Recommendations

Recommendation Type of Action Brief Topic Goal
Increase funding for sustainable and organic agriculture research
Particularly increase research that prioritizes collaborative on-farm trials and research with farmers and is focused on practical applicability,…
Tags: Funders/Investors, Researchers, Farm, Fish, or Food Business, UNH Extension, State/NH
 Investment/Funding, Research/Study Production Techniques for Sustainable Ecosystems Natural Resources & Climate
Study light processing opportunities
Conduct a statewide assessment of assets, barriers, and opportunities for light processing to improve New Hampshire-grown food access in the…
Tags: Researchers, Farm, Fish, or Food Business, Communities/Consumers, Nonprofits, State/NH
 Coordination/Network development or support, Research/Study Nutrition Access & Security Farm, Fish, & Food Business Viability, Nutrition & Access
Systematize food access data collection
Incorporate food access into existing statewide and regional data collection systems, like Community Health Improvement Plans (CHIPs), Community…
Tags: State Agencies, UNH Extension, Nonprofits, Researchers, State/NH, New England Regional
 Coordination/Network development or support, Research/Study Nutrition Access & Security Nutrition & Access
Conduct research on Federal Nutrition Programs every three years
This research should identify barriers to enrollment and participation, methods to improve utilization, and address community food access needs.…
Tags: Nonprofits, Researchers, UNH Extension, State Agencies, Federal Agencies, State/NH, National
 Coordination/Network development or support, Research/Study Nutrition Access & Security Nutrition & Access
Explore opportunities to enable land to be used by farmers without requiring ownership
Build incentives for current landowners to permit leasing, renting, or other simplified, standardized legal agreements for agricultural work to…
Tags: Communities/Consumers, Local/Regional Government Agencies, State Agencies, Farm, Fish, or Food Business, Local/Municipal, State/NH
 Policy/Regulation, Research/Study Labor & Workforce Farm, Fish, & Food Business Viability
Analyze the distribution routes of New Hampshire’s food hubs to identify coordination opportunities
Collaborative distribution would include backhauling and other creative solutions to address the unique distribution needs of underserved rural areas.
Tags: Researchers, Farm, Fish, or Food Business, State/NH
 Coordination/Network development or support, Research/Study Food Hubs & Collaborative Marketing Nutrition & Access
Conduct research to examine the benefits and limitations of different collaborative aggregation and marketing models
This research would guide the development of organizational and legal structures for different contexts and needs. Identify the factors that…
Tags: Researchers, Farm, Fish, or Food Business, State/NH
 Research/Study Food Hubs & Collaborative Marketing Farm, Fish, & Food Business Viability
Provide dedicated state, federal, and private funding for technical assistance, mentorship, and capital for farmland access programs
Funding will support: Research, expansion, and development of innovative models for cooperative and alternative land tenure; Increasing access to…
Tags: Funders/Investors, Technical Assistance Providers, State Agencies, Federal Agencies, Farm, Fish, or Food Business, Communities/Consumers, Nonprofits, Researchers, State/NH
 Program creation, support, or expansion, Investment/Funding, Research/Study Farmland Conservation, Access, & Succession Farm, Fish, & Food Business Viability
Perform multi-area research on climate impacts to support farmers in adaptation
Research climate impacts on water, soil, pests, animal management, the effects of heat on human health, and applied climate research on farming…
Tags: Researchers, Farm, Fish, or Food Business, Technical Assistance Providers, UNH Extension, State/NH
 Program creation, support, or expansion, Research/Study Climate Resilience & Disaster Relief Local Food Economy, Natural Resources & Climate
Conduct research to demonstrate the investment value of the food system
Unlock public and private financing and investment by supporting research that details the state and value of the New Hampshire food system through…
Tags: Researchers, Funders/Investors, State/NH
 Investment/Funding, Research/Study Access to Capital Local Food Economy, Natural Resources & Climate, Nutrition & Access
Analyze and develop a distribution system for New Hampshire food products
Conduct a distribution analysis to identify existing infrastructure and distribution routes in the state and identify opportunities for further…
Tags: Researchers, Nonprofits, State Agencies, Farm, Fish, or Food Business, State/NH
 Coordination/Network development or support, Research/Study Restaurants Farm, Fish, & Food Business Viability, Nutrition & Access
Perform a feasibility study for a Seacoast-area food cooperative
Study the financial feasibility of a retail food cooperative in the Seacoast area in collaboration with grassroots support in the region. The…
Tags: Researchers, Nonprofits, Farm, Fish, or Food Business, Funders/Investors, NH Regional
 Coordination/Network development or support, Investment/Funding, Research/Study Grocery Stores & Food Cooperatives Farm, Fish, & Food Business Viability, Nutrition & Access
Support the production of other tree syrups, such as birch, in New Hampshire
This support would primarily occur through continued research and market development.
Tags: Researchers, UNH Extension, Technical Assistance Providers, State Agencies, NH Dept of Agriculture, Markets, and Food, Farm, Fish, or Food Business, State/NH
 Investment/Funding, Research/Study Syrup Farm, Fish, & Food Business Viability, Natural Resources & Climate
Explore avenues for improving insurance coverage options for mushroom growers
In New Hampshire that includes coverage for plausible issues like bacterial contamination, which is analogous to agricultural crop loss from disease.
Tags: Technical Assistance Providers, Farm, Fish, or Food Business, Researchers, State/NH
 Program creation, support, or expansion, Research/Study Mushrooms Farm, Fish, & Food Business Viability
Fund stakeholder convenings around breeding needs
Convene New Hampshire chefs, farmers, and agriculture professionals to foster discussion around breeding needs (“What Needs Breeding?” events) and to…
Tags: Farm, Fish, or Food Business, Researchers, Technical Assistance Providers, UNH Extension, Funders/Investors, State/NH
 Program creation, support, or expansion, Coordination/Network development or support, Investment/Funding, Research/Study Seeds Farm, Fish, & Food Business Viability
Conduct a feasibility study to license midsized laying hen operations
Conduct a feasibility study for a state-run program to license midsized laying hen operations with 3,000 to 10,000 laying hens. The program would…
Tags: Researchers, State Agencies, Legislators, State/NH
 Policy/Regulation, Research/Study Meat & Eggs Farm, Fish, & Food Business Viability
Conduct an assessment of federal and state poultry regulations, requirements, and exemptions for New Hampshire producers
This assessment will produce the end goal of identifying and clarifying points of confusion and offering guidance on needed legislative changes,…
Tags: Researchers, State Agencies, Federal Agencies, State/NH
 Research/Study Meat & Eggs Farm, Fish, & Food Business Viability
Research the amount of food grown by home and community gardens
Conduct research to assess the amount of food grown in home and community gardens and identify the most pressing needs of home and community…
Tags: Communities/Consumers, Researchers, Local/Municipal, State/NH
 Research/Study Home & Community Gardens Engagement & Education, Nutrition & Access
Research successful health and nutrition curriculum
Perform research into successful health and nutrition curriculum that is being implemented in New Hampshire schools.
Tags: Schools or Institutions, Researchers, State/NH
 Research/Study Food System Literacy, Childhood and School-Age Children Engagement & Education, Nutrition & Access
Fund two management positions to support farmers’ markets and CSAs
Fund two full-time equivalent (FTE) positions focused on professional management and infrastructure improvements for farmers’ markets and CSAs,…
Tags: Funders/Investors, Nonprofits, Local/Municipal, State/NH
 Program creation, support, or expansion, Investment/Funding, Research/Study Direct-to-Consumer & Consumer Education Equity & Justice, Local Food Economy, Nutrition & Access