1. THE NH FOOD SYSTEM NETWORK Growing food, economy, and community. New Hampshire Food Alliance GOALS Website: NHFoodStrategy.weebly.com Email: NHFoodStrategy@gmail.com The UNH Sustainability Institute (UNHSI), serves as the ‘Backbone Organization’ for the NH Food System Network and Strategy initiative. The Backbone does not direct or dictate outcomes, but provides administrative, fundraising, and research support and facilitates meetings and communications among stakeholders across the state. The Backbone works closely with teams of stakeholders, which consist of over 60 individuals from diverse sectors throughout the NH Food System. Together the teams work to expand network building, and synthesize input and data to inform the NH Food Strategy. The NH Food Alliance (NHFA) aims to develop a strong and connected Network of individuals, organizations, institutions, agencies, and businesses that contribute to the NH food system. Additionally, we are working to create a Food Strategy, through a statewide participatory process, that will ensure the following goals: 1.Citizens are aware of and value what it takes to create local food and see the interconnections among food choices, profitable businesses, natural resources, and healthy communities; 2.Local farm, fisheries, and food businesses are profitable and rewarding to all involved; 3.Policy, regulation, and infrastructure supports long-term local food production, distribution, and marketing; 4.Everyone has access to healthy, affordable, and culturally diverse food; and 5.Natural resources that underlie a robust food system are conserved and enhanced. LISTENING AND LEARNING Over 200 people attended ten regional gatherings held between August and October of 2014. Since then we have engaged many more stakeholders and continue to gather input at a variety of events held around the state. Hosting and attending events helps us to build the Network, and gather feedback to inform the development of the NH Food Strategy. The NH Food Strategy will serve as a road-map and guide for collaboration and action among citizens and stakeholders throughout the food system. Numerous innovative efforts are already underway across the state to support community and regional food systems; the strategy will help to link and build on these existing efforts, not reinvent the wheel. We are striving to ensure that populations that often do not have a voice, or are underrepresented in public policy conversations are also included and involved in appropriate, accessible ways. The food system diagram shows sectors, activities, and resources involved in how we currently feed ourselves. Major stages along the supply chain include production, processing, distribution, consumption, and waste management. Production & Harvesting Processing Distribution & Marketing Consumption Nutrient & Waste Management Packaging Value-added Transport Storage Marketing Direct Retail Wholesale Institutional Natural resources Land Soil Water Energy Biodiversity Energy capture Compost Food rescue Consumers Health outcomes Food access Food security Race Wages Equity Homes Schools Hospitals Restaurants Grocers Food assistance programs New Hampshire Food System Business &Technical Assistance Financing Philanthropy Education Research Workforce development Policy Federal, state, local government support Networks Coalitions Knowledge exchange systems Labor Equipment Seed, feed Amendments Other inputs The NHFA has adopted a “Collective Impact” framework. Collective Impact is the commitment of a group of actors from different sectors to a common agenda for solving a complex social problem. The idea is that greater connectivity and goal alignment between key players (in any complex system) ultimately leads to more effective action and effective change in both the short and long term. Strategize Collaborate Monitor Learn Adjust Evolving & Adapting New Hampshire Food Alliance