University of Nevada, Reno Partners with Consortium to Strengthen Agricultural Food Supply System in Southwest Region
The University of Nevada, Reno has entered a partnership with a consortium of public institutions, in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), to implement initiatives focused on strengthening the agricultural food supply system in the Southwest region, which the USDA defines as Nevada, California, Utah, and Arizona for the project.
Enhancing Resilience of the Nation’s Food System
The partnership is part of a federal effort to enhance the overall resilience of the nation’s food system, particularly after the vulnerabilities exposed during the COVID-19 pandemic. In support of the initiative, the USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service recently directed $400 million toward its newly designated 12 Regional Food Business Centers to coordinate regional activities and collectively serve all areas of the country. The centers will provide small-scale farmers, processors, and distributors, especially those from underserved communities, training and guidance to expand markets and improve access to government services and funds.
Southwest Regional Food Business Center
The Southwest Regional Food Business Center is set to receive $30 million to improve the agricultural infrastructure in the region, with Nevada securing $5 million of the allocated funds for the five-year period of the grant. In addition to the University of Nevada, Reno, the Nevada Department of Agriculture will be a key partner in Nevada. University of Nevada, Reno Extension, a unit of the University’s College of Agriculture, Biotechnology & Natural Resources, will lead Nevada’s participation in the project.
Key Partners for the Regional Project
Other key partners for the regional project will include the University of Arizona; Utah State University; the University of California, Agriculture and Natural Resources; and the departments of agriculture in Arizona, Utah, California, and Nevada. The University of California, Davis is the region’s lead grant applicant and will serve as the project coordinator.
Addressing Food Insecurity in Nevada
The program is timely for Nevada as it addresses the issue of growing food insecurity, exacerbated by the state’s limited agricultural productivity, which has led to an excessive dependence on imported food. According to a Feeding America report, Nevada was ranked eighth nationally for the highest projected overall food insecurity rates in 2021. Additionally, the same report placed Nevada fifth nationally among states with the highest projected child food insecurity rates.
Revitalizing Nevada’s Agricultural Infrastructure
“Extension is honored to collaborate with the Nevada Department of Agriculture to revitalize Nevada’s agricultural, food-based infrastructure,” said Jacob DeDecker, the director of Extension and associate dean for engagement at the University of Nevada, Reno’s College of Agriculture, Biotechnology & Natural Resources. “We are grateful to the U.S. Department of Agriculture for this grant and their investment in Nevada. This support allows Extension and our partners to expand our reach and offer vital assistance to farmers across the state to help them achieve success and strengthen the state’s food supply.”
Training and Technical Assistance for Nevada Farmers
In collaboration with the Nevada Department of Agriculture, Extension will use the grant to provide training and technical assistance to help Nevada producers diversify and expand their product portfolio, optimize operational processes, and ensure compliance with USDA, Food Safety and Inspection Service, and Food and Drug Administration requirements.
Nevada Farmers Advocate for Supportive Agricultural Policies
Rodney Mehring, a past participant of Extension’s agricultural farm tours and a leadership committee member for the Nevada Farm Network, believes that supportive agricultural policies can lead to greater profits for farmers. Mehring sees the potential for initiatives like the Regional Food Business Centers to empower farmers of all scales and compete effectively against larger producers from Southern California and Mexico. He advocates for policies that fund farmers, provide transportation assistance, reinforce direct-to-consumer marketing channels, and foster the expansion of production.
Brian Markowski, farmer and owner of Bramble Farm in Spanish Springs, Nevada, also emphasizes the importance of supportive agricultural policies. Markowski believes that establishing farmer-friendly policies in Nevada would foster a favorable environment for farmers and ensure continued production and accessibility of quality food for Nevadans. He sees the Regional Food Business Centers as an opportunity to advocate for such policies and build a robust food system for the state.
Partnerships to Train Nevada Farmers
As part of the project, Extension’s Small Business Education Program will partner with the University’s Center for Economic Development to provide producers with customized and multilingual small business education training. The partnership will address various topics, including grant writing, mentoring, business planning, financial management, regulatory considerations, record-keeping, value addition, direct marketing, purchasing, and procurement. The Nevada Small Business Development Center will also collaborate with Extension’s Small Business Education Program to help farmers position their businesses for success by providing advisement on marketing, sales, expense forecasting, protecting intellectual property, and financing options.
The Desert Farming Initiative will provide technical assistance to small- to medium-sized food producers in northern Nevada and align with other existing efforts that support the agricultural industry. The Initiative’s Nevada Farm Apprenticeship Program will involve apprentices in grower-to-grower training and provide guidance through science-based agriculture, food systems, and farm business curriculum.
As part of the overarching project, the Center will have a leadership council that offers policy recommendations, helps coordinate funding opportunities, and oversees initiatives such as business builder grants.
Nevadan producers can visit the website for information on upcoming events and resources. For more information on Nevada’s efforts as part of the Southwest Regional Food Business Center or to learn how to participate in the program, contact Emm, the state’s project implementation manager.
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?
- SDG 2: Zero Hunger
- SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
- SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
- SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?
- SDG 2.3: By 2030, double the agricultural productivity and incomes of small-scale food producers, in particular women, indigenous peoples, family farmers, pastoralists, and fishers, including through secure and equal access to land, other productive resources and inputs, knowledge, financial services, markets, and opportunities for value addition and non-farm employment.
- SDG 8.3: Promote development-oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity, and innovation, and encourage the formalization and growth of micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises, including through access to financial services.
- SDG 12.3: By 2030, halve per capita global food waste at the retail and consumer levels and reduce food losses along production and supply chains, including post-harvest losses.
- SDG 17.6: Enhance North-South, South-South, and triangular regional and international cooperation on and access to science, technology, and innovation and enhance knowledge sharing on mutually agreed terms, including through improved coordination among existing mechanisms, particularly at the United Nations level, and through a global technology facilitation mechanism.
3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?
- Indicator 2.3.1: Volume of production per labor unit by classes of farming/pastoral/forestry enterprise size.
- Indicator 8.3.1: Proportion of informal employment in non-agriculture employment, by sex.
- Indicator 12.3.1: Food loss index.
- Indicator 17.6.1: Number of science and/or technology cooperation agreements and projects between countries.
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Table
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 2: Zero Hunger | Target 2.3: By 2030, double the agricultural productivity and incomes of small-scale food producers, in particular women, indigenous peoples, family farmers, pastoralists, and fishers, including through secure and equal access to land, other productive resources and inputs, knowledge, financial services, markets, and opportunities for value addition and non-farm employment. | Indicator 2.3.1: Volume of production per labor unit by classes of farming/pastoral/forestry enterprise size. |
| SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth | Target 8.3: Promote development-oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity, and innovation, and encourage the formalization and growth of micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises, including through access to financial services. | Indicator 8.3.1: Proportion of informal employment in non-agriculture employment, by sex. |
| SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production | Target 12.3: By 2030, halve per capita global food waste at the retail and consumer levels and reduce food losses along production and supply chains, including post-harvest losses. | Indicator 12.3.1: Food loss index. |
| SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals | Target 17.6: Enhance North-South, South-South, and triangular regional and international cooperation on and access to science, technology, and innovation and enhance knowledge sharing on mutually agreed terms, including through improved coordination among existing mechanisms, particularly at the United Nations level, and through a global technology facilitation mechanism. | Indicator 17.6.1: Number of science and/or technology cooperation agreements and projects between countries. |
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Source: unr.edu
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