Changing the Way We Look at Agriculture: Opportunities for RDNs - PDF document

3/31/2015 Changing the Way We Look at Agriculture: Opportunities for RDNs Jennie Schmidt, MS, RD Schmidt Farms Inc. Twitter: @FarmGirlJen Facebook: The Foodie Farmer Instagram: @DirtDietitian @EatRightPRO Schmidt Farms Inc. 3 rd Generation in USA 2000 Acres in Maryland • Corn (biotech & conventional production; formerly certified organic) • Soybeans (tofu, feed & seed) • Wheat (flour, feed & seed) • Barley (seed) Our Farm Goal: • 150 acres Roma tomatoes Synergistic Farming : using the best practices from all farming systems to • 160 acres fresh market green beans maximize value per acre producing • 250 acres of hay safe, high quality foods, while • 22 acres winegrapes preserving and improving our soils and sustaining the family farm for the next generation 1

3/31/2015 Disclosure • This presentation is part of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation’s Future of Food initiative and is supported through an educational grant to the Foundation from Elanco and National Dairy Council. • This presentation was developed in collaboration with the RDN Farmer expert group. • Stipend and travel funds to present at this meeting was received from the Academy Foundation through Elanco and National Dairy Council. Who Am I? Farmer, Dietitian, Introduction Promoter of Food & Farming • How many of you feel more people want to know more about where their food comes • 2011 America’s Farm Mom of the Year from and how it was grown? • CommonGround Volunteer • How many of you are getting questions • Board Member 1 st Female & V.P • . - Maryland Grain Producers about locally-grown, carbon footprint, or • US Wheat Foods Council sustainable or organic food? Past-Pres, MD Grape Growers Assoc. • Past Chairman, Maryland Farm Bureau Specialty Crops • • How many of you are seeing more farmers’ • Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics - • Advanced Food Technology workgroup markets in your neighborhoods? • HEN member (since before it was HEN) • How many of you have ever been on a farm? 2

3/31/2015 Future of Food Future of Food Initiative Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation Future of Food Expansion Accomplishments Future of Food Initial Accomplishments 1 1 Future of Food CPEU RDN Farmer Webinars Expert www.eatright.org/ Committee/ 2 2 foundation/kidseatright member 3 3 survey www.healthyfoodbankhub.org http://bit.ly/1t4Lt1V 4 32 Affiliate Food Insecurity/ 4 Presentations Food Banking Agriculture 5 “Changing the 5 Dietetic Alliance Way We Look at Internship 6 6 Agriculture” Concentration 3

3/31/2015 Last year donors’ generosity helped us award: $141,000 in awards US Farmers & the State of US Farming $357,000 in research grants and fellowships Objectives $505,000 in student scholarships $1,140,000 in grants to Kids Eat Right members Comparison of Practices Synergistic Farming: Using the best of each Farming System Practice Conventional Biotech Organic √ √ (√) No-Till Agriculture √ √ √ Crop Rotation √ √ √ Cover Crop √ √ √ Conventional Biotech Green Manure Organic √ √ √ IPM √ √ √ Manure Fertilizers Enhanced √ √ √ OMRI Precision Ag Soil Health Pesticides Traits √ √ (√) Precision Ag 4

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3/31/2015 Forecasted Farm Economy Future Farmer Trends Future Farmer Trends http://www.agcensus. http://www.agcensus. usda.gov/Partners/I usda.gov/Partners/I nfographics/Faces_ nfographics/Faces_ of_Agriculture.pdf of_Agriculture.pdf 6

3/31/2015 U.S. Food Imports U.S. Agriculture Exports Benefits of Agriculture Advances Advances in Agriculture Access to healthy food Food production Environmental impact 7

3/31/2015 USDA Sustainable Agricultural Systems Our conventional family farm has been using No-till & cover cropping systems since 1965 1. Integrating sustainability issues and approaches into a range of USDA science priorities 2. Building a framework for sustainability data 3. Advancing the understanding of local and regional food systems, a key part of the USDA strategy for rural prosperity 4. Improving the performance of organic agriculture WHO and FAO Examples from Academy Position Paper World Health Organization (WHO) Feed the Future Authority for health within United • Nations Save & Grow Urban Harvest Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Bangladesh Works to achieve food and nutrition • Homestead Food security globally Production Program 8

3/31/2015 Industry and farmers Industry and farmers Precision Ag Technology Examples of Agriculture Innovations Innovations in agriculture technology help to use fewer resources, including fertilizer, pesticides, water, etc. Examples: Technology to maximize • crop space • Satellite imagery to survey soil Technology to increase • drought tolerance Precision agriculture tools • to reduce inputs and improve efficiency 9

3/31/2015 Educate: Hold an event connecting RDs and Farmers Maryland RDNs Connect with Farm Women through What Academy Members Can Do Common Ground™ • Educate • Advocate • Communicate Educate: Educate: Hold an event connecting RDs and Farmers Hold an event connecting RDs and Processors 2014 Wheat Foods Council Ohio RDs Experienced the Journey “Wheat Safari” of Milk from Farm to Lunch Tray 10

3/31/2015 Educate: Educate: Get involved and learn more Hold an event connecting RDs and Researchers 2014 California Beef Council • Get involved in DPGs strongly Beef Sustainability Event supporting agricultural issues, including: • Hunger and Beef Sustainability CE Event Environmental Nutrition Attendees (HEN) • Food & Culinary Professionals (FCP) Ag Subgroup • Find out more about Future of Food and view recorded webinars Dr. Frank Mitloehner, UC Davis www.eatright.org/foundation/ kidseatright Educate: Educate Others! Apply for a Mini-Grant New toolkit (release date 3-2-15) New toolkit (release date 3-2-15) Smart Choices. Smart Choices. For a Healthy Planet. For a Healthy Planet. 25-minute PowerPoint presentation plus 5-minute • suggested activity About the Mini-Grants: Target audience: adults or mature teens • Mini-grant application due May 1, 2015 • Toolkit includes notes pages and downloadable • Twenty-five (25) $200 mini-grants available • handout Mini-grantees agree to complete: • Available in English and Spanish • 2 presentations • FREE! Short online survey report • • Access the mini-grant application at • www.eatright.org/foundation/kergrants www.kidseatright.org/volunteer Questions? Email Kidseatright@eatright.org • 11

3/31/2015 Educate: Educate: Volunteer for “Ag in the Classroom” Volunteer for Farm to School programs www.fns.usda.gov/farmtoschool www.agclassroom.org Advocate: Advocate: Promote grower-buyer expos Organize a “Food Cluster” Grower-Buyer Expos Mission: To create a healthy community through a resilient, local • Expand food system and to support and promote local food opportunities for production, distribution and consumption. more local products in schools, hospitals, Building Public/Private Partnerships institutions or • Businesses supermarkets. • Organizations • Opportunity for • Individuals growers to increase local distribution. Together: • Excellent way for • Influence public policy decisions RDs to connect with • Establish high impact projects farmers. Photo credit: Northern Colorado Food Cluster • Create a strong network of food system leaders 12

3/31/2015 Advocate: Advocate: Participate in public policy efforts Participate in public policy efforts, cont’d • Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) • The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) • Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) • Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP) • Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Nutrition Education (SNAP-Ed) • Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program • Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) • Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) • IRS: Nonprofit hospitals can claim nutrition access aid Communicate: Communicate: Promote the Food Waste Challenge! Host a “Farm to Table” dinner Reduce food waste by improving product development, storage, shopping/ordering, marketing, labeling, and cooking methods. Recover food waste by connecting potential food donors to hunger relief organizations like food banks and pantries. Recycle food waste to feed animals or to create compost, bioenergy and natural fertilizers. 13

3/31/2015 Communicate: Communicate: Volunteer in your local community Engage in social media California State University, Sacramento students volunteering at a “Nutrition Fuels Fitness” race. Race proceeds benefited local organizations working to reduce childhood obesity. Communicate: Share reputable resources Thank you! Questions? http://www.ers.usda.gov/ http://www.ars.usda.gov/main/main.htm http://www.csrees.usda.gov/Extension/ www.fao.org http://www.aplu.org/document.doc?id=780 14