Project helps find common ground

This past winter and spring, the Leopold Center helped sponsor a series of discussions using a "Common Ground" study circle approach developed and coordinated by the Wallace House Foundation. This pilot effort, also funded by the Vision 2020 Project, engaged agricultural producers, urban consumers and rural and urban community leaders to address issues in community food systems and production agriculture.

Groups developed action steps to connect producers with consumers that included recommendations to

  • increase institutional buying efforts,
  • encourage more "all-Iowa" meals for groups,
  • provide more start-up assistance to new farmers,
  • implement a rating system for state-funded projects that invest in Iowa, and
  • make changes in the food system infrastructure to make it easier to purchase locally-grown foods.

One participant noted, "The process should be replicated in other parts of the state using partner organizations."

Project findings and action plans will be submitted to ISU administrators this fall. For more information about this project or the "Common Ground" study circle process, contact Kent Newman of the Wallace House Foundation, (515) 243-7063.

Return to Fall 1999 Leopold Letter index