POW Number: 1.F
July1, 2002

POW Title: The Forces of Change - Improving Public Understanding of the Food, Fiber, and Forest Products System

Situation Statement:

The United States food, fiber, and forest products system is a complex interrelated network of farm, food and forest products flowing toward the consumer, money flowing back to the suppliers, and the information necessary to drive the system flowing in both directions. The system is evolving rapidly as new technologies alter practices and change business relationships. The system is complicated enough that even those actively involved may not understand parts other than their own. Yet the importance of these products in our lives make all of us dependent on the system running well. Furthermore, agriculture and forestry and their related industries are important components of the economy of Pennsylvania and the nation. Beyond this, public policies that support, control, and respond to agriculture and forestry are frequently on the local, state, and national agendas. These industries are as important as any in our daily lives, yet they are not well understood by the public, the producers, or the policy-makers.

Society must evaluate the various policy issues relating to the food, fiber, and forest products system. Yet such policies are complex, as are the industries themselves. With this in mind, a three-pronged approach to public education is proposed. It will attempt to: (1) increase the general level of understanding of the food, fiber, and forest products system and its role in the everyday lives of Pennsylvanians; (2) increase the knowledge of the public on the public issues affecting the viability of agriculture and forestry in Pennsylvania, and the requirements for a safe and dependable food system in a global economy; and (3) provide unbiased analysis of the impacts of various policies that affect the food, fiber, and forest products system.

 

SUB POW: 1.F.1. The Forces of Change - Improving Public Understanding of the Food, Fiber, and Forest Products System

Objective: 1.F.1.1. Participants will have an improved understanding of the food, fiber, and forest products system and the role this system plays in their community.

Output/Outcome Indicators (These indicators will be captured in the database for FY2003):

  1. Number of participants/contacts.
  2. Number of participants who demonstrate an improved understanding of the food, fiber and/or forest products system.

Special Indicators (suggested by the POW team):

  1. The number of youth participants who were able to properly identify five agricultural and/or forest products they use each day, their source, and how they are produced.
  2. The number of students who were able to recognize five locally produced agricultural and/or forest products and their importance to the economy and their lives.
  3. The number of adult participants who were able to properly identify five agricultural and/or forest products they use each day, their source, and how they are produced and were able to recognize five locally produced agricultural and/or forest products and their importance to the economy and their lives.
  4. The number of producers who were able to explain the role their activities play in the overall food, forestry, and fiber system and the interrelationship between their activities and the effective functioning of the system. Also, those able to describe the path for their products to the consumer and the activities conducted at the various stages.
  5. The number of citizens, community leaders, food system professionals and representatives of the media who were able to describe three ways in which their personal lifestyles influence their food choices and were able to identify at least one lifestyle change which they could make to increase their involvement with the local food system.
  6. The number of citizens, community leaders, food system professionals and representatives of the media who were able to identify at least five food-related occupations in their community and indicate why individuals engaged in those different occupations might have different perspectives on local zoning ordinances and tax policy.
  7. The number of citizens, community leaders, food system professionals and representatives of the media who were able to identify five ways in which the local food system contributes to the economic sustainability of the community.
  8. The number of citizens, community leaders, food system professionals and representatives of the media who were able to identify three ways in which the local food system builds social capital in their community.
  9. Number of media stories about food system issues prior to the Edible Connections forums.
  10. Number of more comprehensive media stories about food system issues in the year following Edible Connections forums.
  11. The number of committees/task forces that have been formed and continue to meet for at least six months after the Edible Connections forums.
  12. The number of participants who describe the basic functions of the following farming operations: dairy, swine, poultry, field crop, orchard, mushroom, etc.

Objective: 1.F.1.2. Participants will be better informed on issues (economic, social, etc.) affecting the viability of agriculture and forestry in Pennsylvania, and the requirements for a safe and dependable food system in a global economy.

Output/Outcome Indicators (These indicators will be captured in the database for FY2003):

    1. Number of participants/contacts.
    2. The number of county and/or other local governments who (a) develop or (b) update comprehensive plans, zoning ordinances, effective agricultural ordinances and/or forestry preservation zoning ordinances.

Special Indicators (suggested by the POW team):

  1. The number of non-farm residents who identify the economic need for (a) larger, more intensive animal feeding operations or (b) alternative farming operations and how they fit into the local, national and global economy.

Objective: 1.F.1.3 Participants will be better informed about the policy impacts on agriculture and forestry.

Output/Outcome Indicators (These indicators will be captured in the database for FY2003):

  1. Number of participants/contacts.
  2. The number of participants who demonstrated they understand the economic and political reasons for public policy decisions and their impacts. (These include current milk price regulations, current nutrient management policy, and local laws affecting the "right to farm" and the "right to practice forestry.")

Objective: 1.F.1.4. Personnel from mass media outlets will understand scientific principles behind natural resource management in Pennsylvania.

Output/Outcome Indicators (These indicators will be captured in the database for FY2003):

  1. Number of participants/contacts.
  2. The number of Natural Resources Media Forum participants who submit an article or story for their local media (print or broadcast), within 60 days of the forum, that incorporates knowledge of the scientific principles behind a local natural resource use issue.

Details:

1. Formation of a Penn State Pennsylvania Food and Fiber Literacy Council to include major farm organizations, commodity groups, etc., coordinated/led by extension personnel. The purpose would be to pull together present efforts and secure monies under one umbrella to develop and produce appropriate materials, activities, etc.

2. Use present projects and develop 4-H school projects as part of the food, forestry, and fiber literacy. Place 4-H, Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences, and Food and Fiber Literacy on each project book. Develop lessons that will supplement present 4-H project activities to educate youth about the food, forestry, and fiber system. Include discussion on farm supply, producers and land, and processing, marketing and distribution segments of the agribusiness system in general and for that specific project area. (Examples: poultry meat and egg industry for embryology; vegetable and/or horticultural industry for Meet the Plants.)

3. Develop a food, forestry, and fiber (Ag in the Classroom) newsletter for statewide distribution to every 4th, 5th, or 6th grader in Pennsylvania. The newsletter would highlight businesses in each agribusiness segment in Pennsylvania and/or each county could insert a sheet doing the same for businesses in their county/area. Financial support could come from commodity groups if that newsletter would be about that commodity. A fall and spring newsletter would be developed. Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences would provide leadership and its logo would be prominent!

4. Develop local food, forestry, and fiber (Ag in the Classroom or Food, Land, and People) teacher seminars. This would supplement the summer Ag in the Classroom program held at University Park. A county-based activity would improve the literacy of local educators about the food, forestry, and fiber system.

5. Improve or develop farm and agribusiness tours. Many counties conduct this type of weekend activity through farm bureau, extension, or other groups. Developing flyers on that commodity and promoting this activity would enhance this educational activity.

6. Develop local farm and agribusiness tours for governmental officials, business leaders, and others in leadership positions to improve agriculture literacy. The pamphlets developed in item #5 could be used for this area.

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