Ascend the “Summit” with colleagues and others who share your passion and motivation, and gain the essential perspectives and actionable inspiration of more than 60 researchers, advocates, food program administrators, farmers, and more as they explore these topics:

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2021

9:00 - 9:30
Welcome and Introduction

9:30 - 11:30
What is an Equitable and Sustainable Local Food System? – A deep dive into what does “equitable,” “sustainable,” and “local” mean? What do they look like in practice? What are the constraints, challenges, and obstacles to achieving equity and sustainability? What are both regional and global influences on the food system? What needs to occur to create greater equity and sustainability?

11:30 - 12:00
Overview - Valley Vision's 2021 Food System Action Plan - The Sacramento Region Food System Action Plan provides a roadmap to increase access to locally-grown food for the area’s most vulnerable residents and grow new markets for local farms, businesses, and food and agriculture entrepreneurs.

12:00 - 1:30
Lunch Break

1:30 - 3:30
Break Out Sessions

  • An Economic Perspective on Local Food Systems - A look at the economics of local food systems, recognizing that nothing is truly "local" anymore. Global influences and macro drivers create constraints, incentives and disincentives for local level food producers, distributors, and consumers alike. When addressing issues of equity and sustainability in the food system, these economic influences and the impacts of state, national, and even international laws and policies need to be understood and leveraged to address food insecurity more effectively in our communities.
  • Equitable, Sustainable Food Systems Increase Food Security, Plus So Much More – The focus of this session is on how food insecurity exacerbates a wide range of community ills such as homelessness, domestic violence, child neglect, educational disparities, etc. Sustainable food systems don’t just help to end hunger. This panel will highlight the peripheral value and cross benefits of addressing food insecurity that go well beyond hunger. “For every dollar invested towards alleviating hunger…” and illustrate the additional gains achieved.
  • Culturally Appropriate Food – What is It? Why Does It Matter? - This panel is meant to provide attendees with an understanding of the importance of supporting healthy, diversified and culturally appropriate diets and highlight the benefits for different ethnic groups in maintaining their food related traditions. Culturally- responsive food provisions empower individuals to maintain cultural integrity while accessing nutritional support.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2021

9:00 - 9:10
Welcome and Introduction

9:10 - 11:00
Leveraging Food System Innovation to Address Public Health Challenges - A look at the public health challenges related to food systems and nutrition, with a focus on promising innovation opportunities for transforming the impact food systems can have on public health at the local level.

11:00 - 1:00
Lunch Break

1:00 - 3:00
Break Out Sessions

  • Equitable and Sustainable Farming Practices at the Local Level - This panel of small local farmers will discuss food production. What does equity and sustainability in the food system mean to small farms, and in that context, what are the challenges faced and opportunities offered by local producers
  • Edible Food Recovery in An Equitable and Sustainable Local Food System – Examining the opportunities and benefits associated with the recovery of surplus food that goes to waste. This session will include a discussion of California Senate Bill 1383 Funded Food Recovery Programs and how it can contribute to an equitable and sustainable local food system.
  • Equity and the Food System Workforce – A Perspective on Labor - This panel starts with the premise that to truly achieve equity and sustainability, food systems must consider the people who grow, harvest, and process our food. It provides an examination of how fair and just working conditions on the farm and in food processing facilities are essential to maintaining equitable and sustainable local food systems. It looks to answer the question of what is needed to ensure equity in living and working conditions, wages, health, and more.

3:00 - 5:00
Networking Breakouts - due a technical issue, this opportunity has been canceled.  We apologize for any inconvenience.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2021

9:00 - 9:10
Welcome and Introduction

9:10 - 10:30
Session #1 Transformative Practices in Achieving an Equitable and Sustainable Local Food System – These “lightning round” presentations spotlight innovative practices and success stories in community-based programs, environmental practices, farm to fork, fair labor, promising research, school feeding programs, and more. Participants will hear how these successful programs were achieved and be provided with a selection of “blueprints” to build their own.

10:30 - 12:00
Using Artificial Intelligence to Understand and Demystify the Complexity of Food Systems - Envisioning what next generation food systems could look like. How artificial intelligence can help develop new solutions to address long-standing, difficult food system challenges related to crop and food production, supply chains, nutrition, and public health, impacts on and from climate change, and more.

12:00 - 1:30
Lunch Break

1:30 - 2:30
Session #2 Transformative Practices in Achieving an Equitable and Sustainable Local Food System – These “lightning round” presentations spotlight innovative practices and success stories in community-based programs, environmental practices, farm to fork, fair labor, promising research, school feeding programs, and more. Participants will hear how these successful programs were achieved and be provided with a selection of “blueprints” to build their own.

2:30 - 3:30
Moving Forward – Envisioning the Possibilities - The concluding session sews it all together, providing a focus on both the near and more distant horizon. A time to cheerlead, encourage, and foster commitment. Building momentum to carry collective efforts beyond the summit’s conclusion, working towards more equitable and sustainable local food systems.