Leading Change: Partners IN Food
Strengthening & Building Resilience in Indiana’s Regional Food System
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently awarded the Northwest Indiana Food Council and partners with a grant totaling $1.24 million dollars to continue strengthening Indiana’s local food supply chain. The Partners IN Food project, funded through the USDA Regional Food Systems Partnership Grant program, builds on long histories of collaborative efforts around food systems issues across Indiana and provides critical resources to 10 partner organizations.
“This funding will have an immense impact on our region’s resilience and our ability to feed our own communities–to not be at the mercy of pandemics or supply chain disruptions. Despite being the 10th largest agricultural state in the country, Indiana imports 90% of all the food Hoosiers eat. With this grant, we can build upon the expansive network of local food coordinators to create lasting economic, environmental and social change for a food system rooted in equity.”
Partners IN Food Project Goals
A New Statewide Organization
We are launching Partners IN Food and Farming (PIFF), a statewide organization connecting the farming community, with eaters, and food advocates. This network of networks will create stronger collaborations and long-term partnerships between the public, private and nonprofit sectors in the Indiana food system.
Expanded Value Chain Network
The Indiana Value Chain Network of professionals increases sales and market opportunities for farmers and food businesses. The network creates long-term market connections and trust-based relationships for deep-rooted commitment to Indiana grown food. We plan to double the number of organizations and businesses participating in the network.
BIPOC Value Chain Coordinator
This professional will work statewide with a full-time focus on building relationships and trust to support food grown, distributed and purchased by BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) -owned businesses and to understand the needs of socially disadvantaged groups in Indiana.
Buyer Board Committed to Indiana Farmers
The buyer board engages institutional buyers, chefs, retailers and distributors to creatively address the challenges of buying and preparing local food and to contribute to developing economic opportunities for Indiana farmers and food businesses.
Measuring Progress Through Equity
Equity metrics will be developed to measure diversity, equity, and inclusion along food value chains, from who is involved in decision-making around food policy and programming, to who benefits from the outcomes of food system developments across Indiana communities.
Community Food Workshops
The Indiana Dept. of Health will lead collaborative community-based food workshops to support community leaders with localized strategies and network development to improve resiliency and equity within their community food system.
Trauma Informed Learning Collaboratives
The Indiana Dept. of Health will assemble food security professionals across the state to reframe conversations with the public to recognize stress and adversity, promote resilience and reduce shame and stigma across food security sectors.
Partners IN Food focuses on two objectives and a host of supporting activities that aim to serve the needs of all farmers seeking local and regional sales channels, and to reflect on the needs of historically underrepresented farmers. Led by the Northwest Indiana Food Council, the partnership includes:
This collaborative partnership will serve as the primary catalyst toward food system transformation across Indiana alongside the creation of a statewide nonprofit committed to the sustainability of the partners’ efforts.
This project is funded by a grant from the USDA's Regional Food Systems Partnership Program.