Taking action on the New Hampshire Food and Agriculture Strategic Plan will take leadership, collaboration, initiative, and vision.
Here’s how we’re going to do it.
The Strategic Plan lays out over 140 recommendations ranging from simple toolkit developments and research projects to multi-million dollar infrastructure investments. Recommendations can be addressed through individual organizations performing the work or a cross sector, collaborative approach. Some can be accomplished in a matter of months, for others, it will take many years of effort. What do they have in common? They are specific, identified opportunities for our network to create change across our food system. The key to successfully implementing the Strategic Plan and creating lasting progress in our food system will be knowing what each other is working on, collaborating when needed, and communicating about our successes.
Approaches to Implementing a Recommendation
The first step in implementation— categorizing each recommendation into the implementation approach that fits best. We have outline four approaches below; some will take leadership from the NH Food Alliance, others will be options for anyone interested in working on Strategic Plan recommendation.
All of the approaches to addressing a Strategic Plan recommendation will require a central organization and location to track the progress of each. The NH Food Alliance will serve as the entity holding the center, posting updates on recommendations that are being addressed on the recommendation's webpage and through communication channels, as well as hosting opportunities for the larger food community to learn about current Strategic Plan work, including the annual NH Food System Statewide Gathering, which will be serve as a marker each year for everyone working on Strategic Plan recommendations to share about their progress, invite others to join them in their work, or launch a new phase of work in that area.
Implementation Workgroups
If a recommendation is of interest to many individuals, organizations, and businesses and requires deep collaboration to address it, an Implementation Workgroup can be formed.
Recommendation Action Lists
A succinct group of recommendations that are expressly assigned to the organization or entity that has the power and ability to address it.
The Self-Identified Approach
A recommendation can be addressed by one organization, business, or entity as part of their current or future work.
UNH Food Fellows Program
An annual program that will accept research project proposals from undergraduate and graduate students to move forward research recommendations
So, what’s your role? We can’t wait to hear.
We invite you to explore the recommendations made in the Strategic Plan and consider the approaches to implementation outlined above and let us know if you, your business, organization, or community are interested in moving a recommendation forward by filling out the form linked below. Once the NH Food Alliance team recieves your submission, we will reach out!
Fill out the Strategic Plan Implementation Form
Implementation Leadership
The NH Food Alliance is the primary organizer and hub for information and implementation coordination. They facilitate the Network Leadership Team and lightly facilitate the Implementation Workgroups. NHFA will also collate and communicate about the work other organizations, individuals, and communities are doing to move forward the NH Food and Agriculture Strategic Plan. NHFA will ensure that all Strategic Plan implementation is well documented through our website and communications, as well as through events, including the annual NH Food System Statewide Gathering.
The Network Leadership Team is central to the NH Food Alliance and the implementation of the NH Food and Agriculture Strategic Plan. It includes 20-25 leaders representing diverse sectors of the New Hampshire food system, as well as geographic regions of the state. These dedicated leaders from local food initiatives and key statewide organizations work with NH Food Alliance staff and the broader network to connect and learn about one another, and provide guidance to move forward the NH Food and Agriculture Strategic Plan. Many of the Network Leadership Team members will be leading Implementation Workgroups or Action Lists. Meet the Network Leadership team here
