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, together.
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 all recommendations 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 recommendations each other is working on, collaborating when needed, and communicating about our successes.
Approaches to Implementation
The first step in Strategic Plan implementation is categorizing each recommendation into the implementation approach that fits best. We have outlined four approaches below; some will take leadership from the NH Food Alliance, others are intended for anyone interested in working on a Strategic Plan recommendation.
All of the approaches require a central system and location to track progress. 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. This annual event will serve as a recurring marker for everyone working on Strategic Plan recommendations to share progress, invite others to join them in their work, or launch a new phase of work.
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
Implementation Workgroups
Formed if a recommendation is of interest to many individuals, organizations, and businesses and requires collaboration to address it
Self-Identified Leadership
A recommendation can be addressed by one organization, business, or entity as part of their current or future work
Students and the Strategic Plan
A community-engaged research program that involves UNH students in work that moves forward one or more recommendations
Three Roles, Endless Possibilities
The NH Food and Agriculture Strategic Plan offers a wealth of insight, knowledge, and ideas. Its implementation will focus on helping stakeholders understand how to use it as a tool to access, prioritize, and present ideas for change to the right people at the right time. Developing the Strategic Plan was a collective effort, representing the work, vision, and voices of hundreds of dedicated individuals deeply committed to New Hampshire's food system; implementing the outcomes from the Strategic Plan will be no different.
Two distinct teams will provide leadership in implementing the Strategic Plan. But the majority of the work will be on you— the people working across sectors, in the fields, in the boardroom, and beyond— to drive change in our food system. Read on to learn about the roles of the NH Food Alliance staff, the Network Leadership Team, and how you can get involved!
The NH Food Alliance is the primary organizer and hub for information and implementation coordination, ensuring 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. NHFA facilitates the Network Leadership Team and supports 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.
The Network Leadership Team is central to the implementation of the NH Food and Agriculture Strategic Plan. The team 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 Recommendation Action Lists.
You! We invite you to explore the recommendations made in the Strategic Plan, 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 Strategic Plan Implementation Intent form linked above. Once the NH Food Alliance team receives your submission, we will reach out and plan next steps.
