Dear AERO members and friends,
As you know AERO, The Montana Food Bank Network, NCAT, MSU, Montana Departments of Health and Human Services and Agriculture have been working together to develop more visibility for food production and food security over the past two years. Success to date include co-hosting the Gov Summit on Food and Ag last March which 270 participants attended from all across the state. As an outcome of the Summit, four Food System Action Groups are working on increasing Montana food processing infrastructure, reducing hunger by working at the root causes, examining new viable methods to increase local food production and diversity in cropping systems, researching ideas to support land transition to the next generation of farmers, strengthening partnerships with university educators and researchers to develop new research and education opportunities in food nutrition, production and food science, and developing a food policy agenda for Montana that supports economic development efforts related to food security. Another significant outcome of the Summit this small group has accomplished is the development of a Statewide Food Systems Council.