Sept. 3, 2010

The North Central Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (NCR-SARE) program will offer listening sessions in late September to collect input on issues related to food production, processing, distribution and safety, among others.

Through a research and education competitive grants program, NCR-SARE advances farming systems that are profitable, environmentally sound, and good for communities. The program, part of USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture, funds projects and conducts outreach designed to improve agricultural systems.

North Central Region SARE will be conducting listening sessions in Lincoln, Omaha, and Council Bluffs, in late September. The public is invited, especially anti-hunger and food justice advocates, educators, non-profit organizations, concerned citizens, government officials, farmers, ranchers, grocers, chefs, workers, food processors and distributors.

Discussion topics could include new production, processing, distribution, food safety and security, and health information. This is an opportunity to communicate challenges and successes, help assess how NCR-SARE grants and programs are reaching and benefiting recipients, and suggest how NCR-SARE can support future programs to meet urban ural community needs.

These discussions will help guide future USDA and NCR-SARE policies, outreach, research, and programs.

The listening sessions are presented with the cooperation of the Nebraska Great Plains Resource Conservation & Development (RC&D) and Iowa Golden Hills RC&D in partnership with UNL Extension, Metropolitan Community College, and Iowa Western Community College.