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Unit 1: Conceptual Framework and Historical Foundations of Sustainable Agriculture

What is a local/regional food system?

A local or regional food system is a collaborative effort to promote sustainable food production, processing, distribution and consumption to achieve environmental, economic and quality of life goals. In essence, farmers, consumers and communities work together to create more locally based, self-reliant food economies.

The goals of these efforts to strengthen local connections to farming and ranching include: 

• Improved access by all community members to an adequate, affordable, nutritious diet;

• A stable base of family farms that uses less chemical and energy-intensive production practices and emphasizes local inputs;

• Marketing and processing practices that create more direct links between farmers and consumers;

• Food and agriculture-related businesses that create jobs and recirculate financial capital within the community;

• Improved living and working conditions for farm and food system labor; and

• Creation of food and agriculture policies and regulations that promote local or sustainable food production, processing and consumption.

Adapted from UC SAREP / Food and Society, where you can find more resources on local food systems.