quality of
life for farmers and society as a whole.”
Currently, there is no set of
specific rules or guidelines to follow, this is mainly a statement
of ideals. The Center
for Sustainable Environments is involved in a number of projects and
collaborative initiatives which focus on increasing food security
and agricultural sustainability on the Colorado Plateau that
incorporate this philosophy, sometimes taking it a step further to
incorporate social and cultural ties to food as well. While some of
these projects are focused on individual communities, the vision,
ideas, and practical solutions of these projects can be applied to a
broader audience. Our goal is to promote sustainability on the
Colorado Plateau and beyond, and we hope you find these pages to be
helpful.
Here is a sample of
some of our projects in sustainable food and agriculture:
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Renewing America's Food Traditions
Bringing cultural and culinary mainstays from the past into the
new millennium.
Today,
two-thirds of the distinctive seeds and breeds which traditionally
fed America have vanished. One in fifteen wild, edible plant and
animal species on this continent has diminished to the degree that
it is now considered at risk. With these losses has come a decline
in traditional ecological and culinary knowledge, and declines in
the food rituals which link communities to place and cultural
heritage. To reverse such losses, the RAFT Coalition formed in the
fall of 2003 to develop and support strategies for Renewing
America's Food Traditions.
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Canyon Country Fresh
For five years, the Center
for Sustainable Environments (CSE) at Northern Arizona University
has been working with local farmers, ranchers, markets, and
restaurants to promote local food production and use. Recently,
with the addition of a USDA grant for local marketing initiatives,
CSE has begun to implement strategic marketing practices to help
promote local farm products, from a food directory to development
of an eco-label and local advertising.
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Arizona's Food Security, Safety and Sustainability
Weighing the
Risks of Bioterrorism, Contamination, Drought, and Farmland Loss to
Urban Growth.
By Gary Paul Nabhan.
Read the entire report:
Download the
PDF
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Fair Trade Sonoran Oregano from the Seri Indians
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Flagstaff Community Supported Agriculture
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Fresh, Organic, and Native Foods
of the Four Corners
A Directory of Ecoregional Food Sustainability, now in its third printing.
Request a directory, print a PDF of the listings, or look into
advertising in the next edition.
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Flagstaff Community Farmers
Market
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Flagstaff Wild Foraging Project
This project works with communities, farms, ranches, and foragers
to encourage sustainable use of wild foods for ecological
protection and economic benefits.
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Marketing
for Land Stewards
A working paper created to inform western land stewards of the
opportunities and challenges associated with direct marketing
during a time of drought and changing consumer preferences.
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Sustainable Harvests Workshop and Lecture Series
CSE brought together regionally-based producers, interested
community members, and researchers to explore ways in which
sustainable harvesters can add value to their products by the way
they harvest and manage the natural resources on which they
depend, and to find consumers willing to pay extra for such
sustainable harvests.
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Masters of
Liberal Studies Program
Summer
field courses on Sustainable Agriculture in the Arid Southwest
offered through a partnership with NAU's MLS Program.
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Rescuing America's Endangered
Food Traditions Campaign
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Young Agrarians
Through school garden projects, farm internships,
and sustainable agriculture programs, young people are moving forward
to the land in creative ways and places. Young Agrarians, a
25-minute educational video, informs and inspires young people to
discover exciting career opportunities in small-scale agricultural
production, marketing, education, and related fields.
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