MANHATTAN — A program aimed at giving people in Kansas counties better access to nutritious food will hold a two-day conference in Wichita to connect communities with similar food issues.
The inaugural Kansas Local Food Summit will be held Aug. 27-28 at the Kansas Leadership Center and Kansas Health Foundation in downtown Wichita.
Rebecca McMahon, administrator of Kansas State University’s Regional Food Systems Program, said the summit will allow people in communities across the state to learn about what’s working well in other Kansas communities.
“It’s about giving communities across the state what they need to ensure resilient farms, healthy people and vibrant economies,” McMahon said.
Registration is available online. The conference fee is $40 if you register by Aug. 1 and $50 after that. The complete agenda for the summit is also available online at www.ksre.k-state.edu/kansaslocalfoods/local-food-summit/agenda.html.
McMahon said the agenda will include numerous breakout sessions where participants will be able to learn about successful efforts to fill gaps in local food systems, a term that refers to food moving throughout the entire supply chain, from production to consumption, in the same region.
In November 2022, the Kansas State University Research and Extension Service received a $750,000 grant to support and strengthen Kansas’ local food system. At the time, McMahon said, “For a state that prides itself on feeding the world, right now we are struggling to adequately feed and nourish our own citizens.”
In the nearly 18 months since receiving the grant, Kansas State University’s Local Food Systems Team has been hosting roundtables in 11 communities, asking Kansans what they think is needed to overcome local food system challenges.
The Kansas Local Food Summit will help bring all that knowledge together for the benefit of those who feel that the local food systems in their communities are flawed.
“Each community has its own opportunities and challenges, but by learning together about what’s best for Kansans, we can make progress,” McMahon said. “The summit will feature plenty of networking and collaborative learning opportunities and some great speakers. Building a stronger network of people across the state is the first step toward a more resilient local food system.”
Numerous breakout sessions are planned to unite Kansans around common themes including farm to school, food access and food hubs. Keynote speakers at the summit include:
John Whitler, Executive Director of Ogallala Commons, will speak about how to effectively align value chains for the benefit of the food system.
Mary Hendrickson, director of the Interdisciplinary Center for Food Security at the University of Missouri, will speak about building resilient food systems in the face of consolidation.
McMahon said the Kansas Local Food Summit is open to anyone who wants to participate, but will be especially beneficial for those who advocate for the growth of local food systems, including producers, consumers, food policy council members, government agency officials, nonprofits and food businesses.
