Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture

Completed Competitive Grant

Engaging community planners and local elected officials with local food systems producers to integrate local food systems into community plans and policies

Project ID: M2010-21

Abstract

Researchers examined three key obstacles to making progress in local food systems from a planning and land use perspective that could be handled by applying community planning tactics.

Key Question: How can we integrate local food systems into community (city and/or county) plans to foster the establishment and growth of vibrant local food systems?

Findings: This project identified the three most significant challenges facing the development and expansion of local food systems: (1) Defining and administering the agricultural exemption to county zoning found in Iowa Code 335.2, (2) Smart growth practices and their impacts on agriculture in and near city limits. and (3) Lack of recognition of local food systems as an economic development opportunity.

Lead investigator: Alan Vandehaar, ISU Extension

Co-Investigator(s):

Gary Taylor, Tim Borich, and Stephen Lauer, ISU Community and Regional Planning

Year of grant completion: 2011

This competitive grant project was part of the Leopold Center's Marketing Initiative.

Topics: Community-based food systems